Quotes from John Eldredge

You have been entrusted with the heart of another human being. Whatever else your life's great mission will entail, loving and defending this heart next to you is part of your great quest.

For that which draws us to the heart of God is that which often first lifts our own hearts above the mundane, awakens longing and desire. And it is that life, my brothers, the life of your heart, that God is most keenly after.

Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough" (Matthew 13:33 NLT). Yeast gets into the dough and slowly works its way through the entire batch. The promise is this: the goodness of Jesus will work its way through your entire being. Jesus is the yeast

For the search for wholeness compels every person, every hour of their lives, whether they know it or not. We ache to be made whole again. And only one Person who ever walked this earth can do this for the heart and soul he created himself.

For the religious spirit is like the flu—it is constantly adapting to the environment.

Communion with God is the one need of the soul beyond all other need," wrote George MacDonald. "Prayer is the beginning of that communion and some need is the motive of that prayer."

Confusing the weight of sins actually hurts our ability to resist temptation.

Imagine—after your enemies are judged and banished, many great treasure chests are set before you. Jesus tells you to open them, saying, These are the gifts I meant for you in your former life but were stolen. I return them now, with interest. Imagine what fills those chests. Laughter comes from one, for so much of what has been lost are memories and joy.

Must live maturely, knowing that whatever else is happening, we must preserve the relationship if we would find our way.

We simply start saying, "I love you" as we turn our attention toward him for a moment or two. As I do so I find it helpful to recall some reason I love God: his goodness, the beauty of the world (ninety thousand caribou stacked up for a river crossing), a kindness I recently received. "God is the creator of everything I love." Just repeat that to yourself, "God is the creator of everything I love.

Sometimes it takes time for a person to be ready to forgive. It often helps to explain that forgiveness is not saying it didn't matter; it is not saying we simply choose to overlook the offense. Forgiveness is saying the cross is enough—we require no further payment than Jesus paid. Forgiveness is releasing the person to God for him to deal with.

If I've lost the capacity for, and the enjoyment of relationship, I know things are deeply off in my soul.