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Your Best Life Now

Your Best Life Now

7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential
by Joel Osteen 2004 310 pages
3.96
15k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Enlarge Your Vision for a Limitless Life

Your own wrong thinking can keep you from God’s best.

Conceive it to Receive it. To experience a life beyond limitations, one must first cultivate a vision of success, restoration, and prosperity within their mind. This internal image acts as a blueprint, guiding actions and beliefs toward achieving a brighter future. Without this vision, individuals remain trapped in mediocrity, unable to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead.

Break Free from Limiting Beliefs. Many people unknowingly restrict their potential by harboring negative, self-defeating thoughts. These limiting beliefs act as barriers, preventing them from pursuing their dreams and experiencing God's favor. To enlarge one's vision, it is essential to identify and dismantle these mental strongholds, replacing them with thoughts of faith, hope, and victory.

Embrace the Power of Imagination. Envisioning a successful business, a restored marriage, or a thriving family is not mere fantasy; it is a crucial step in manifesting these desires into reality. By repeatedly visualizing the desired outcome, individuals reprogram their subconscious mind, creating an environment of faith and expectation that attracts positive results.

2. Elevate Expectations to Attract Goodness

God usually meets us at our level of expectancy.

Expect Good Things. Cultivating an attitude of expectancy is paramount to experiencing a life filled with blessings and favor. By confidently anticipating positive outcomes, individuals align themselves with God's goodness, creating an environment that attracts opportunities and favorable circumstances. Conversely, dwelling on negative thoughts and expecting the worst only serves to perpetuate a cycle of defeat.

Program Your Mind for Success. Each day presents a fresh opportunity to set the mind in the right direction. Start the day with affirmations of faith, declaring God's guidance, favor, and blessings. This proactive approach establishes a positive trajectory, influencing thoughts, emotions, and actions throughout the day.

Faith Needs Hope. Hope is the confident expectancy of good. Without hope, faith cannot take root and flourish. By confidently expecting the favor of God, individuals create the fertile ground necessary for faith to grow and manifest blessings in their lives.

3. God's Abundance Awaits Your Belief

You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it.

God's Dream is Bigger. God's vision for your life far surpasses your own limited expectations. Like a frog confined to a small well, many people fail to recognize the vast ocean of possibilities that awaits them. To tap into God's abundance, one must dare to dream bigger, expanding their horizons and embracing the limitless potential that lies within.

Break the Generational Curse. Don't let the limitations of your family history define your future. God wants you to surpass your parents' achievements and break free from any negative cycles that may have plagued previous generations. By committing to Christ, you can break free from the curse of poverty and defeat.

Don't Limit God. God's creativity and resources are boundless. He is not constrained by your education, financial status, or past mistakes. To experience His abundance, you must release your limiting beliefs and embrace the possibility of supernatural increase in every area of your life.

4. Break Free from the Chains of the Past

You will never go beyond the barriers in your own mind.

The Mind is the Battlefield. The greatest obstacles to success and fulfillment often reside within the mind. Limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, and past hurts can create mental strongholds that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential. To break free, it is essential to challenge these negative thought patterns and replace them with thoughts of faith, hope, and victory.

Don't Dwell on the Mountain. Like the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for forty years, many people remain stuck in a cycle of negativity, constantly dwelling on their problems and limitations. To move forward, it is essential to let go of past hurts, pains, and failures, and to embrace a new vision for the future.

Break the Cycle of Failure. Negative patterns and attitudes can be passed down through generations, creating a cycle of failure and defeat. To break free from this cycle, individuals must make a conscious decision to change their thinking, raise their expectations, and set a new standard for future generations.

5. Embrace God's Favor for Preferential Treatment

If you’ll persevere . . . God will open doors for you.

Expect Preferential Treatment. As children of the Most High God, believers are entitled to preferential treatment and special advantages. This is not due to their own merit, but rather to the favor of God that surrounds them like a shield. By living with an attitude of expectancy, individuals attract opportunities and blessings that may not be available to others.

Declare God's Favor. Each day, believers should boldly declare God's favor over their lives, businesses, and families. This act of faith releases supernatural power, opening doors of opportunity, bringing success, and causing people to want to help.

Live Favor-Minded. To experience more of God's favor, it is essential to cultivate a "favor-minded" mentality. This involves expecting God's special help, releasing faith, and knowing that He wants to assist you in every area of your life.

6. Cultivate a Healthy Self-Image Rooted in Faith

You will never rise above the image you have of yourself in your own mind.

Base Your Worth on God's View. A healthy self-image is not based on external factors such as appearance, achievements, or the opinions of others. Rather, it is rooted in the understanding that you are a unique and valuable creation of God, made in His image and crowned with honor.

Reject the Grasshopper Mentality. Don't allow feelings of inadequacy or insecurity to keep you from pursuing your dreams. God sees you as strong, courageous, and capable of accomplishing great things. Embrace His vision for your life and reject the "grasshopper mentality" that whispers of defeat.

Change Your Self-Image by Agreeing with God. You can transform your self-image by aligning your thoughts with God's Word. Start seeing yourself as He sees you—as a winner, an overcomer, and a person of great worth.

