Osteen - Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now

Copyright 2005 by Joel Osteen Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Scriptures noted NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scriptures noted NKJV are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Scriptures noted NASB are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scriptures noted THE MESSAGE are from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scriptures noted TLB are from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scriptures noted NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scriptures noted KJV are from the KING JAMES VERSION of the Holy Bible.

Scriptures noted AMP are from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: Old Testament. Copyright 1962, 1964 by Zondervan Publishing House (used by permission); and from THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT. Copyright 1958 by the Lockman Foundation (used by permission).

Portions of this book have been adapted from Your Best Life Now. Copyright 2004 by Joel Osteen. Published by Warner Faith, Time Warner Book Group.

Warner Faith
Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com..

First eBook Edition: October 2005

ISBN: 978-0-7595-1476-8
LCCN: 2005927858

PRACTICAL WAYS TO BEGIN LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE NOW

I WAS SEATED at a bookstore table in Chicago, signing copies of Your Best Life Now for a long line of patient people, when I looked up and saw two women, arm in arm, standing in front of me. One woman looked to be in her early thirties; the other was apparently her mother. Their eyes were slightly red and puffy, as though they had been crying recently.

When they told me their story, I understood their tears. They were indeed mother and daughter, but they had been estranged from each other for more than twelve years. Although they both lived in the Chicago area, they had not spoken to each other for that length of time.

Each of them had read Your Best Life Now and came to the store that day for an autograph. At the bookstore, they saw each other for the first time in more than a decade. They discovered that they both had changed, and they had a tearful reunion.

Thank you for writing this book, one of the women said. It not only created the opportunity for our reconciliation, but it transformed our lives to the point where we were able to forgive the past and move forward. Your book changed our lives.

What a privilege it has been for me to hear that sentence again and again as people who have read Your Best Life Now have spoken or written to me. They have told me how God has used that book to positively impact their lives or the lives of people close to them. Many have shared incidents in which they put the principles to the test, and discovered (sometimes to their surprise) that these biblical truths really helped them to achieve their full potential.

Others have said, Joel, theres just so much information in Your Best Life Now. Each chapter is filled with important concepts that I want to practice in my life.

Consequently, many have expressed a desire to work through the power-packed principles more slowly, taking bite-sized bits, studying the scriptural foundations upholding them, analyzing these truths, and applying them to their personal situations. To help in that process, I am delighted to offer Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now.

A devotional is not meant to be an exhaustive treatment of a particular passage of Scripture; instead, it is intended to inspire ardent love and worship of God. Its my desire that the selections Ive chosen to emphasize will be keys you can use to unlock doors leading to a fuller life. This devotional extracts many of the stories and principles contained in my book and organizes them in daily doses.

Combined with an appropriate Scripture reading that sheds light on the main idea for that selection and a key Bible passage (which you might want to consider memorizing), the material is assembled in such a way as to make it ideal for your own personal spiritual growth. Each selection serves as a springboard to help you draw nearer to God and to help you overcome the obstacles that might keep you from living your best life now. A suggested prayer is included at the end of each selection to help you express your hearts desires, your prayer requests, and fresh commitments to God. Obviously, your prayers are as important to God as mine are, so dont feel confined to the suggested prayer. It is simply a place to start in your communication with your heavenly Father.

Take your time as you work through these pages. This book is not meant to be consumed at one reading or even within a few days. It is intended to be a three-month program that will give you a fresh outlook on life, establishing within you such vibrantly new perspectives, you may never be the same. Read one devotional each day for ninety days. Think about the main point of that devotional throughout the day, and allow it to be a catalyst to provoke further study, thought, and contemplation of the good things that God has in store for you. Look up and read carefully each selected Scripture Reading for Your Best Life Now. These passages will sometimes relate directly to the principle being described, and in other instances, the Scripture reading will provide necessary background for accurately understanding the truth you are studying. It is important that you dont neglect these short portions of Gods Word if you want to gain the most benefit from this book.

Im convinced that by the end of the next three months, your life can be transformed and renewed as you allow Gods Word to refresh you and to reshape your thinking, speaking, and daily activities. May this devotional book be instrumental in helping you to live your best life now!

Joel Osteen

ENLARGE YOUR VISION

SCRIPTURE READING FOR YOUR BEST LIFE NOW Hebrews 11:8-40

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

HEBREWS 11:1 NASB

A FAMOUS MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING resort in the Swiss Alps caters to businesses that encourage their employees to hike up the mountain trails together. The goal is to build camaraderie and to teach teamwork. Although it is about an eight-hour trek to the summit, anyone with normal walking ability can ascend to the top. Each morning, the hikers gather at the base of the mountain for a pep talk before starting the climb. Usually, the group is so excited, they can hardly wait to head up the slopes, to have a group picture taken, and to celebrate their victory.