Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the character of Christ

by Dallas Willard

As Christians, we know that we should become more like Jesus - so we try to act differently. But changing our outward behaviour doesn't change our hearts. Only God's grace can do that.

Renovation of the Heart lays a biblical foundation for spiritual transformation, and explores the disciplines and practices that are crucial if we are to be changed from the inside out. Immensely profound but also practical and encouraging, Dallas Willard's insightful wisdom challenges us to rethink what it really means to become more Christlike and how we do so.

This special 20th anniversary edition - featuring a new introduction by John Mark Comer, revised discussion questions and a never before published interview with Dallas Willard - shows that this dynamic and practical approach to spiritual growth is just as needed today as it was 20 years ago. It will both challenge and inspire you on the path of becoming more like Jesus and equip you to engage actively and intentionally in your spiritual formation.

Renovation of the Heart has helped countless Christians begin the process of spiritual transformation. It is ideal both for anyone new to the Christian faith looking for guidance in discipleship, and those who are already Christians and want a new approach to help their spiritual growth and reaffirm their faith.

Don't settle for complacency. Accept the challenge Renovation of the Heart offers and discover what Dallas Willard describes as a divine process that "brings every element in our being, working from inside out, into harmony with the will of God." Become an intentional apprentice of Jesus Christ, changing daily as you walk with Him.

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

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1987

About the author

Dallas Willard was a widely respected American philosopher and Christian thinker, best known for his work on spiritual formation and his expertise in phenomenology, particularly the philosophy of Edmund Husserl. He taught philosophy at the University of Southern California from 1965 until his death in 2013, where he also served as department chair in the early 1980s. Willard held degrees in psychology, philosophy, and religion, earning his PhD in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a focus on the history of science. He was recognized as a leading translator and interpreter of Husserl's thought, making foundational texts available in English and contributing significantly to the fields of epistemology, philosophy of mind, and logic.
Though a serious academic, Willard became even more widely known for his books on Christian living, including The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart, both of which earned major awards and helped shape the modern spiritual formation movement. He believed that discipleship to Jesus was an intentional process involving not only belief but transformation through spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, solitude, and service. For Willard, spiritual growth was not about earning God’s favor but about participating in the divine life through active cooperation with grace.
His teachings emphasized the concept of apprenticeship to Jesus—being with him, learning to be like him—and his influence extended to ministries such as Renovaré, the Apprentice Institute, and the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation. He served on the boards of organizations like the C.S. Lewis Foundation and Biola University, and his intellectual and spiritual legacy continues through Dallas Willard Ministries and academic institutions inspired by his work.
Willard was also a deeply personal writer who shared candidly about the challenges of balancing academic life with family. Despite his own admitted shortcomings, those closest to him regarded him as a man of deep love, humility, and grace. His enduring impact can be seen in the lives and works of many contemporary Christian thinkers and writers, including Richard J. Foster, James Bryan Smith, and John Mark Comer. As both philosopher and pastor to the mind, Dallas Willard remains a towering figure in the dialogue between rigorous thought and transformative Christian practice.

Reviews

[Austenn Akers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s like getting an expensive, delicious chocolate bar that you really want to savor. And so, you pick at it here and there, not eating too much at a time because you want it to last.

With nearly every page having highlights and frequently sending texts to people of quotes from this book, Renovation of the Heart was absolutely epic.

It was almost exactly 3 months of slowly trekking through this book, and from the point from when I started this book to now I have seen some noticeable differences in my walk with Jesus. Big time. You can definitely say my heart has been renovated ;)

Shout out D Willy for another banger.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to write a new book on spiritual formation. Even the books that are good seem to have covered already-covered ground. What more is there to add? Dallas Willard takes a different angle. Rather than aiming for spiritual formation or spiritual disciplines, which advice always runs the risk of sounding pedantic, he speaks of "forming Christlikeness." In this review I will summarize some of his key points, note some potential problems and tensions, and end with a reflection.

Unlike other authors on spiritual disciplines, Willard is a trained philosopher and brings analytical reflection the table. Without entering the free will debates (he likely affirms contra the Reformed tradition, of which I am an adherent), he notes that the will (or the mind, or the heart) never acts in isolation but always in conjunction with other faculties. This has important implications for spiritual growth: one simply can't "grow the mind" without growing the heart, will, etc.

