The word “fix” has two meanings: “to repair” and “to fasten securely.” Sally Hanan skillfully intertwines both aspects of “fixing” in Fix Yourself in Jesus, a manual for healing and hope.
Jesus spoke of the need for a person to be “fixed” in him in John 15:1–11, where he says that he is the vine and his followers are the branches. Jesus’s followers are to “abide in him” so that they will bear fruit. To “abide,” one must be firmly attached to Jesus, embedded like a branch grafted onto a tree. Nothing hinders the grafting process like emotional or psychological brokenness.
To address these barriers to “abiding in Christ,” Hanan has drawn upon her years of counseling and the experiences of many people to provide a self-therapy workbook to guide people in fixing their damaged lives with Jesus’s help so that they can fix themselves firmly in the love and grace of Jesus. The various issues in the book are organized in the order that Hanan has found most people are best able to handle, though she states that it is not necessary to work through the book in chapter order.
Hanan starts, naturally, with a person’s understanding of, and relationship to, God the Father. Once a person is ready to be honest with God about how they see Him, Hanan moves them to dealing honestly with other barriers to a dynamic, fulfilling relationship with God — inner vows (those promises we make to ourselves to protect ourselves from being hurt), judging of self and others, forgiving self and others, self-acceptance, and several other aspects of relationship and of emotional health. Hanan then offers insight into the nature of Christ, as well as dealing with unhealthy attachments and breaking connections to evil, before progressing to the proper use of worship.
Each chapter of the book opens with an anecdote from someone who has dealt with the particular topic of that chapter. Analysis of the problem follows, with frequent reminders to be honest with yourself and with God as you confront your own mistakes, abuses or injustices inflicted on you by others, and misconceptions about God. Following the analysis are deeply searching questions (called Reflections) designed to help you think about how God is speaking to you through the chapter. The Reflections are followed by Truths: Bible verses that illustrate God’s truth about the topic. Each chapter closes with a personal prayer suggesting a way to talk to God about the problem. Note pages for personal thoughts follow each chapter, providing a convenient place for working through more difficult situations or for noting additional encouragements and insights.
This book is perfect for the person who does not have the time or the money for professional counseling but feels a need to work on difficulties they face in their own lives. It would also be an excellent study guide for a Sunday school or small group Bible study, as it is a well-designed means for comprehensive analysis of the issues that people face in trying to grow closer to the Lord. Those who work their way diligently and thoughtfully through this book will find themselves enjoying both better emotional health and better spiritual health, and they will find themselves in a much closer relationship with the Lord.
(I received a review copy of this book from the author.)