Your heart is who you are on the inside. It is what you think, your motives, and your desires. Transformed heart attitudes such as a high and proper view of God, humility, love, and gratitude are a grace-work of God in the life of Christians as they learn from the Scriptures a biblical view of God, man, and sin. Maturing in godly heart attitudes requires grace from God as well as work on our part for our minds to be transformed to think God-honoring thoughts and to truly discern unbiblical philosophies.
The heart is the most important biblical term for the person's nature and actions. Indeed, the heart is the control center of life. It is the very place where God works to change us. But how does this growth take place? How are Christians to discover the steadfast spirit of David's psalm? In Minding the Heart, Robert L. Saucy offers insightful instruction on what spiritual transformation is and how to achieve it. He shows how renewing one's mind through meditation, action, and community can begin the process of change, but ultimately the final change—the change that brings abundant life—can only come through a vital relationship with God. "The renewing of the heart is an inescapable human need," writes Saucy, "but the solution lies only within the realm of the divine." Drawing from inspiring Bible passages as well as selected scientific studies, Saucy demonstrates how to make lasting change so Christians can finally achieve the joys of becoming more like Christ.
Developing a friendship with God may be the starting point for the spiritual journey, but how can that important internal relationship move us to make an impact on—and even transform—the world around us? In Changed Heart, Changed World, renowned spiritual director William A. Barry, SJ, delves into such topics as how friendship with God impacts our role in society, how to see forgiveness as a way of life, and how compassion can make its mark on the world. Throughout the book, Fr. Barry provides many practical ways to integrate the inner life, where we experience a relationship with God, with the outer life, where we live in relationship with our world. Above all else, Changed Heart, Changed World reminds us that God has a dream for his creation here and now—a dream that can only be realized by our becoming “other Christs in this world.”
Change your attitude, change your life. We’re very good at explaining why we’re unhappy: bad job, bad relationships, bad luck. But there’s probably a better reason: bad attitudes. In Lord, Change My Attitude, James MacDonald shows us just how much our attitudes affect our lives. One of his bestsellers, this book is classic James: It’s clear, it’s inspiring, and it packs a punch. Drawing from the experience of the Israelites who grumbled through the wilderness, MacDonald shows how bad attitudes rob us of joy. Coveting, complaining, and being critical are not what our hearts were made for. They were made for thankfulness, contentment, and love. Is your heart straining under the weight of a bad attitude? Don’t read this book if you’re looking for a quick fix. Don’t read this book if you’re unwilling to change. Read it if you’re ready for a serious, inside-out attitude adjustment.
For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle—especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard. For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn’t seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don’t sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life. In Unsinkable Faith, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each chapter explores Tracie’s and other women’s personal stories, showing how they rose above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds. Unsinkable Faith is a breath of fresh air for anyone longing for a heart full of joy, an unbreakable smile, and a new, more optimistic perspective on life. This book will equip you to: Replace pessimism with positive thinking by becoming the captain of your thoughts; Learn how true joy and happiness are based on choice, not circumstances; Overcome unhealthy habits of negative thinking by intentionally implementing three easy mind-renewing steps; Stop feeling hopeless and pitiful, and start feeling hope-filled and powerful instead; and Discover that when you change the way you think, you change the way feel, and in turn you can change your life completely.
The central organ of the human body is the heart.It circulates the blood throughout the whole bodily system, pumping oxygen and nutrients to the other organs and pulling toxins away from them. Yet we human beings have another “heart”—a spiritual one—that is the true center of our existence. Our spiritual heart is our identity. It is the foundation of our whole being, from which our desires, designs, purposes, will, thoughts, and attitudes originate. Yet, as a result of the fall and our sinful nature, we all have symptoms of “heart disease,” and we need to know how to become spiritually heart-healthy. As the Scriptures say, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” ( Jeremiah 17:9). Every spiritual, mental, and emotional matter—and many physical ones—is rooted in the heart. The state of our spiritual heart affects all aspects of our daily living. Therefore, the condition of our heart will be the condition of our life. Join Apostle Maldonado on a journey of discovery into the purpose, motivations, and potential of our spiritual heart. God wants us to understand how, in Christ, our heart is designed to “pump” life to our entire being—producing mental, emotional, and physical health and removing the toxins of sin. We were created to reflect the heart of our heavenly Father. And God is ready even now to change our heart to be like His through a supernatural transformation!
“Exquisitely reconnects us to the wonder and satisfaction which can be found in our daily lives.” —Judy Ford, author of Wonderful Ways to Love a Child Gratitude is a simple, profound practice that can change your life. Research has confirmed its many emotional and physical benefits. Taking the time to notice and reflect upon good things opens our hearts, creates happiness, and restores us to a natural place where we notice what's right instead of wrong. Find happiness and joy with positive thinking. When you find ways to be grateful every day, you experience more joy in life. Author and personal success coach M. J. Ryan writes, “Gratitude births only positive feelings—love, compassion, joy, and hope. As we focus on what we are thankful for, fear, anger, and bitterness simply melt away, seemingly without effort.” Her book Attitudes of Gratitude teaches you how to reach this positive place. Inside, you’ll discover: Proven strategies for practicing gratitude daily, enabling you to experience joy and positive feelings Tools for integrating gratitude meditation into your routine, paving the way for emotional healing and a serene state of mind Methods to maintain a grateful heart, providing a fresh perspective and heightening overall happiness The profound benefits of thankfulness, starting a transformative journey towards positivity and abundance “I'm thankful to Mary Jane Ryan because her candid and story-filled book reminds me to return to my heart-the home of gratitude- and consequently, enhances my connection with all that is wonderful and wise around and within me.” —Sue Patton Thoele, bestselling author of Woman's Book of Courage and Courage to be Yourself
Picking up on the monastic tradition of creating a "rule of life" that allows for regular space for the practice of spiritual disciplines, Ruth Haley Barton takes you more deeply into understanding seven key spiritual disciplines along with practical ideas for weaving them into everyday life.
As Christians, we know that we are new creations in Jesus. So we try to act differently, hoping this will make us more like Him. But changing our outward behavior doesn’t change our hearts. Only by God’s grace can we be transformed internally. Renovation of the Heart lays a biblical foundation for understanding what best-selling author Dallas Willard calls the “transformation of the spirit”—a divine process that “brings every element in our being, working from inside out, into harmony with the will of God.” This fresh approach to spiritual growth explains the biblical reasons why Christians need to undergo change in six aspects of life: thought, feeling, will, body, social context, and soul. Willard also outlines a general pattern of transformation in each area, not as a sterile formula but as a practical process that you can follow without the guilt or perfectionism so many Christians wrestle with. Don’t settle for complacency. Accept the challenge Renovation of the Heart offers to become an intentional apprentice of Jesus Christ, changing daily as you walk with Him.