The chapter on the Soul was worth the price of the book. He really broke new ground on that topic. Contra most philosophy textbooks, new age manuals, and even some Christian theology works, the "soul" is not the "ghostly-ghost stuff" that inhabits the outer shell of the body. Without getting to a precise definition of the soul (which might not even be possible), I think he is right. Especially when we get to the Hebrew texts as they refer to Yahweh's life, soul--or better yet, Nephesh--simply can't mean "the ghostly ghost stuff that is more important than the body." A better reading, if not exact, will be the center life-focus of an individual. And here I can only refer to the texts where it speaks of Yahweh's nephesh. Again, the implications for spiritual life: our whole being is involved in the process.

Reflections:
The book was much better than I expected. It wasn't pedantic and he covered ground not found in Foster and Whitney. I have some concerns about the books he recommended. Like Foster, he seemed to convey the idea that any Christian who has written on the reflective life should be consulted. I am not so sure. I highly doubt that consistent Roman Catholics, Charismatics, or others would agree one can isolate the spirituality (Francis de Sales et al) from the larger theology. Indeed, Willard's own arguments (rightly) suggest otherwise.

But by all means please read the book. It's probably the best spiritual disciplines book on the market.

[Sunny Etta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a year or two ago, and took time to re-read it recently. The chapters still challenge my thinking. The second half of the book is much more practical in revealing the processes for the Christian to change thoughts, feeling, will, body and soul. The questions become: do I really want God and His kingdom more than anything else in my life? Am I willing to make the choices to take the necessary steps to become more Christlike? It’s a lifelong quest!

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece of Spirit filled truth. I know its bold to say, but this is my favorite book that I have ever read. Period.

[Kelly Gwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was life changing. Dallas Willard was and still is a gift to the church of Christ and I’m so thankful to have the benefit and blessing of greening from his deep spiritual insight and wisdom. I can’t begin to explain what God has already done through this great work. 100% recommend for any Christ follower who wants to give Him their absolute all.

[David Clouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well well well mister D.W. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. I think it was very helpful, thoughtful, and well said. The middle, I felt like I got lost a bit and at different times. It could have been me spacing out or it could have been D.W.s philosophical side. Not really sure which. Regardless, I believe the end was strong as well with a beautiful picture of what a disciple of Christ should look and act and be like.

[Sean Nemecek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content is profound but the writing is far too academic to be accessible for most people.
Willard offers some great correction for local churches. The final chapter gives practical instruction for discipleship. In it, he defines salvation as the inner transformation into Christ-likeness (as opposed to agreement to a doctrinal statement or professed belief without real change).

[Kayla Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would have served me better to just buy the book to take notes because now I have no storage left on my phone. Anyways, this is *really* good. Over the last few years, I’ve followed closely to the teachings and practices of John Mark Comer, who was greatly influenced by Dallas Williard particularly when it came to spiritual formation. So I’ve been eager to actually dive into one of Williard’s books.

(Side note: I read the 20th anniversary edition)

“Renovation of the Heart” covers just about every, if not all, angle of both the Christian walk and human experience. It’s incredibly dense and requires some “marinating” to take place in order to fully grasp everything he writes on in regard to heart, body, mind, soul, spirit, and will. Williard reaaaaally teases out fundamental understandings of why we do what we do, the call and plan God has on our lives, how/where we’ve gone astray and why, how to practically walk out being a disciple, and how we can look for evidence of true inward transformation. Spoiler (but not really) - it’s freaking hard, but not out of reach. Nearly every page had me doing some serious gut and heart checks. But as Williard continued to emphasize time and time again in his book - God doesn’t leave us to fend for or figure it out for ourselves and promises that more peace and joy than we could ever imagine awaits for us through the promise of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I’ll be coming back to this book for round two.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dallas Willard's book, "Renovation of the Heart" begins, "We live from our hearts." Willard argues that we need a transformation of our hearts. By that, he means, we need a revolution of our character.

Willard argues that we are all undergoing the process of spiritual formation. The question is how are we being formed. Our natural state is to live for our own desires. Willard urges us to draw near to God and be transformed by him. Willard believes that this transformation can be total: the transformation of our minds, our feelings, our will, and even our bodies. As we experience this transformation, even our communities will be changed.

Willard isn't the easiest writer to follow, but he is a guide well worth listening to.

