Get Your Spirit Back: Break Free of Negative Self-Talk and Step Fully Into Your Calling

In this rousing debut, pastor McClellan invites Christians who feel adrift or insecure to “stand in the confidence of who God made you to be.” Encouraging readers to find self-worth in their intrinsic, God-given value—rather than “worldly” markers of success like social media followers, degrees, or accolades—he explains how to release resentments and avoid comparisons to others. By way of example, McClellan writes that praying for those he envied helped him see them “the way [God] wants them to be seen.” Discussing how to tackle challenges in moments of fear, McCellan cites the biblical story of Gideon, who followed God’s commands to tear down pagan idols despite being scared of provoking the ire of his father and others. What emerges is a mostly convincing manual for how Christians can build confidence, though McClellan undermines his efforts with some awkward analogies (he assures readers who feel like “discounted shirts” that have been overlooked or damaged that “you don’t lose your worth... because someone spilled something on you”). Flaws aside, it’s an uplifting guide to finding strength in one’s faith. (Nov.)