Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone [Paperback]

Elyse Fitzpatrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2001

Many people desire to live godly lives but feel trapped in habitual sins. This book reveals that idolatry lies at the heart of every besetting sin.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875521983
• ISBN-13: 978-0875521985
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology

More About the Author

Elyse Fitzpatrick was born in 1950, but more significantly, was re-born by God's grace in 1971. She married Phillip Fitzpatrick and set about raising their children while completing her BA in Theology.
In 1986, sensing a distinct calling to disciple and counsel other Christian women, she began training in biblical counseling with The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. She became a member of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors in 1991 and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Biblical Counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary in 1997. Then in 1998, her first book, "Women Helping Women", was released, winning a Gold Medallion Finalist Award.
Since that time, Elyse has written 17 books aimed at encouraging, enlightening and comforting her sisters and brothers in their Christian walk. In recent years she's become convinced of the centrality and relevance of the Gospel message to every area of life and has found renewed zeal and joy in the ancient (and perhaps all-too-familiar) message: Jesus Christ died to save sinners! He rose again for our justification!
Elyse lives with her dear husband, Phil, and their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Tanner and Rosie). Her children (and their wonderful spouses) have presented her with 6 delightful grandchildren: Wesley, Hayden, Eowyn, Allie, Gabriel and Colin -- her darlings. She loves the Southern California lifestyle -- riding bikes (and attending classes at Westminster Theological Seminary) all winter and riding waves all summer. She attends Valley Center Community Church where you can find her nearly every Sunday morning rejoicing in the grace that transformed her life so many years ago.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Idolatry and Developing True Love for God July 7, 2004

By Gail Grommon, Sovereign Grace Fellowship

Format:Paperback

Our women's group embarked on the "Idols of the Heart" study about a year ago. We found within the pages the words of a woman who struggled with the same things we all did. One who was transparent, and who told us there was no reason for us to dwell in the temple of self any longer.

I encourage anyone who picks up this book to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the study, and not merely read the chapters and plug in answers to the questions.(which would be difficult to do the way Mrs. Fitzpatrick designed the study)

Where the author refers to the people mentioned in the Bible, find out all you can about their lives, what their idolatry was about, and how it relates to your own life. One thing we all learned was that we can never "lay our weapons down" we must always be on guard because as John Calvin said our hearts are perpetual idol factories.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick shows us the two prong attack the enemy of our souls uses to prod us along the path of idolatry, and gives us the tools we need to bend those prongs back so that when the prong is jabbed towards us it has no sharp edges.

Self-examination is crucial, we must be willing to look at our lives honestly and to lay aside all those things that come before God. There is victory, peace and hope when we do. While our hearts will continually try (notice I said TRY) to resurrect those shatterd idols from the broken shards, or create new idols to replace those that were destroyed; WE MUST bind ourselves to the throne of grace in humility and cling ever tighter to the mercies of God recognizing His unchanging nature, and finally acknowledging our own inability to do or be anything without Him.

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What (or who) must you have to be happy? June 3, 2004

By Susan Wilkinson

Format:Paperback

This book shows you why answering that question will reveal the true object of your trust, your hope, your worship. If the answer is anything but the God of the Bible, then you have named the idol of your heart (more likely idolS, if you're honest). The lie of the enemy is that we need something other than God for our happiness. Overcoming this lie with the Truth that ALL of our happiness rests in the Lord of Life is the essence of sanctification. Elyse Fitzpatrick does a great job of explaining these truths. I found her thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter very helpful in applying this crucial material. Why crucial? Because learning to love and enjoy Jesus Christ above all else is training for heaven, the place where we will spend eternity perfectly happy. The reason we will be perfectly happy is because we will finally know that our happiness is in Jesus alone. Heaven is not joy apart from Christ, but perfect joy in Christ, "I say the joys of heaven are not the joys of heaven without Christ; he is the very heaven of heaven." (Richard Sibbes) The quicker we crush the idols of our hearts, the quicker we will experience a measure of the Joy of heaven.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Theology of Sanctification June 24, 2006

By Robert W. Kellemen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Elyse Fitzpatrick has written one of the most helpful books in recent years on practical sanctification. In the tradition of the Puritans, "Idols of the Heart" exposes the true nature of the battle for our desires.

Often a book like this can come across as either heavy (too deep to be practical) or hard (so attacking that people are turned off). Fitzpatrick skillfully avoids both extremes. Her writing is relevent and her focus is positive, even when discussing the negatives of sins of the heart.

Her explanation of desires, idols, and heart sins is thoroughly biblical. She also provides the biblical counseling process for helping oneself or others to put off sin and to put on righteousness. Highly recommended!

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."