Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions That Control You

In Enemies or the Heart, Andy Stanley argues that the problems that bubble up in life (i.e. job loss, divorce, broken relationships) are result of our failure to address the destructive forces in our heart. These forces poison our lives and set us up for crisis. It is failure to deal with the enemies of the heart that cause some people to lose there faith. So what are these enemies of the heart?

Ostensibly, Stanley suggests four attitudes are experienced as deep debts in the heart: Guilt, Anger, Greed, Jealousy. Guilt is the belief that "I owe you;" we've done something wrong for which we feel we need to atone for.

Anger on the other hand say, "you owe me." You did something wrong and I hold it against you.

Greed says, "I owe me." I am show more going to store up what I can for myself.

Jealousy says "God owes me" as we reflect upon the inequity between our life and someone else (who is better than us).

Stanley says every wound we carry can be traced back to one of these four. So what are the remedies for these ailments?

Guilt is overcome by confession. Stanley stresses public confession as necessary to break the cycle of shame guilt puts us in. Anger is overcome as we learn forgiveness. This involves knowing who wronged us, what they did, what they deserve and our choosing to let go of it. Greed is overcome as we stop hoarding and develop the habit of generosity. Jealousy is beaten when we learn to celebrate those around us.

Andy Stanley has written a good book. It is accessible, warm, humorous and insightful. What I didn't like about this book wasn't what it said, but how it was framed. Stanley offers his advice to us so that we could avoid wounding, be whole and have the best life, including best spiritual life we can. Not that this is wrong, but I wonder about the wisdom of commending holy living (a phrase which doesn't appear in his book) for what it does for you. Why should we avoid guilt, anger, greed, jealousy? So that we are happier and healthier? Why should we confess, forgive, give generously and celebrate others? So that we have better lives? Yes but more.

What happens when holiness doesn't make your life better? You confess and people judge you. You forgive and get hurt again. You give generously and are taken advantage of. You celebrate others and they use you. Well, there is something more to a holy life besides what it does for you. Sometimes all you get out of it, is that you know you are pleasing God. Holiness is not always instrumental and shouldn't be treated that way.

But this demurral aside, I thought this book was worth reading and certainly touches on some pretty big issues that every Christian (and non-Christian) needs to wrestle with if they are to grow in their walk with God. show less

On the whole I found the book provided new insight and direction in pursuing God.

Tending toward the concise and even terse myself, I found about half the content to be a distraction from the meat of the presentation, by which I man most of the stories. I feel like they were a bit overdone (admittedly I am probably not exactly the bulk of his market). The similarities and contrasts he uses to present the four enemies I found excellent.

On greed, he takes a strong position, that I don't believe is entirely Biblically justified. Not that his key point is wrong, but the stories that he uses seem to me to imply that all boundaries, preparation, causality are wrong as they all force us away from trust in God. The chapter on correcting greed show more takes this even further. Quite often I found that he seems to cherry pick those verses that will support his goals, while ignoring or belittling those that contradict. Even in his "trust God" posturing, he seems to be a hypocrite, for if one truly takes trust in God in the way he describes (and I am far from saying that he is wrong) one must also avoid all insurance (which by very definition cannot be trusting in God to supply ALL our needs), and also avoid loans and mortgages (owe no man anything but love and good works), stocks, retirement accounts etc. Why then does he have a financial planner? That is but a taste of what he conveniently avoids discussing. show less

Many of us are burdened with a damaged heart. Not physically, but spiritually. And just as there are steps we can take to make our hearts physically healthy, Andy Stanley offers wise and biblical guidance to improve the emotional health of our hearts as well in "Enemies of the Heat: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions That Control You". Pastor Stanley examines the destructive power of guilt, anger, greed and jealousy while showing his readers the path to freedom in this imminently practical book. Few authors have Stanley’s gift for translating Scripture’s wisdom into concrete life application.

"Enemies of the Heart" begins with a challenge to consider the discrepancies between our behavior and our “real” selves. The author show more warns, “…when your public performance becomes too far removed from who you are in your heart, you’ve been set up for trouble.” In fact, he continues, eventually unresolved guilt, anger, greed and/or jealousy will “seep into your actions, your character, and your relationships.”

In Part Two, Stanley looks at how our view of debt can fuel the four negative emotions on which he focuses. For example, an angry person carries the attitude of “You owe me” while someone plagued by guilt carries the attitude of “I owe you.” In light of the gospel, however, these debts can never be fully re-paid except by the One who paid them on the Cross.

Stanley finishes "Enemies of the Heart" by describing four disciplines that bring about true freedom and heart change: confession, forgiveness, generosity, and celebration. He breathes fresh perspective into these familiar concepts and motivates us to break free from bondage. This pastor’s take on confession was especially relevant as he discusses it as an avenue for change, rather than simply guilt relief. Stanley urges us to seek forgiveness from and offer restitution to those whom we have sinned against. Confessing our sins only to God, he aptly points out, does nothing to relieve our guilt “because God [isn’t] the only offended party.” As he continues this final section with a look into the habit of forgiving others, I felt deep conviction over the hidden sins of anger, jealousy, and guilt that often take residence in my heart.

