I wish I had read more Christian self help books over the years!

Instead, I have read tons and tons of secular self help books. A few written by Christian authors, but most of what I read was written by non Christian authors.

Non Christian self help books which included information on the Law of Attraction, sub-lingual programming, the subconscious mind, hypnosis, and other worldly methods for gaining prosperity.

Unfortunately, the combination of all those Christian and non Christian self help books kept me confused. However, the more I read, the more I wanted. I just wanted understanding! But, the more I read, the more confused I became!

It seemed no matter how hard I tried…

It seemed no matter how hard I tried to gain understanding about how the universe worked, the more confused I was. While I was studying all that, I was also learning the Bible, how to live as a Christian, and how to fulfill God’s will for my life.

With one foot in the Bible and one foot in the world, I struggled with my plan for my life verses God’s plan for my life. I was being pulled in two different directions, and didn’t want to let go of either one.

Today, I realize that “life” in general, is out of control, and non Christian self help books are certainly not going to fix that. Even Christian self help books will not help… by themselves. It really depends on what you do with the knowledge and guidance you will get from them.

The best help there is…

The best help there is for “life out of control,” is wise biblical-based counsel, whether it be from a face to face encounter or from a great Christian self help book …and then take action!

All that non Christian self help reading had led me to attempt many things outside of God’s will for my life and I ended up failing in most of those endeavors! Some of those things were really humiliating… to say the least!

We are all required to admit our helplessness, and acknowledge our total dependence on God no matter who we think we are. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”

I realize today…

I realize today that once a person becomes saved, he or she is not their own anymore, but God’s.

If we will desire Him as much as He desires us, we will become separated from the world and lose all desire for its attractions. Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (NASB).

God is very jealous for His people, and does not want them learning about the world’s ideas for success. He has given us the formula for success in Joshua 1:8 – “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (NIV).

Have you had the same experiences? Have you had the same experiences with non Christian self help books as I have had? If so, you should always remember… whatever does not begin with God, will probably end in failure!