4 Things to Consider When Striving to Be the Best Version of Yourself

Are you hoping to be a better version of yourself? A lighter, leaner you? A more positive or compassionate you? A stronger advocate for yourself in all matters of life? 

Perhaps you’ve heard the encouragement or been given the challenge to be the best version of yourself, and you’re still not quite sure what that looks like. 

A better question to ask might be: Does God want you to be the best version of yourself? 

And the answer is No. He wants you to be the version of Himself. He wants you to be like His Son, Jesus. 

Any better or improved version of us still has too much of us in the equation. But as we focus on who God is and how He can mold us into the image of His Son, we can allow Him to transform us into His idea of the best version of us: one who is more like Jesus. One who is “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4 NASB). 

Here are four things to consider when you find yourself thinking, I want to be the best version of myself, and how to convert that thinking into I want to be more like Christ: 

1. There are two versions of you battling with one another.

The apostle Paul spoke of being torn between two versions of himself—the one who acted like a slave to sin, and the one who was free in Christ to obey Him. In Romans 7, Paul said: 

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me” (verses 15, 18, 20 ESV).   

One way of being the best version of yourself is to be the version of you that dies to self and the flesh, as Paul spoke of, and lives unto Christ. In Galatians 2:20, Paul gave us the key to living the spirit-filled, Christ-surrendered life when he said, ^“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

Want to be the best version of yourself? Be the version that is a slave to Christ, rather than a slave to sin. Yield to Christ’s Holy Spirit so He can live through you. Then you will see there are really only two versions of you, and only one of them glorifies God in all things. 

2. Transformation is not a do-it-yourself project.

Have you ever tried to be a little more patient, a lot more compassionate, and loads more humble? Chances are you’ve tried and failed. That’s because the Only One who can change our hearts is God. We can try to act better and improve our moral conduct, but true transformation happens from the inside out. It happens when the Holy Spirit controls our attitudes and actions, and we become people who are regenerated by faith in Christ and begin to exhibit the fruits (or results) of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. We then become people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

When we try to possess and display those characteristics on our own, our striving will amount to failing. But when we surrender to Christ’s transforming power, He can truly remake us. Yes, we are to exert self-control in the areas that we can. For example, we can say we are the best version of ourselves when we speak only encouraging words, remove all bitterness, anger, and evil intent from our lives, and treat others with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness (thereby applying Ephesians 4:29-32). But even then, we must rely on God for the strength to do that and bring desires of the flesh and sinful habits under the Spirit’s control. To say “I can be the best version of myself” implies we are the authors of our change, and yet you and I are dependent on God for the kind of transformation that comes from the inside out. 

3. Understand the biblical definition of better or best.

When we strive to be a better (or the best) version of ourselves, what is the Bible’s definition of better or best? What kind of changes align us into who He ultimately created (and saved us) to become? Is it best to have a more focused approach to your goals, looking out for yourself instead of being distracted by the needs of others, or being a person who is more bold and vocal about what you want? Is it being your own advocate, as is common to say these days? Or does becoming your best version mean becoming the person who loves God first, others second, and yourself last (Matthew 22:37-39)? 

There are a lot of characteristics and habits that sound good today but run contrary to what God’s Word tells us is God’s design for us as followers of Jesus. Make sure your idea of better or best is what God defines as better or best, and nothing less. 

4. Your best chance of self-improvement comes from the Holy Spirit’s work in you.

Humans have tried, throughout the ages, to better themselves. If you’re a Star Trek fan, like my husband, you’ll notice in the Star Trek Universe that humans keep evolving through the centuries into better human beings—more healthy, more intelligent, more perfect morally, less inclined to war, more tolerant of others, and more successful in promoting peace throughout the galaxy. Wouldn’t that be a nice trajectory to be on as a human race and a great “end of the book” to look forward to? Yet the opposite has happened since the first man and woman, perfect in every sense, were created and given the freedom to live out their lives in the Garden of Eden. Sin entered the picture through their choices, and humans have been declining physically, morally, and spiritually ever since, even though science would have us believe that we’re superior in every way to our predecessors and we really are improving as a human race. 

Psalm 14:3 tells us there is no one who does good, not one. And Jeremiah 17:9 tells us the heart of mankind is desperately sick. Without God’s transforming power, we don’t stand a chance. Yet God can do a wondrous makeover with any of us who surrender to Him. 

According to Ephesians 2:10, if you are regenerated by faith in Christ Jesus, you are God’s work of art, His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared for you long ago. That means He can mold you, transform you, refine you, and restore you into the person He designed you to be—a masterpiece for Him to showcase to the world the wonderful Artist that He is. 

Verses like Romans 8:28-29 assure us that the difficulties we face in this world can shape us into the image of Christ if we allow Him to do the redeeming, restorative work He specializes in. 

The next time someone challenges you to be the “best version of yourself,” let them know that you already have a relationship with the One who is transforming you into Himself, and He’s the One you truly desire to be like. 

For more on developing Christ-like character, see Cindi’s books: Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, and Women on the Edge.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Ben-Schonewille 

Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker, Bible teacher, and award-winning writer who helps women and couples strengthen their relationship with God and others. She is also a mother, pastor’s wife, and author of 17 books, including When Women Walk Alone (more than 150,000 copies sold), When God Sees Your Tears, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, and When Couples Walk Together:31 Days to a Closer Connection, which she co-authored with her husband of 35 years. For more on her speaking ministry, coaching services for writers, and books to strengthen your soul, marriage, and parenting, see her website: www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.