Practical. When I think of Andy Stanley, that is the word that comes to mind – practical. It seems that whenever he speaks or writes, he is able to cut through to the real issue at hand. In this particular book, he truly does get to the heart of the matter.
He begins and ends the book with the same thought – our hearts are so important. Everything we do – love, lead, parent, build relationships, teach, etc. – all come from our heart. In his practical style, he drives his point home and drills down to the four enemies that we deal with in our hearts – guilt, anger, jealousy and greed.
Not only does he reveal the four enemies we face, he gives ways to combat those enemies.
It is easy as you read this book to see these enemies in someone else’s life. Stanley addresses that reality and causes the reader to look inward to see if one of the four enemies has taken up residence in his or her own heart. The questions he presents do help the reader take an inventory of what is happening inside the reader’s own heart.
Another bonus of the book is what he offers parents. Through his own personal illustrations of talking about these enemies with his kids and the direct recommendations he makes to parents, Stanley equips parents to help their own children monitor their hearts. Too often, as he points out, we focus on our kids behavior (what is happening on the outside) and neglect their hearts (what is happening on the inside).
This is a great resource for individuals, parents and those in ministry. The content of this book would make a great teaching series for those who work with adults and students.
Pick up a copy of Enemies of the Heart and let Andy Stanley help you to begin to monitor the condition of your heart.
(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review)
Thoughts from a Hoosier Fan in the Buckeye Land 