7. Value Yourself as a Masterpiece of God's Creation

Learn to be happy with who God made you to be.

Intrinsic Value. Your value is not determined by your achievements, possessions, or the opinions of others. It is inherent in your being, a gift from your Creator. Embrace your unique qualities and celebrate the person God designed you to be.

God Sees Your Two Good Moves. Don't dwell on your faults and weaknesses. God focuses on your strengths and the positive actions you take. As long as you are pressing forward, you can hold your head high, knowing that you are a "work in progress" and God is in the process of changing you.

Break Free from Rejection. Don't allow the rejection of others to diminish your self-worth. God accepts you unconditionally, even when others may not. Base your self-esteem on His love and acceptance, not on the approval of the world.

8. Transform Your Mindset Through Positive Thoughts

Set your mind and keep it set on the higher things.

Guard Your Mind. The enemy seeks to control your life by manipulating your thoughts. Protect your mind by choosing to dwell on positive, faith-filled thoughts, and by casting down any negative or destructive ideas that attempt to take root.

Choose Your Thoughts. You have the power to control what you think about. Don't allow negative circumstances or past hurts to dominate your mind. Instead, focus on the goodness of God, His promises, and the blessings He has in store for you.

Reprogram Your Mental Computer. Just as a computer can be reprogrammed with new software, your mind can be transformed by replacing negative thought patterns with positive, life-affirming ones. This process requires conscious effort and a commitment to dwelling on the good things of God.

9. Unleash the Power of Your Words to Shape Reality

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and you will eat the fruit thereof.

Words are Seeds. Your words have creative power, planting seeds that will eventually bear fruit in your life. Speak words of faith, victory, and abundance, and you will create an environment that attracts positive outcomes. Conversely, negative words will produce negative results.

Speak to Your Mountains. Don't talk to God about how big your problems are; talk to your problems about how big your God is. Boldly declare God's promises over your life, speaking to your obstacles with faith and confidence.

Guard Your Tongue. Be especially careful about what you say during times of adversity. Avoid negative comments and complaints, and instead, speak words of hope, faith, and victory.

10. Forgiveness: The Key to Unlocking Your Future

If you will change your thinking, God can change your life.

Bitterness Poisons You. Holding on to anger and unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Bitterness contaminates your heart, affecting every area of your life and hindering your ability to experience joy and fulfillment.

Forgive for Your Sake. Forgiveness is not about condoning the actions of others; it is about releasing yourself from the bondage of resentment. By forgiving those who have wronged you, you break free from the chains of the past and open the door to a brighter future.

Let God Bring Justice. Don't waste your energy trying to get even with those who have hurt you. Trust God to bring about justice in your life. He will make your wrongs right and pay you back for all that you have lost.

11. Trust God's Timing and Purpose in Every Trial

You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.

God's Timing is Perfect. Human nature tends to want everything right now, but God has an appointed time for every blessing and every breakthrough. Trust that He is working behind the scenes, orchestrating events to bring His plan to pass in your life.

Find Strength in Adversity. Trials and challenges are not random occurrences; they are opportunities for growth and refinement. Embrace adversity as a chance to strengthen your faith, develop endurance, and discover your true potential.

Don't Give Up. Even when you don't understand why certain things are happening, trust that God has a purpose for every trial. Keep a good attitude, stay in faith, and know that He will bring you through to victory.

12. Live to Give: The Path to True Fulfillment

God takes pleasure in prospering His children.

Shift Your Focus. To experience true fulfillment, you must shift your focus from receiving to giving. Quit trying to figure out what everybody can do for you, and start trying to figure out what you can do for somebody else.

Sow Seeds of Kindness. The more you help others, the more God will make sure that you are helped. If you want to be happy, make someone else happy. If you want to be blessed, be a blessing to others.

Store Up God's Goodness. By living a life of generosity and compassion, you are storing up God's goodness, creating a reservoir of blessings that will be available to you in your time of need.

Last updated:

Review Summary

3.96 out of 5
Average of 15k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Your Best Life Now receives mixed reviews. Many praise it as inspirational and life-changing, citing its positive message and practical advice for Christian living. Critics argue it promotes a prosperity gospel, misinterprets scripture, and focuses too much on material success. Some find it repetitive and shallow. Supporters appreciate Osteen's emphasis on faith, optimism, and personal growth, while detractors claim it lacks biblical depth and presents a self-centered version of Christianity. Overall, readers' reactions vary greatly based on their theological perspectives and expectations.

Your rating:

About the Author

Joel Osteen is a prominent American pastor, televangelist, and author. He leads Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, which boasts America's largest congregation with over 45,000 weekly attendees. Osteen's televised messages reach millions globally, and he has a significant presence on social media and SiriusXM radio. He has authored seven New York Times bestsellers, including "Your Best Life Now." Known for his positive, inspirational style, Osteen has been recognized as one of the most influential Christian leaders worldwide. He lives in Houston with his wife Victoria and their children, continuing to expand his ministry's reach through various media platforms.

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