Because of the author's profound shift in his understanding of identity issues, this bestselling book has been revised to help readers find victory over faulty views of the self and help them align their view of who they are with God's view.
Josh McDowell is a bestselling Christian apologist, evangelist, and author of over 150 books, including Evidence That Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter. Once an agnostic, he converted to Christianity while investigating its historical claims. He went on to earn degrees from Wheaton College and Talbot Theological Seminary. For decades, McDowell has been a prominent speaker with Campus Crusade for Christ, addressing issues of faith, character, and youth culture worldwide. His work emphasizes historical and legal evidence for Christianity and tackles challenges posed by skepticism and non-Christian beliefs. He lives in California with his wife, Dottie, and is the father of four children, including fellow apologist Sean McDowell.
A mentor recommended this book to me two years ago and it has been sitting on my shelf untouched until now. Great timing though! I really enjoyed this and learned a lot. There are the three foundational pillars of identity that McConnell focuses on (lovable, valuable, capable.) Here is my favorite quote that sums it up:
“In relating to God the Father, your sense of belonging grows, and you understand that you are unconditionally loved by God. In relating to Jesus Christ the Son, your sense of worth grows, and you understand that you are valued by God. In relating to the Holy Spirit, your sense of competence grows, and you understand that you are useful to God.”
Although I wasn't a fan of the journaling questions (I felt they were sort of redundant from week to week), I enjoyed everything else about this book! McDowell incorporates a lot of scripture in both the chapters and the journaling sections, which I really enjoyed and found helpful. As McDowell says, one of the best ways to see yourself as God sees you is to know who God is and to know His word. "The transformation of your inner portrait is inextricably linked to a growing understanding of the Bible's truth about who you are." (p. 114)
McDowell also includes some anecdotes about people he knows to help make his points more salient and applicable. That's another thing - there are a multitude of options for practical application of what you are reading.
I think we could all use a reminder of how loved and valued we are in God's eyes - this book does a great job of that!
Uniwersalna książka skłaniająca do refleksji. Kim jestem? Na czym opiera się moja wartość i tożsamość? Czy mój obraz siebie samej jest taki tam jak Jego obraz? Będę wracać.
What a great reminder from Josh McDowell that our God is glorious and loves us unconditionally. Highly recommend. Some great verses for the toilet door or anywhere you need to be reminded about how special you are.