Desire: The Journey We Must Take to Find the Life God Offers

Cliche though it may be this book is a life changer. If you are struggling with disappointment in your walk with God and with unfulfilled desires in your life then I can't recommend this book too highly. I've been stuck in a bad place with the Lord for a long time and I got so much revelation, insight and breakthrough as I wept and wowed my way though this book.

This book changed my life. John Eldredge slowly and thoroughly takes you on a journey through God's heart, to help you find your own. Plus there's a great story about a sea lion in it. :) I laughed, cried and nodded through this book. John's writing is clear, and truthful. It's inspirational and challenging. Try it, you won't regret it.

Covers the high and lows of desires, the dangers and great benefits of learning from such a perspective, to see scripture from another angle. Wonderful book and one I've read and given away many a time. Thank you John for your flowing use of words in insight into scripture.

Interesting

A warning – this is a very dangerous book. Eldredge is a persuasive writer – he draws us in over the first couple of chapters by describing those disappointments in life we have all experienced – loss of love, friendship, trust, faith, contentment in work. There is almost no reference to religion (for which read Christianity) in those opening chapters; it could almost be any self-help book. Eldredge describes his own disappointments disarmingly – the death of a friend, his own struggles with his faith – and we nod our heads and identify with him – he’s one of us, and we know what he’s gone through, just as he seems to know what we’re going through. Beware. This is a honey trap. The thrust of this book is that we are born (created) with a purpose in our hearts (a desire) that is God’s plan for us and if we would only listen to God and follow His signs we would live fulfilled lives. Eldredge casually has conversations with God and thus learns to recognize these signs. Except that he sometimes gets them wrong and these mistakes take him on long detours (sometimes over a period of years – the ‘fishing trip’ saga, for example) until he chuckles and realises that this was all part of God’s plan anyway… (There’s no answer to that way of thinking.) Beware of what Eldredge terms ‘Imposters’ though – these are the things we might think are signs from God but aren’t (how do we know? it seems that we don’t till it’s too late, unless they are blindingly obvious – pornography in lieu of love, for example). Throw in an antediluvian attitude towards feminism and the women's movement, and casual sexism based on the Adam and Eve story (are we still in the 21st century?) and Eldredge’s revelation that the death of his friend was also part of God’s plan for him (Eldredge) (nice for his friend’s family…) and you start to get an idea how this book starts to unravel. It was recommended to me and I was initially sympathetic to its aims and objectives; as I said, the opening chapters are full of things that we will all recognize and respond to; from then on, following its advice and recommendations is likely to lead those most in need of help into dark and dangerous places, labyrinths of illusion and fantasy. It can and does destroy friendships and, ultimately, lives. Avoid at all costs.

Casi todo el libro está increíble (la idea central es hermosa), pero a mi gusto le faltó fuerza en el final.

John's book Waking the Dead is my favorite. In fact it was so well liked that my Pastor spent five weeks doing a series based on it. He went on to encourage the whole church purchase a copy of it and follow along. After enjoying Waking the Dead so much I started purchasing other books by him. I would have to say this one is next on my list. In Waking the Dead John resurrects the whole idea of living from the heart and not the head. Desire goes on to expand on one way God guides us, through desire. I have loaned my copies of both these books to friends and in each case they thanked me and went on to purchase copies for themselves. John covers a topic overlook by many, keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it come the issues of life.

This is my 5th book from John Eldredge. I've just started reading this book and after 60 pages I can say that it's worth reading! I love the way J.E. refers to movies, books, songs and situations that he experienced in his life. This book really takes you on a trip in your mind to find the life God has always wanted you to live! I can honestly recommend it!

I read this book every January to reset and reignite my desires. Have read it 10 times at least and have led book groups through it. Also recently gave one to all 15 of my coworkers! It’s that good:)

This work by Eldridge is an insightful view of the human heart. Living out our God given desires is the key to living a life worth living. Once again, the author strikes a chord too easily buried in ones soul. To not embrace our Godly desires is to deny what makes each of us unique and precious in the Father's eyes. "The glory of God, is man fully alive." And we are not fully alive if desire is not lived for, strived for and fought for. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to LIVE and not just exist.