Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

John Eldredge is a bestselling author, a counselor, and a teacher. He is also president of Wild at Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God's love, and learn to live in God's kingdom. John and his wife, Stasi, live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Craig McConnell was an integral part of the Ransomed Heart speaking team until he went to the Kingdom in 2016. He loved the beach, good music, and deep friendships. His teachings continue to transform lives and can be found at RansomedHeart.com.

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A Guidebook to Waking the Dead

THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS

Contents

Introduction.......................................................................viiPart 1: Seeing Our Way ClearlyChapter One: Arm Yourselves........................................................3Chapter Two: The Eyes of the Heart.................................................19Chapter Three: The Heart of All Things.............................................39Part 2: The Ransomed HeartChapter Four: Ransomed and Restored................................................57Chapter Five: The Glory Hidden in Your Heart.......................................77Part 3: The Four StreamsChapter Six: Walking with God......................................................99Chapter Seven: Receiving His Intimate Counsel......................................119Chapter Eight: Deep Restoration....................................................136Chapter Nine: Spiritual Warfare: Fighting for Your Heart...........................154Chapter Ten: Setting Hearts Free: Integrating the Four Streams.....................171Part 4: The Way of the HeartChapter Eleven: Fellowships of the Heart...........................................195Chapter Twelve: Like the Treasures of the Kingdom..................................211

Chapter One

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -Jesus of Nazareth (John 10:10)

Heart Monitor

Take an inventory before you begin. How are you doing? Where are you right now? What are you feeling ... thinking ... wanting? What's your mood?

What's been nagging at you today? Any discouragement ... distraction? Are you even aware of what's been nipping at your heels?

And are you hopeful, expectant about God using this new material in your life?

What circumstances, pressures, or relational issues could distract you from embracing all God may have for you in this chapter? What would be good to lay down right now in prayer?

Finally, a simple prayer:

Jesus, I ask you now for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. By your Spirit, guide me through my work here, so that I may know you, really know you, and find the life you offer me. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want all that you have for me here. I want, and ask for, my whole heart back.

A First Reaction

Before we dig in, jot down your first thoughts, emotions, impressions. What did the chapter stir in you? What struck you? Did anything stir a "yes!" or an "aha!"?

* The Big Ideas As we said, Waking the Dead, if taken seriously, is ... revolutionary. So as we move along, what we're going to do is help you focus on the Big Ideas, the central truths of each chapter. There are three big ideas in chapter 1: First, most of us live in a fog, most of the time. Twenty clear days a year. I think I see what's really going on about that often. Wouldn't a little bit of clarity go a long way right now? Second, the offer of Christ is life and that life starts now. The glory of God is man fully alive. Now. Third, there is something set against us. We are at war. How we've missed this for so long is a mystery. Maybe we've overlooked it; maybe we've chosen not to see. We are at war. Until we come to terms with war as the context of our days we will not understand life.

Big Idea 1: We Need Clarity

Twenty clear days a year-that sounds about like my life. I think I see what's really going on about that often. The rest of the time, it feels like fog, like the bathroom mirror after a hot shower. You know what I mean. What exactly are you perfectly clear on these days? How about your life-why have things gone the way they have? Where was God in all that? And do you know what you ought to do next, with a deep, settled confidence that it will work out? Neither do I. Oh, I'd love to wake each morning knowing exactly who I am and where God is taking me. Zeroed in on all my relationships, undaunted in my calling. But for most of us, life seems more like driving along with a dirty windshield, and then turning into the sun. I can sort of make out the shapes ahead, and I think the light is green. (p. 5)

Can you relate to that sense of being in a fog? When it comes to your life, what exactly are you perfectly clear on these days?

Why have things gone the way they have, and where was God in all that? And do you know what you ought to do next, with a deep, settled confidence that it will work out?

Do you wake each morning knowing exactly who you are and where God is taking you? How about this morning?

Are you zeroed in right now in your relationships? What is going on right now in your key relationships-and what will that require of you next?

Let's start with why life is so dang hard. You try to lose a little weight, but it never seems to happen. You think of making a shift in your career, maybe even serving God, but you never actually get to it. Perhaps a few of you do make the jump, but it rarely pans out the way you thought. You try to recover something in your marriage, and your spouse looks at you with a glance that says, "Nice try" or "Isn't it a little late for that?" and the thing actually blows up into an argument in front of the kids. Yes, we have our faith. But even there-maybe especially there-it all seems to fall rather short of the promise. There's talk of freedom, and abundant life, of peace like a river and joy unspeakable, but we see precious little of it, to be honest. (p. 5)

Life is hard. Sometimes really hard. Why? I mean, prior to reading the chapter, how have you explained that to yourself?

Up until I really came to see the Battle, I just thought life was hard because of sin-you know, "It's a fallen world," and all that. We blew it, and now this is the world we get. Make the best of it. Be more grateful. In fact, it was almost a sin to admit it wasn't all that great. Anyhow, that was my theology. But I think down in my heart I thought life was hard because I just hadn't found the key yet to making it work. Maybe if I try harder, or maybe when I'm more spiritual, or more mature, then things will work out. So, I guess I had my theological explanation, and I had my gut-level understanding. Theology: It's a fallen world. Gut Level: I just can't make it work. (John)

Why is it that, as Tillich said, it's only "here and there in the world and now and then in ourselves" we see any evidence of a new creation? Here and there, now and then. In other words ... not much. When you stand them side by side, the description of the Christian life practically shouted in the New Testament compared with the actual life of most Christians, it's ... embarrassing. Paul sounds like a madman, and we look a little foolish, like children who've been held back a grade. How come nearly every good thing, from taking the annual family vacation to planning a wedding to cultivating a...