“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:8-12

Dear Jesus, I find myself craving bytes of wisdom and insight for my life. I find myself looking for ways to improve my productivity. I find myself looking for ways to improve my self-control and my discipline. I find myself looking for ways to improve my marriage and my spirituality. I find myself seeking bytes of wisdom for my life. I just want to get better. But these things ultimately let me down. Not only don’t I have the power to follow through on what they teach, but these things don’t have the power to improve or transform me. Jesus, show me what I have in you! Show me in your Word that I am new in you, that I am complete in you, that I am resurrected in you. Transform me by your Word and by your Spirit and make me new. Fill me with your power for a disciplined and controlled life. You alone can do for me what these books promise to do. You alone can transform me as these methods promise to do. Work in my heart and in my life. Yes, work in every part of my body and transform me into your likeness. Amen.

“Self-help books” and “five-easy steps” promise something that they cannot deliver. Jesus fully and completely delivers what he promises.