HIDDEN AGENDAS: Demands of the Heart that Stop Us Loving God and Others PB

This book lifts the lid on the human heart, seeking to uncover the hidden agendas that stop us from loving God and others as we should. Our hearts have a selfish list of priorities that we believe are important and need to be given attention. But often these heart agendas are in tension with God’s agenda.

David Smith uses four biblical pictures to help us consider these agendas that are often hidden so deep within our hearts that we are unaware of them. Using examples from the Bible, he uncovers the desire to be significant; the desire to have certainty; the desire to have peace, safety, and security; and the desire for our own fulfilment.

Each of these four chapters begins with a story from the Bible, an explanation of the heart agenda exposed in the story, the underlying heart fear, the heart demand, and the heart problem. It then goes on to show God’s heart agenda in that situation and concludes with a summary and questions for reflection.

The final two chapters show the servant heartedness that is central to the Kingdom of God, and the way we can honestly assess our own hearts. David helpfully finishes the book with guidance on how we can journey towards the heart agendas God wants us to have.

As reviewed by Stephen McQuoid, GLO General Director

"Hidden Agendas by David Smith is a very useful book. This book encourages the reader to self-examine and to uncover motivations and personal agendas that might stop us from adequately loving God. This is because our agendas are often held in opposition to God’s agenda. Smith uses different biblical pictures to highlight our desire for peace, safety and security as well as a desire for our own fulfilment. These are drawn from biblical stories and highlight where we fall and how God wants to correct our motivations. He also includes questions to help us reflect on the points being made.

In the final two chapters Smith shows how having a servant heart is an essential quality in the Kingdom of God. This is the only way we can honestly critique our hearts. He then provides some practical guidance as to how we can develop and fall into line with God’s agenda. This small and easy to read book will be of help in personal discipleship."

Product details
Publisher: Christian Focus Publications (27 May 2022)
Language: English
Paperback: 192 pages