Looking for Self Improvement in the Bible?

Millions of self improvement books are sold every year, and some of those books may offer good advice, but the Bible says something different. So I wrote a short guide to highlight the difference. It’s called Self Help or God’s Book. Here’s an overview of the main points:

Let Us Reason Together

  • Many self improvement books teach you to master your mind and rely on your own effort to change your thoughts. The hard part is mastering your mind, and relying on yourself.
  • Instead of depending on yourself, the Bible offers wisdom from God, who invites you to reason with Him and trust His guidance above your own understanding.

The Spirit and The Light

  • Some versions of self improvement teach about a universal force that can shape your life. The idea is that you can tap into an energy flow to attract good things.
  • In the Bible, it says God is a living Spirit who creates and sustains all life, and He knows you personally. God is active, and intelligent, not just an energy source.

Renewing Your Mind

  • Self improvement methods teach how to create good mental habits by repeating positive affirmations. But, the results depend on your ability to make it happen.
  • In the Bible, prayer can be a type of affirmation. The difference is you talk to God, not to yourself. He offers to renew your mind, guide your thoughts, and support you.

Remembering the Word

  • Self improvement books teach that choices can be managed through self awareness, and reworking your thoughts. It’s a process that depends on you to control your own mind.
  • In the Bible, scripture says the Spirit of God is available to help us, guide us, provide wisdom, remind us what God says, and align our prayers with His will.

Turning Fear Into Faith

  • Self improvement methods teach visualisation and positive thinking to overcome fear and anxiety. Controlling those emotions is based on your effort to refocus awareness of your thoughts.
  • The Bible says God will help replace fear with trust, as you rely on Him. You don’t have to do it alone, because you depend on God’s ability, not your own.

Strength and Weakness

  • Self improvement teaches methods like goal-setting, mindfulness, and self-talk to help develop inner strength. But, the outcome totally depends on your individual achievement.
  • In the Bible, it says God gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of those who have no might. He is a source of strength beyond your own capacity.

Finding Peace and Hope

  • Self improvement may include relaxation, meditation, and self-compassion to help find peace. Your sense of peace and hope is built on your effort at exercising mindfulness.
  • In the Bible, peace and hope come from trusting God and His promises. God is the anchor of your soul. You can depend on His faithfulness, not your own capability.

Forgiveness and Mercy

  • Self improvement might teach forgiveness through methods of letting go, and reforming your thoughts. It’s a process of repetitive self-talk to change your own mind.
  • The Bible says God is merciful and forgiving to those who don’t deserve it, and we should do the same. If you forgive others, then you will be forgiven.

Revive a Humble Spirit

  • Some self improvement books teach about self-reliance, and the pursuit of self recognition. Lifting up your self-image can be a way to help strengthen your confidence.
  • The Bible says humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. Humility opens the way to personal growth, wisdom, and a close relationship with God.

Love and Self Worth

  • Self improvement often teaches that your value is based on accepting yourself, positive thinking, and personal achievement. Self-worth is to be cultivated through repetitive self-talk.
  • In the Bible, your self-worth is rooted in God’s love, not just in your thoughts or performance. God offered His Son to die in your place, which proves you are worth the greatest cost imaginable.

Beyond Human Effort

  • Self improvement is about motivating yourself to achieve something. The results are based on what you can accomplish by your own work at personal growth.
  • In the Bible, real transformation is a gift from God, received by grace through His Son. He offers a life that is far beyond what your best efforts can achieve.

Amazon Books: Self Help or God’s Book by Rick Smith








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