Andy Stanley’s Enemies of the Heart is well-titled. It is about exactly what it says it is!
Stanley starts by exploring the significance of the heart in the Christian life and the need for its health, before enumerating four major enemies of the heart. These enemies are guilt, anger, greed and jealousy. Each of these sins receives a chapter to itself and is written in Stanley’s usual relaxed style, interspersed with real-life stories and examples.
The second half of the book offers strategies for overcoming these enemies of the heart. Stanley suggests that each of the four enemies can be countered by a specific spiritual practice which is taught in Scripture and continues by explaining how the reader might incorporate them in their life.
I can’t say that I felt there was anything ground-breaking in this book but then I’m sure that Andy Stanley would freely admit that. That’s probably not its purpose, though. It’s the kind of book you might enjoy and benefit from if you are new to the Christian life and keen to learn about how our sin can damage not only the hearts of those around us but also our own hearts. Yet, even if you have been a Christian for some time, you might still benefit from a review of these topics!
I received a free copy of this book for review from Waterbrook Multnomah.