For more reviews see thebeehive.live

[Dawn Dishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason this was re-released after 20 years. It’s a classic and one of the best in describing transformation and spiritual reformation from the inside out.

If all we focus on in spiritual growth is the outside behaviors and actions, we are no better than the Pharisees who Jesus described as “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27).

Willard focuses on the heart and soul, which change can only occur by the work of God’s Spirit, with our cooperation and desire. This kind of change can, does, and will accomplish the purposes of God, and change the world.

[Noelle Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, hopeful, and clearly written by a man filled & guided by the Holy Spirit. Read this with some other girls and it spurred on such life giving and deep convo. Would recommend to anyone!!! Thankful for how God used this to shape me!!!!!

[Aeromama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining: 4/10
Transformational: 8/10

After being left wanting through several books on mental health (written by Christ-following authors), Renovation of the Heart came to the top of the book stack. Willard's treatment of the "elements of a human" in 6 parts was aligned with scripture, super helpful, and alone, worth the cost of the book. I wish the other authors had read this section of Renovation of the Heart before authoring their books.

Overall, the book is longer than it needs to be, but contains a lot of scriptural foundation and examples to be useful.

What does being conformed to the image of Christ look like? Why do I have so many friends who can't seem to get traction in their walks with Jesus even though they attend a church gathering so "religiously?" These and many other relevant questions are answered in the book.

I appreciated Willard's calls to action for church leadership in the final chapter. And while I didn't agree with everything he wrote, I would recommend this book to any serious Jesus follower at any stage: hungry newborn, self-feeder, or legacy-leaving disciplemaker.

Note: the audio version reader may as well be lecturing a lullabye. Opt for the print version instead.

[Rainer Erani · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me months to read Renovation of the Heart, and I read it far too quickly. This is by far the most thought-provoking, life-transforming, and spiritually-encouraging work I’ve read in the last 5 years - outside of the Bible, duh. I will read this book again - but even slower next time.

This book was difficult for me to understand at times, as it introduced me to some new streams of thought, but it just led me into Christ-seeking contemplative reflection - a gift of its own. This book is both a powerful argument toward spiritual formation and a creatively practical guide toward it.

My plea to someone in publishing - perhaps John Mark Comer would consider this for me - would be to restructure this book as a daily devotional. Making the profound thoughts of Willard into bite-sized morsels for meditation and reflection.

Only a few books have left me wishing for just one more chapter, one more postlude, or one more page about the author - the way this book did. It grieves me to finish the book.

I’m anticipating quoting from this book until I meet Dallas Willard in the next life. An unquestioned 5 out of 5.

Comer gets it best in his blurb on the back, when he writes that “the book you are about to read is in its own category.”

[Grace Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely had to chew on this one for a while- but such a good read. All Dallas Willard books are honestly just so deep. This book humbled me in a way that I needed.

“The Heart is precisely what God observes and addresses in human beings. He cares little or nothing for outward show. He responds to the heart because it is, above all, who we are: who we choose and have chosen to be. What God wants of us can only come from there. He respects the centrality of our will and will not override it. He seeks godly character in us and for us, to fulfill the eternal destiny he has in mind for us.” 💛💛💛

[Betsy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read Dallas Willard, now is the time to start. I have him up there with Bounds, Wigglesworth, Andrew Murray, etc. You will read, reread, then read again. The best book on spiritual transformation that I have read!

[megan szymanski]

A dense yet rich read --

“He invites us to leave our burdensome ways of heavy labor and step into the yoke of training with him. This is a way of gentleness and lowliness, a way of soul rest. It is a way of inner transformation that proves pulling his load and carrying his burden with him to be a life that is easy and light.”

“The work of spiritual formation in Christlikeness is the work of claiming the land of milk and honey in which we are, individually and collectively, to dwell with God.”

“So the self-denial of Matthew 16:24 and elsewhere in the Gospels is always the surrender of a lesser, dying self for a greater eternal one — the person God intended in creating you. Confidence in this is the occasion of “greatly rejoicing, with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Jesus does not deny us personal fulfillment, but shows us the only true way to it. In him we “find our life.” He would keep us from selling our birthright as creatures in God’s image — a birthright of genuine goodness, sufficiency, and power for which we are fitted by nature — for a mere bowl of soup (Genesis 25:30-31).”

