"Most of us want to change, whether it is changing some bad habit to changing a deeply ingrained character defect, and Smith reminds us that change does not result from willpower. The will has no power. Spiritual change begins with God—what we think about God shapes what we think about ourselves and those around us and our world. Spiritual change begins with a narrative where God is the center: What is our 'narrative' of God? What are the narratives that hinder our perception and life in God? A major feature of this series is the power of false narratives in our lives and the power of good narratives that can effect change. The false narrative is that effort and willpower leads to change. The true narrative is about God—about Christ—about the Spirit—and about your place in the God Narrative."

"I don't seem to be able to think of my friend Jim Smith and his book The Good and Beautiful God without breaking into a cheerful, warm, and friendly smile! Jim is a delight as a friend, a teacher, and a wise counselor. Over the last ten years as I have traveled widely, I have run into countless people who testify to the grace-filled and powerful insights in Jim's writing for discipleship, for spiritual formation, and for apprenticeship to Jesus. As Dallas Willard taught both Jim and me, 'There is nothing more important to Jesus than our view of apprenticeship and its relationship to what we think about God.' This is why The Good and Beautiful God is such an important book, deserves a special tenth-year edition, and is destined to become a classic in the years to come."

"I am so grateful this edition of a rich spiritual resource will become available. I hope it is widely and wisely read."

"James Bryan Smith has written a great and beautiful book. Deep, inspiring, and highly accessible, this is the best book I've read on spiritual practices. I recommend it to everyone."

"The best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation."

"'What do you want?' This question, which Jesus often asked, is central to this book. If you want a life of growing connection to Jesus and a reliable plan for advancing that goal, this is a book to read and return to again and again. James Bryan Smith holds to the compelling paradox of God's good news: that while spiritual formation is not accidental, we only learn to love him because he, in his kindness, has first loved us."