The Seeking Heart

by François Fénelon

The name Fenelon has stood for spiritual depth and insight for 300 years. Seeking Christians throughout the years have turned again and again to his writings for guidance and help in their quest for a deeper walk with Christ.
Here are his works and letters for those who have a seeking heart.

Genres: Christian, Spirituality, Faith, Christianity, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Discipleship

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, a Roman Catholic theologian and poet, wrote in France. He today is remembered mostly as one of the main advocates of quietism and as the author of The Adventures of Telemachus, a scabrous attack on the French monarchy, first published in 1699.

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a long time to read this book, not because it was hard to read but because the content required lots of time to meditate on it and pray for deeper revelation.

If you read this book with a sincere heart, be prepared -- it WILL change you, and it most definitely won't be easy. I had to take a few weeks off from reading it as I prayed about what it meant to die to self and live the kind of life Fenelon encourages (as is written in Scripture).

If you're a Christian who knows there's more and wants more from your life than simply going to church and doing the "Christian" thing, I highly recommend this book, If you let it, the truths and challenges in this book will change you.

[Kaitlynn Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not mince words when it comes to condemning self-love and pride. Too often, I seek growth and perfection not out of love for Jesus but out of a desire to appear righteous to others. Fenelon brings this to light, while also laying out the importance of loving Jesus simply for who He is and trusting Him completely, no matter what suffering you endure.

'How happy you will be when you do not possess anything of your own but give yourself completely to your Lord. Bride of Jesus, how beautiful you are when you no longer have anything of your own, but seek only His beauty. You will then be the delight of your Bridegroom, and He will be all your beauty! He will love you without measure. He will put His own life in you.'

'Give God a free reign to work within you, and then don't spend all your time being introspective. God will show you what displeases Him and all you have to do is simply turn away from what is unworthy of your Beloved. Stop being so taken up with yourself! Your old nature wants to be perfect. It will push you in every way to be an outstanding Christian. Please avoid this trap. Simply follow the Lord. You do not need to see yourself as a wise, strong, and virtuous woman. Just be a little child.'

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a superb book written by a medieval saint who was noted for his godly advice and exemplary character. The Seeking Heart is actually a collection of correspondence between Fenelon and unnamed recipients that touches on a number of issues in our spiritual lives.

I was stirred as I read his simple, direct call for a steadfast gaze on Jesus. Fenelon exemplified what we mean by simplicity of life and his articulation in these various letters are filled with practical ways that we can live out the calls of abandonment to God. The entries are short and conducive for slow ponderous reading. This is a true gem.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart changing

[Ellis Sriram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was very good. I treated it as a daily devotional and thought it had a lot of really good things for loving God in your every day life.

[Cornelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi-era dor să citesc o carte care să mă pună pe gânduri cu privire la viața de credință. Nu știu foarte multe despre Fenelon, decât ce am citit în introducere. Teolog catolic în timpul lui Ludovic la XIV-lea, scrisorile sale tratează aspecte profunde ale umblării cu Dumnezeu care au încurajat nenumărați credincioși.

"O viață de credință face două lucruri: credința te ajută să-L vezi pe Dumnezeu în spatele tuturor lucrurilor pe care El le folosește. Și tot credința te ține într-un loc unde nu ești sigur ce se va întâmpla după aceea.(...). Nu-L căuta pe Dumnezeu ca și cum ar fi departe , într-un turn de fildeș. El este de găsit în mijlocul întâmplărilor vieții tale de fiecare zi. Privește dincolo de obstacole și găsește-L."

Este o carte care trebuie citită în liniște și contemplație, cu timp pentru a procesa cele citite. Recomand persoanelor care doresc să privească viața de credință și provocările vieții cu un ochi critic și contemplativ, axat pe predarea totală în voia lui Dumnezeu.