“Spiritual formation in Christ is the process by which one moves and is moved from self-worship to Christ-centered self-denial as a general condition of life in God’s present and eternal kingdom.”

“In everything we do we are permitted to do his work. What we are aiming for in this vision is to live fully in the kingdom of God and as fully as possible now and here, not just hereafter.”

“Sabbath fulfilled in human life is really celebration of God. Sabbath is inseparable from worship, and, indeed, genuine worship is Sabbath.”

“Love comes to us from God. That must be our unshakable circle of sufficiency. Our purpose must be to become one who loves others with Christ’s agape. That purpose, when developed, will transform the social dimension of the human self and all of our relationships to others.”

“[Jesus] invited such people to come and become his students by yoking themselves to him — that is, letting him show the, how he would pull their load. His own greatness of soul made meekness and lowliness the natural way for him to be. Being in his yoke is not a matter of taking on additional labor to crush us all the more, but a matter of learning how to use his strength and ours together to bear our load and his. We will find his yoke an easy one and his burden a light one because, in learning from him, we have found rest to our soul. What we have learned is, primarily, to rest our soul in God. Rest to our soul is rest in God.”

“Walking in the law with God restores the soul because the law expresses the order of God’s kingdom and of God’s own character. That is why it converts and restores the soul.”

“To run the race well, to be faithful over few things, is our part.”
--
Matthew 5-7, Romans 12:1-21, 1 Corinthians 13, 2 Corinthians 3:12-7:1, Galatians 5:22-6:10, Ephesians 4:20-6:20, Philippians 2:3-16 and 4:4-9, Colossians 3:1-4:6, 1 Peter 2:1-3:16, 2 Peter 1:2-10, 1 John 4:7-21, Micah 6:8, Deuteronomy 10:12-21

[Caroline Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after hearing another favorite preacher/author, John Mark Comer, reference his works so frequently. Such a dense but thought-provoking and needed read. As my first Willard book, I was reminded of reading CS Lewis as I finished a paragraph and was blown away by the insight and had to go back and re-read it to make sure I understood. I would recommend this to any “apprentice of Christ” as it is a more practical guide for the balance of Gods grace and our efforts to choose life with Him as our King. Willard’s background in theology and psychology are evident and are such helpful ways to view our thoughts, feelings, wills (spirit/heart), bodies, social contexts, and souls.

Some quotes I loved:
- “Passivity was for the Israelites, and it is for us, one of the greatest dangers and difficulties of our spiritual existence. The land promised to them was one of incredible goodness—“flowing with milk and honey” as it is repeatedly described. But it still has to be conquered by careful, persistent, and intelligent human action, over a long period of time.”

- “To God the amazing duplicity of the human heart is totally transparent”

- “So sin, through desire and pride, alienates the life in us (the soul) from the life that is in God and leaves us in the turmoil of a soul struggling with life on its own.”

- [in regards to the American church] “It aims to get people into heaven rather than to get heaven into people…it implodes upon itself because it creates groups of people who may be ready to die but clearly are not ready to live”

- “And the best gift I can give them is always the character and power of Christ in me and in others who really trust him. Beyond that I look to God for the renovation of their hearts as well. I know that, no matter what comes, He is over all.”

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The work of spiritual formation in Christlikeness is the work of claiming the land of milk and honey in which we are, individually and collectively, to dwell with God. The old hymn rings out:

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
And cast a wistful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.

But the real Jordan, the spiritual "Jordan", is not physical death, as has usually been supposed. We need not and must not wait until we die to live in the land of milk and honey; and if we will only move to that land now, the passage in physical death will be but one more day in the endless life we have long since begun. That is exactly what Jesus meant when he said, "if anyone keeps my words he shall never see or taste death" (John 8:51)"

Started reading this book because I know the influence Willard has had on John Mark Comer, whose work I've been a big fan of. Willard beautifully explains how scripture lays out the path to becoming like Christ. He does so both from the spiritual perspective - addressing why we as Christians should desire to be more like Christ, and the practical perspective - how psychology, spiritual disciplines, and habit formation empowered by the Spirit actually allow us to take steps down this path. I think Comer's writings express the same passion and vision as Willard, though Willard dives much deeper into the tedious academic side of things. Both Comer and Willard tend to discuss salvation in terms of the whole life of the believer and fight to take the emphasis off of a single moment. A good read, and I look forward to diving into more of Willard's work in the future.

