Do the New You Summary

Your true identity is an evolving journey toward authenticity, guided by God's vision for you.

1. Progress Means Taking the Next Step

Growth in life is not a final goal; it's a continuing journey. Steven Furtick encourages readers to adopt the mindset, “I’m not stuck unless I stop.” Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re at a crossroads moment, needing a spark of faith and action.

In moments of struggle, it’s easy to feel crushed by life's weight, but progress begins when you seek support and accept grace. For instance, if managing personal finances feels overwhelming, asking a knowledgeable friend for help can be the first step out of frustration and toward clarity. Growth happens not by leaping over troubles, but by learning to move forward, even incrementally.

Furtick emphasizes that God doesn’t leave you to wrestle alone with challenges. Instead, He provides direction and strength for each step of the journey. By trusting this support and refusing to give up, every stuck moment can transform into a stepping stone, replacing despair with steady forward motion.

Examples

• A person sinking in debt finds hope by attending a budgeting workshop and starts simple savings habits.
• Someone burdened by procrastination begins by organizing one small area of their life and builds from there.
• A struggling parent seeks advice from a mentor, changing their approach to foster better family relationships.

2. Embrace Self-Worth Through Christ

Helen Maroulis, an Olympic wrestler, found power in the truth: "Christ is in me. I am enough." This simple affirmation carried her to victory against formidable odds, reminding her of inner strength rooted in faith, not circumstances.

Living in Christ means rejecting scarcity thinking. Often, we let fear of inadequacy cloud our judgment, but this misperception dissolves when we align with God’s perspective. A person starting a daunting journey—like a new job or parenthood—can repeat Furtick’s mantra to quiet self-doubt and remember their divine identity.

This mindset reframes challenges as opportunities to showcase God’s abundance. When you stop measuring success by worldly standards and start trusting God’s truth, gratitude replaces anxiety. Sharing acts of kindness and pursuing passions with faith reflect the fullness of your identity in Christ.

Examples

• A teacher facing burnout renews energy by remembering their calling and focusing on one impactful moment per day.
• An entrepreneur launches a venture boldly, confident that Christ equips them with creativity and resilience.
• A student facing exams fights anxiety by grounding themselves in prayers of self-affirmation.

3. Faith Opens Endless Doors

“How will this work out?” Turn that question around—“What if it does?” Furtick encourages readers to live in expectancy. Faith reframes failure not as a blockage but as part of growth. Trusting in God’s plan means daring to sow seeds of effort without guarantees that every step will succeed.

Rick Beato, at age 54, started making YouTube videos amidst doubts about his relevance. But by trusting his skills and shifting his mindset, he built a thriving platform. Like Rick, every leap into the unknown becomes an opportunity to trust God’s guidance.

Solomon’s teachings in Ecclesiastes remind us to work diligently in each season. Faith transforms these efforts into miracles, unveiling possibilities that only trust in God can uncover. Success may not look predictable, but it grows when you follow divine inspiration.

Examples

• A shy person starts sharing their story on social media, reaching and inspiring a broad audience.
• A musician relies on faith to overcome stage fright and begins performing regularly.
• A single parent embarks on a career change, trusting that God will provide resources along the way.

4. Overcome Whatever Holds You Back

Fear often springs from the "lizard brain," that voice urging us to avoid risks. Abbey, a young swimmer in Furtick’s story, conquered this inner noise when she crossed a pool in one breath. Her small victory became a powerful metaphor for silencing fear.

The Bible recounts a similar experience with Jeremiah, who doubted his ability to fulfill God’s calling as a prophet. God's words reassured him, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.” Like Abbey and Jeremiah, defeating fear starts with replacing internal doubt with trust in God’s vision.

This growth path isn’t free from challenges—but by leaning on God’s promises, you can turn fear into fuel. Choosing courage over comfort, day by day, signals the shift from the “old you” to the “new you.”

Examples

• A writer sends their first manuscript despite fear of rejection.
• A student applies for competitive scholarships, refusing to let self-doubt sabotage their dreams.
• A parent volunteers publicly at their child’s school for the first time, combating social anxiety.

5. Choose Joy Every Day

Happiness doesn’t happen to you; it’s something you cultivate. Steven Furtick's story about his family discussing joy highlights this truth. Over time, he realized that fostering joy is both a responsibility and a reflection of reliance on God.

The Psalmist writes, “This is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it.” Living joyfully means recognizing today as a gift. Furtick’s journey shifted his focus from reacting to life’s circumstances to being intentional in finding and celebrating good moments.

Making joy a priority reshapes how you interact with yourself and others. Through gratitude, humor, and perspective, you claim the peace promised by God and make it evident in your actions.

Examples

• A person starts journaling three good things about the day to train their mind toward positivity.
• Someone stuck in traffic listens to uplifting music instead of focusing on frustration.
• A family chooses gratitude prayer before meals to appreciate small shared blessings.

6. Use What You Have, Right Now

Trenton, a young man with cerebral palsy, shared a sermon-inspired insight: “Go in the strength you have.” Despite his challenges, Trenton saw God actively working through him, turning human limits into divine opportunities.

This perspective resonates with Ehud, an unlikely biblical leader. Though left-handed—a disadvantage in his time—Ehud delivered Israel using his perceived weakness as a hidden strength. This same principle applies universally: God equips everyone for their current challenges.

The message is simple yet profound: God doesn’t wait for a perfected version of you to get started. Use your gifts, no matter how small or unconventional, knowing they are already enough for your “now.”

Examples

• An artist sells handmade craft items online, turning imperfection into charm.
• A busy worker uses spare minutes in their routine to encourage others with notes or messages.
• A fitness beginner embraces small, consistent workouts instead of waiting for the perfect time.

7. Growth Happens in Partnership

God offers guidance and strength, but progress depends on your willingness to act. When you step forward, trusting God, you engage in a divine partnership where spiritual and personal growth flourish together.

Examples

• An injured athlete finds solace in prayer and commits to physical therapy, seeing recovery as teamwork with God.
• Someone seeking career change prays for clarity, then actively networks and applies for jobs.
• A family struggling to communicate starts spiritual devotions together to improve unity and trust.

8. Let God Define Your Worth

Comparison traps us into feeling "not enough," but true worth stems from God’s view of you, not others’ opinions. Living by this truth transforms insecurity to confidence.

Examples

• A student opts out of competing with peers academically by embracing their learning process.
• A worker finds peace not through titles but through stewardship of their skills.
• A parent reclaims joy by attending to family values over societal expectations.

9. Step Into Possibility

Furtick reminds readers that God’s plans contain more possibilities than human doubts can limit. Your transformation begins when you say “yes” to the faith-driven life instead of staying confined to old fears.

Examples

• A hesitant writer finally begins Chapter 1 and discovers storytelling fulfills them.
• A traveler overcomes anxiety about solo trips, inspired by shared stories from others.
• A leader creates a team project idea after years of self-doubt holding them back.

Takeaways

1. Start claiming the mantra, “Christ is in me. I am enough,” daily to reshape how you view yourself.
2. Actively seek joy by listing reasons to be thankful each morning.
3. Take small, faith-driven steps through any challenge instead of focusing on perfection before progress.