In order to fully understand and appreciate My God and I: A Spiritual Memoir by Lewis B. Smedes, the reader must always keep in mind the subtitle of the work. Lewis B. Smedes's nonfiction book is a "spiritual memoir," which differentiates it from a traditional memoir. Although the contents do resemble a traditional autobiography, Smedes focuses on his spiritual journey more than the chronological experiences that occurred throughout his life.

Another interesting observation regarding the book's title is how he refers to God. He refers to the Christian deity as "his" God, which sets up the tone for the memoir; that the journey he recounts in the book is a very intimate one, almost a self-contained universe in which Smedes and his personal God are the only beings that occupy it.

The book, despite being called a spiritual memoir, isn't preachy or overly religious. Smedes, a theologian of the Calvinist sect of Christianity, is practical and uses reasoning to make his arguments about theological philosophies. He admits that God is not always at the forefront of his mind at every waking hour. This admission shows the reader that Smedes is not pretentious and that he has little to no self-deception.

He knows he is a mere mortal with flaws and occasional lapses in faith. Like all humans, there are times when the material world and modern society forces us to attend to more mundane, everyday matters, many of which do not involve God or faith (e.g., paying the bills on time, fixing up a home, personal issues). By admitting his flaws and his humanity, Smedes is able to honestly articulate his spiritual journey up to that point in his life. This honesty also allows Smedes to gauge how much he's evolved as a Christian and as a person, as he is able to review all of the mistakes he has made and compare those to the positives in his life.

The book also offers many pieces of advice to the readers. Smedes, after all, is a teacher at a prestigious seminary school in California. By teaching the readers his wisdom, he is able to pass on the lessons he's learned throughout his spiritual life.