[Martin Augestad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her var det mye bra! Handler om helliggjørelse/disippelgjøring, hvordan vi kan bli gjort mer lik Jesus.
Noen av de tingene jeg sitter igjen med som gode lærdommer er:

1. Forandring er mulig, å følge Jesus er ikke ment å føre til «miserabel synder-kristendom», der man finner en slags trøst i å trekke frem hvor miserabel synder man er. Det er ikke slik Bibelen beskriver livet med Jesus.

2. Alle har et hjerte, enten man tror eller ei. Og hva man gjør og hvordan man lever livet sitt, påvirker hvordan hjertet vårt formes.

3. Alle situasjoner i livet er muligheter til å bli formet mer lik Jesus. Dette gir et annet og forfriskende perspektiv på livet, spesielt de negative eller hverdagslige øyeblikkene som vi tenker ikke spiller noen rolle.

4. Kristne trenger å tenke på, snakke om og hjelpe hverandre til forstå hva det vil si å leve som Jesus. Vi skal «lære andre å holde alt Jesus har befalt» (Matt 28:19).

Noe av det som trekker ned er lengden. Opplevde noen partier som langdryge, og han kunne fint klart å holde boken til maks 200 sider. Opplevde også at det blir mye individualistisk fokus, men noe av det er til å forvente i en slik bok.

[Brandon Glick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renovation of the Heart continues to be one of the most spiritually beneficial books I’ve ever read. This is my second time through the book and immediately I want to go back and explore various chapters.

[Molly Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨ Feeling accomplished after finishing this. Full of great ways to further discipline and the reasons we should want to.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

In “Renovation of the Heart – Putting on the Character of Christ” Dallas Willard supplies such a plethora of information that it is difficult to sort through everything and find a place where to begin to respond. Usually I like to pick out ideas that have an impact on me—either positively or negatively, but the abstract concepts Willard presents are not easily digested in one reading even at a stayed pace.

I want to start with a discussion on the will but I can’t decide whether it is my thoughts directing my will or my feelings so it is probably best to start with an overview (I’m trying to be funny), or simply, discuss Willard’s main thesis, then to deal with the devil in the details. The “heart” of this matter is the six dimensions of the human self: soul, social context, body, mind, and spirit; their interaction with each other, and how we can transform each to become a true human—a human as God planned. Understanding these six dimensions of self is essential for comprehending the entire book. And yet it is here one can get lost in the metaphysical especially in understanding the soul.

In common parlance there usually is no distinction between the spirit and the soul—the words are used almost interchangeably. But here Willard treats the soul as an abstract concept as if the other dimensions of the self bring into existence the soul. Since it is in their interaction that we find the soul it is almost like a dance with the soul of the person providing the beat. Music and dance seems like a good metaphor to picture the choreography going on that the soul is orchestrating and defining the type of music we are as a person: classical, baroque, jazz, pop, etc.

Concerning the will Willard defines this will, or spirit as “that which is self-initiating and self-sustaining” (pg. 34) and indicates that only God is purely spiritual. In chapter 8 on transforming the will Willard discusses that the will “is the one thing in this creation that God does not override” (pg. 146). Here some discussion has to be made on how the human self is different from God. Is God’s self not influenced by a social contest and body, having a soul, mind, and will? Is man also not purely spiritual concerning evil things and if not how is man then responsible for his own sins? Proverbs indicates that God turns the hearts of Kings: Proverbs 21:1 “The King’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes,” so He must override the will of some people then sometimes.

How does Willard know God does not override the will? If that’s the one thing He does not override then He can override the body, soul, social context, thoughts, and the feelings all of which Willard has already indicated influence the will so therefore God does influence the will, albeit indirectly, even in Willard’s context so is all this just to be able to say “we have a FREE will?” Probably so. I remember reading somewhere in the book Willard commented briefly concerning the issues between Augustianism and semi-palagianism and that his book wasn’t going to cover that issue but here I don’t think he can be that silent.

[Quentin Mullinix · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Willard is not intensely practical, he helps you greatly in honing a vision for Christian spiritual formation (inner transformation). He articulates briefly what has been typically the problem in most American churches today that bars us from spiritual growth and life (also see his book: The Great Omission) and then focuses more on what it actually looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.

