The Good and Beautiful You - by James Bryan Smith (Hardcover)

About the Book

Christian faith is about more than belief and practices--it is also about the kind of people we become. This Good and Beautiful Series book addresses the toxic self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth, reminding us how Scripture reveals the beauty of our own souls and serving as a companion as you discover who you truly are in Christ.

Book Synopsis

Healing Our Toxic Self-Narratives to Experience True Transformation

The Christian faith is not only about belief and practices, it is also about the kind of people that we become. Yet some of the biggest barriers to our transformation come from our toxic self-narratives. These narratives shape the way we see ourselves and the way we interact in the world. God designed us with a deep longing in our souls to be wanted, loved, alive, and connected to God. Healing our souls requires more than knowing what God thinks about us. Our healing comes not through reason alone, but through revelation.

"The best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation" was Dallas Willard's endorsement of the Good and Beautiful series a decade ago. Now this fourth book in the series, The Good and Beautiful You, addresses the self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth and the desires of the soul that only God can satisfy. In The Good and Beautiful You, you'll find:

• How Scripture reveals the beauty and goodness of our own souls and how we long for healing that only God can provide,
• Spiritual practices that help us live into that reality, and
• A small group discussion guide to facilitate transformation in community.

The Good and Beautiful You will serve as a welcome companion on your journey to discover who you truly are in Christ.

The Good and Beautiful Series includes four essential discipleship books from James Bryan Smith. Work through these proven Bible study resources individually or with a group to learn who God is, what it means to be a Christian, how to live in community, and how to address toxic self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth.

Review Quotes

"Cracking open the deep struggle of our human existence, Jim recovers the truth of our personhood--we are ensouled bodies seeking the transcendent. We long for God, and every false image we turn to erodes the truth of our being. Discover what false narratives have led you away from the truth of who you are in Christ--forgiven, redeemed, and holy--and follow the soul trainings for a deeper embrace of his love. Take care of your soul and allow Jim to guide you to the truth only found in Jesus."--Kyle Strobel, coauthor of Where Prayer Becomes Real and The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb

"Jim Smith takes us on a formation journey--his and simultaneously our own. We visit our false narratives so prevalent in the world today, and we are provided wider eyes to see the truth in every area of our being. Jim takes the key areas that we long for and invites us into the reality of the divine grace of God present to all of us. This is not a quick read unless, of course, that's all you long for. But if you are searching for riches out of the stones of your life, this book will help you see that you are the treasure you have been hoping for."--Juanita Campbell Rasmus, author of Learning to Be

"The good and beautiful me--you've got to be kidding! My lifelong, toxic self-narrative has been a stubborn foe--like a petty dictator, no longer wanted yet refusing to stand down. Thank you, Jim, for patiently and carefully illuminating the path that leads to letting go of our common, neurotic need to create a self. And in letting go, to discover God's creation of our soul--which is the good and beautiful me."--Todd Hunter, Anglican bishop and author of Deep Peace: Finding Calm in a World of Conflict and Anxiety

"The Good and Beautiful You is a heart-piercing and mind-nurturing journey into redeemed personhood. It is learned and light-spirited and challenging. Jim's ability to expose false beliefs, unpack soul-shaping truth, and craft experiences that bring truth and transformation is extraordinary. Divinely inspired wisdom for those he calls 'divinely formed mysteries.'"--John Ortberg, author of Soul Keeping and Eternity Is Now in Session

"With his signature combination of intellectual rigor, accessible language, and pastoral care, James Bryan Smith has helped thousands of us believe firmly in the goodness and beauty of God. But what are we to believe about ourselves? How do we fit into God's good and beautiful universe? Merging solid teaching and carefully crafted soul-training exercises, The Good and Beautiful You firmly debunks the false narratives we believe about ourselves and replaces them with life-giving, soul-enriching truth. This book is a treasure."--Richella J. Parham, author of Mythical Me

"Writing in the venerable tradition of Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, James Bryan Smith has given us a valuable guide to caring for our souls in The Good and Beautiful You. Convinced that Christ is the way to the wellness of the soul, Smith points us to paths where we can find healing for our damaged souls. This book will help many people!"--Brian Zahnd, author of When Everything's on Fire

"Six words come to mind whenever I think about my friend Jim: holy authenticity and intimacy with God. James Bryan Smith knows what it means to walk with God without pretense and with holy expectancy. He knows Jesus as his Redeemer, Healer, Defender, and Deliverer. Jim knows God; he knows his love. That's why he's just the person to write The Good and Beautiful You. Though we were born into sin, as Christ-followers we've been redeemed, through and through, by his grace. If you still struggle with a sense of identity and purpose, settle in and take your time working through these pages. I believe you'll encounter God, you'll hear his voice, and you'll learn afresh how much he loves you. Even today I pray that you hear the love song he sings over you, for it is life-giving and beautiful, just as Christ is in you."--Susie Larson, author of Prevail and host of Susie Larson Live

"James Bryan Smith writes what he lives, and no more so than in The Good and Beautiful You. With personal transparency, intellectual fullness, and day-to-day practicality, my friend Jim adds to what has already been a tremendous series of books on the Christian spiritual life. This book is a true and significant gift for any of us who walk with Jesus and tend to our souls."--Casey Tygrett, spiritual director and author of As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories in the Spiritual Life

"More than most realize, the bottom level of discussions about many of the currents in our life is, Who are we? That is, anthropology. Jim Smith fulfills one of Dallas Willard's major hopes for the spiritual formation movement in this book--a Christian and biblical framing of who we are as persons, as souls. The danger of all such studies is self-idolatry, and that is why I so heartily recommend this book. Here we are called to understand ourselves as God created us and understands us and envelops us in Christ, that is, in his love and grace and transforming power."--Scot McKnight, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary

About the Author

James Bryan Smith is the author of The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and The Good and Beautiful Community. He is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, where he also serves as the executive director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches.