In It's Your Time, Joel Osteen's follow-up to his 2007 Become a Better You, the best-selling author delivers a message of encouragement for readers struggling in an uncertain economic climate.

Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, said his new book has been influenced by people he has encountered at church and around the country.

"People need hope and inspiration more than principles right now," he told Christian Retailing. "The purpose of this book is to jumpstart your faith and get us to believing again."

Combating what he sees as "so much negativity in the world today," Osteen said It's Your Time is a little different than his previous release, focusing more on encouraging stories than "principles and how-tos." The new book is intended to "let people know that new seasons are coming. God will take care of us in the midst of difficult times."

Osteen began working on the book two years ago, doing a "little bit on it each week" while addressing the subject in sermons and lessons.

Although intended to provide hope for those struggling, the author also believes the book will be a help to others.

"It's not just for the type of people that are really down and out, but I think it could help anybody," he said. "(It's for people who need to say,) 'I think I will see more of God's favor when I believe, when I trust, just do some simple things.' "

Osteen has also contributed to The Hope for Today Bible (Free Press/Simon & Schuster), which was released in March. The Bible's launch was successful, he said, and he believes it was a good starting point for new readers of the Scriptures.

"It's been really well-received," he said. "I felt like it was the right thing to do. So many of the people that watch us, they weren't raised in church like me and they ask, 'How do I read the Bible?' I like that the NLT (New Living Translation) is easy to understand, and it really has taken off."

To promote It's Your Time, Osteen is changing the name of Lakewood's traveling tour, currently The Night of Hope, to the It's Your Time Tour, which will hit various U.S. cities this year and next. In addition to extensive mainstream media promotion, the book will also be featured on Lakewood's podcasts, 60 million of which are released every year.

For more information or to order, contact Simon & Schuster at 800-732-9576, or visit www.simonandschuster.biz.

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