This is a very freeing book in that you will be able to increasingly let go of the grinding life that is so reminiscent of American culture and begin living a life that actually makes sense. Why? Because Jesus knows what we need to experience a fulfilling life (Matthew 11:29). Willard simply clears up many of the grand misconceptions about the Christian life and opens the door to what Jesus has already spoken of.

If you get your hands on this book, read it and really resonate with it, I also recommend his book, The Divine Conspiracy and his YouTube series with the same title. Sessions 9 and 10 specifically cover relevant church communities and discipleship which are more practical.

Lastly, if you resonate with any of Willard’s books and want to delve into more practical steps that will help usher you into a life of discipleship, pick up The Emotionally Healthy Church, Sacred Rhythms and Building a Discipling Culture.

[Charlie Lebby · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Disclaimer/unashamed plug: Dallas Willard books have 4 star minimums for me, in fact, we named our most recent kid Dallas (aka Willy) after him! His books are just not going to be for everyone though. They’re dense, philosophical, could be seen as unentertaining and disorganized. That’s ok though, it has its place and fortunately, there are people who have come after him and written different flavors of more digestible material featuring a lot of his work on spiritual formation. Undergirding his work is, of course, Scripture-he has communicated and responded to the goodness of Christ and His kingdom in his own creative little way (which isn’t that what all of Christ’s disciple are doing?). I’ve found a lot of Willard’s talks on YouTube to be a lot more approachable with just as much substance, genius, and practicality. This particular book matches the “Healing the Heart’ series. Poor quality but still worth watching/listening to.]

The book’s main audience is to those convinced Jesus really is Lord. Meaning they act as if it is so that Jesus really knows what He’s doing and saying, and, therefore, trust him. When they come across His teachings on how to live without strategies that seem universally accepted/needed in this world-like lying, envying, criticizing, etc. they take His word for it. With that said, the timing of when this book is read is important I think. (I can honestly say that I didn’t functionally agree with Jesus as Lord of life for years and years of my professing Christian life- and still being shown places where that’s the case- this book would have been in one ear out the other if read earlier. Willard isn’t condemning to those who aren’t there. That just doesn’t seem to be the target audience of his ministry.

The point at which surrender does mark a life-whatever that may look like at that point, this book is GOLD. I’ll admit that the beginning is tough to get through. He spends a lot of time detailing the components of a person. Super dense philosophy here- defining things like the soul, mind, will, heart, and body how they integrate and how they perform separately. After, he talks about what a whole-person renovation into Christlikeness looks like and how it comes about. My favorite section of this book is titled “Children of Light,” where that is detailed. Such a stunning picture of the renovated character and life God has for His children. One of the most startling things about Dallas’s understanding of the Bible’s talk about formation into Christlikeness is his confidence of this being a real possibility in this life. Not perfection, but true, enduring change.


He goes on to explain that Jesus started a world revolution where, in the current of God’s grace, little apprentices of His positioned at their little time in history, in their little power pack of a body, doing their little ordinary life work, in their little community are united to Him bringing Heaven onto Earth. Jesus brought a burst of new creation onto Earth in the incarnation, and is continuing that work generation after generation in the vessels of whomever would like to participate in His project. Dallas has convinced me to believe Jesus in that it really is happening now.

I love his opinion that we don’t need to aim at getting more people into heaven when they die (traditional western conservative message), but our aim in a local congregation should be to get Heaven into more people now. Heaven on Earth.

Dallas’s cumulative work has radically changed the way I view life on Earth. Where I once understood it to be a place where you are forced to make a binary design about your afterlife between Heaven and Hell on the basis of belief in Jesus dying and resurrecting, to something more than that (though it doesn’t specifically exclude that). It is now seen as a place where God through the man Jesus reaches out to humanity inviting them to live forever with Him in Heaven on Earth, both now and forever, whatever future changes that may entail (inaugurated eschatology). It charges everyday with significance in participating in Heaven or Hell. It allows a person to join in an opportunity to be a vessel of light through Christ in their little crevice of the universe. No one else is can be unified with Christ, participating in His work now where you stand but you. This way of thinking, first introduced to me in The Divine Conspiracy and furthered in ROH has gifted me with years of meditating on God’s word and discovering to see if that I something it really seems to say. My first reaction to this paradigm shift, given my super limited understanding of the Gospel and the Biblical story (or lack thereof) made me very uncomfortable- I had not encountered this kind of teaching so it felt blasphemous.