[Mihay · Rating 5 out of 5]

good and beneficent teachings

[Cassandra Koshatka · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books. I want to know Christ beyond religion and doctrine. I want to know Him as He wants to be known. To the heart that seeks after Him in this way, there are hard truths to face about yourself and your flesh and how you need the Cross. Fenelon brings it hard and fast. It stings at times, but it's so right on and the Cross was not meant to be flowery, but a means to put us away that Christ may live.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used this as a daily devotional because it consists of a collection of over a hundred "letters" about living the Christian life. This is not a book to sit and read through. It's best to take a letter a day at a time for focused contemplation.

[Sarah M. Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic, straight-forward, challenging book on seeking the heart of God and positioning one’s self to know and love God. The simplicity of it is what makes it challenging. I can see the value of reading this one again and again.

[Gisèle Uwobahorana · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so, so good!!! 🙏🏽

[Kaylin Worthington · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book to deepen your relationship with God through a man who wrote letters encouraging his friends 300 years ago. Still so relevant today!

[Denisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dragostea lui Dumnezeu din tine suferă toate, rabdă toate, nădăjduiește toate pentru ceilalți. Dragostea Lui poate învinge toate obstacolele, întrucât ea curge dinlăuntrul duhului tău." 💖

[Jake Childers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took this slow, reading each letter occasionally as a kind of devotion at times. A challenging banger.

[Diana Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the deep thinking this author's work provokes, along with the short chapters. A re-read for sure!

[Daphne Halverson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow so good. Literally read in 3 days!!! Honestly wish I would've read it as a devotional because there is so much to chew on! No fluff and straight to the point. Highly recommend!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would mark this down a star for being modernized, but to be honest, when I found what appears to be a more faithful translation for some of the letters (a 1940s translation), I realized that I liked the modernized style better, found that I was actually reading it, but the original taxed my attention more so I wasn't reading it, in practice.

But the content of the book is great, so it's worth it under whatever style. Especially liked the part about how humiliation is good for you / spiritual vanity is bad for you. I guess it just depends on how hard you want to work at reading it. Possibly the more faithful edition would say more interesting things, too, I don't know. But even this version is worth it.

[Tobias Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book in 2006 by an uncommon friend. I read it then, and many times since. I have marked it as "reading" as it is one of those books I return to frequently. Each letter offers an important insight, and gently takes my thinking away from its usual self-centered mode, to a more other-centered or God-centered one. I guess I use this book as my Guide to Good Living. I should probably read it more often!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written book. The bio at the beginning of the book stated the author, Fenelon was born several hundred years ago in 1651. I started in the afternoon and couldn't put it down. Several passages spoke directly to me. It was amazing! Very simple terms which were very encouraging to me. Highly recommend this to those seeking a closer walk with the Lord.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the most powerful book I have ever read... and read... and read. This book single-handedly changed my life - however, it must be in His time. I was given this book 3 times, only the 3rd time was it the right time. Powerful, powerful book. Like nothing I have ever read.

[Hilary Treat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection of Fenelon’s letters. I like to wake up each morning and read one or two of them….it feels like I’m starting my day with a letter addressed personally to me. I reread this at least once a year.

[Noel Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazingly book on the spiritual walk of a priest from the 1600's.

[Braden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book about walking in the way of the cross. I would recommend it to any Christian seeking a deep, fundamental understanding of what the Cross means in our lives.

[Katrina]

Amazing.

[Wendy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a read and re-read and then read again. Wisdom that speaks to the heart in understandable humanly tangible ways. A book that one should have and return to again and again.

[Pam Sarver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love reading Fenelon, but didn't like this modernized translation

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenelon's letters are a beloved devotional book that I continue to return to again and again and again...

[Carolyn Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books I read decades ago that still stands out as one of the most impacting in my life!! I really want to read it again.

[Ronald K. Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read ANYTHING by Francois Fenelon. He is one of the most inspiring and informative Christian teachers I have ever read.

[Scott Seney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! This was my third read.