This author’s work is not your standard Christian fare. "Enemies of the Heart" offers clear, biblical direction for rooting out the sin that controls our hearts. And Stanley does so without the panaceas and abstract garble that dominate our self-help culture. It’s one of the most down-to-earth, helpful, and hopeful books I’ve read in a long time! Enemies of the Heart also comes with a six-week discussion guide, making a wonderful Bible study for individuals or groups looking for the emotional freedom that comes as a result of a changed heart. show less

Good insightful look at how Guilt, Greed, Anger, and Jealousy impact your heart, your spiritual life and your relationships. Well done and including a sufficient number of examples from his own life to make clear the message he is conveying. This is a good book for anyone, unless of course, you think that those 4 things have never peaked out from under the place you try to keep them hidden.

Enemies of the Heart
Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley has once again hit one out of the ballpark. Enemies of the Heart, just like his other books, has one solid point to make - a single message to convey to his audience. Just as easily as if you were sitting in a coffee shop across the table from him, Andy eases back into his chair and speaks from his heart. It's easy for the reader to follow along, open their mind and really feel a connection to the message he's conveying.

Enemies of the Heart focuses on 4 emotions that can erode away the fulfillment of our very lives... guilt, anger, greed and jealousy. Gone unchecked, these emotions can poison our relationships, our faith and our character. The reader isn't bogged down with charts and graphs, show more or “meditative questions for self-enlightenment” but instead follows along on a simple journey to check the pulse rate of their own spiritual heart. Often relating problems of a physical heart, Andy uses clear cut examples of how gone untreated, our spiritual heart can be in just as much danger. Andy explains how to recognize the signs of trouble and offers suggestions for improvement.

Andy has one of those rare abilities of being able to sense our deepest needs, but talk about them in a compelling way. We may think, “How did he know I felt that way?” as if we're the only ones, when in fact, we're not so unique at all. Andy pulls questions out of you that you wouldn't normally ask, making you examine yourself in a whole new light – the penetrating light of God's truth. Sometimes even an uncomfortable light that causes us to stop and think about applying what he's saying instead of agreeing and moving on.

The reader is captivated by the honesty of Andy's own personal experiences. Laughing out loud at his childhood rebellion in one moment, and seriously contemplating our own past troubles, Enemies of the Heart pulls you along through the pages without judgment or condemnation. Once he feels you have a handle on how to set yourself on a good path with healthy new habits, Andy touches on how to influence your children and those around you. The reader is provided with examples of how those around us absorb the emotions and feelings we're broadcasting. Impacting the lives of those we love keeps us focused on the 4 emotions that can cripple our family or friendships.

As senior pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta, and founder of North Point Ministries, Andy is used to the spotlight but engages his audience (either through sermons, books or conferences) with a simple model: Using God's Word to answer life's most compelling and often difficult questions. His strong beliefs and love for his family shines through no matter what media he is reaching out with. Enemies of the Heart is a must read for everyone.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. show less

The author does a superb job on describing what he calls the primarily four emotions that can give us heart diseases. Those emotions can cause damage to us and to our relationship with others.
Those four emotions are:
- Guilt - this is the feeling that I owe those I have offended (I owe you). Suggested treatment is to confess.
- Anger - this is the feeling that everyone owes me (You owe me). Suggested treatment is to forgive.
- Greed - this means that I always want more and more (I owe me). According to the author, it is not a feeling, but a refusal to act. Suggested treatment is to give.
- Jealousy - this is the feeling that I deserve more than what I get (God owes me). Suggested treatment is to celebrate others triumph.

The author uses show more plenty of examples and advices to prove his point, but it is always easier to say than to execute.
Anyway, it is an excellent book and I recommend to be in the permanent library of any reader that wants to improve his/her self-control and get closer to God.

This book was written by Andy Stanley and was first published in February of 2006 with the Title "It Came from Within" by WaterBrook Multnomah Books and it is now republished in June 2011 by the same publisher but with a different name, "Enemies of the Heart". The publishers were kind enough to provide me a copy for reviewing through their Blogging for Books Program. Thanks, Mr. Stanley, for this wonderful book. show less

In Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions That Control You, pastor Andy Stanley calls readers to break free from the destructive power of guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy. These four forces, says Stanley, have the power to destroy your home, career, and friendships if left unchallenged. They take over your life, destroy your relationships, and leave you and those around you hurting. In this book, Stanley provides practical advice, straight from the Bible, to help you take back control and restore your relationships.

Enemies of the Heart is exactly what I needed. It is both convicting and refreshing. The author uses a thoroughly enjoyable writing style with fun anecdotes to unwrap, dissect, and bring light to the show more sources of our problems. The book is nothing if not direct – no skirting around the issues here – and yet unlike with many similar books I never felt as if the author were being self-righteous or accusatory. After describing the problems and helping us to see the problems in our own lives, Stanley provides powerful insight into how to free ourselves from the bondage found in these four emotions.

Please do yourself and those around you a favor and buy this book, but don’t stop there. Devour it. Live it. Use it to change your life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing these things in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." show less