Dallas walks through the essential elements that must change in a sin-sick heart, body, mind, will, and soul to participate in this. His tone throughout all is so gentle, yet confident. There’s no forcefulness or pushiness. You can tell that he trusts Truth to stand the test of time. And that something beautiful, good and right can simply be- it doesn’t need to be aggressively pushed. It’s pull/compel, versus push communication style. Very Jesus-like.

His explanation on the “easy yoke and light burden” is amazing! He harps a lot on abandoning outcomes- that there exists a natural way in which God secures results/fruit in the life of a disciple with a renovation-permitting heart. Very helpful to those of us that are prone to idolize grit. His ability to explain God’s plan to unfold a world of infinite space for all to flourish without competition and/or duplication in good work is captivating.

Here’s a resource God’s given us to show us that yes Jesus is right, but He is a lot more than that. And He doesn’t lead with that! He is love- and He wants to offer that to all-should we let Him. And that ongoing otherworldly love, will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on every dimension of a person and in turn community. What that looks like and how its effectuated takes on a million different stories-we call them lives. But God is working out a plan where that does come to a beautiful fruition and there we live on heaven unified with earth that is healed and flourishing.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading this book slowly for my book club, and I think I find myself with a mixed responses to it. I had high expectations, having read and loved ‘Hearing from God’ a couple of years ago, and I find reading about spiritual formation enjoyable, but unfortunately it I didn’t met my expectations. Without a doubt, there is plenty of gold in this book (you should see my book flags!) and lots to think about and apply, but I found the book unnecessarily dense and at times a bit tedious. Exploring the foundations for spiritual transformation was helpful, but perhaps overworked (or am I the converted to whom he was preaching?). I found it helpful to referent on the different ‘parts’ of our being to be transformed, yet at times wondered if the author was a little too heavily influenced by his academic and cerebral environment to be entirely relevant to a middle aged mother of 4?!
Although I am glad to have read this classic, I’m not sure that it would be my first recommendation to someone exploring spiritual formation.

[Janae Mast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been so influential for me, and I feel like there was so much there that I didn’t even get to. Dallas Willard explains why we need renovation, which parts of us need it (our whole being), and how to participate in the renovation and spiritual formation that lasts and brings the fruit of righteousness. He doesn’t over simplify, or make it unattainable. He makes it about as practical as you can get when talking about spiritual and inner change, growth, and refinement.

Two of my favorite quotes:

“The hidden dimension of human life is not visible to others, nor is it fully graspable even by ourselves. We usually know very little about the things that move in our own soul, the deepest level of our life, or what is driving it. Our within is astonishingly complex and subtle - even devious. It takes on a life of its own. Only God knows our depths, who we are, and what we would do.”

“All human beings can now live the life of the renovated heart by nourishing ourselves constantly on his personal presence - now here in our world, beyond his death and ours.”

[Pat Damiani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most profound and challenging books I've ever read, outside of the Bible itself. I certainly wish I had read it much earlier in my walk with Jesus as it would have kept me from wasting a lot of time on things that just don't matter.

As both an apprentice of Jesus and a pastor I have spent far too much time focusing on trying to change the exterior of both my own life and the lives of the people God has given me the privilege of shepherding. Willard rightly points out that to really change, we must begin with the heart and change from the inside out.

Along with a couple other books I have read recently, this book has challenged me to consider some profound changes in my personal life. It has also caused me to reevaluate the direction of my ministry in order to "finish well" in whatever time God grants me here on earth.

This is a must read for every apprentice of Jesus (and as Willard correctly points out there is no such thing as a Christian who is not also a disciple).

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: If it were just evaluating on spiritual wisdom this would definitely be a five star book. But I think it could have been edited better. Maybe that is because it took me so long to read it (about 3 weeks). But most of that time was really because I needed time to process the content. This is probably the best book I have read on the how and why of really changing our character to become more like Christ. It is not an easy read and certainly not a silver bullet. But it is worth reading. There are definitely places I wish he had said more or altered some of the emphasis. But on the whole I think this is a book well worth reading. I really need to read it again soon (and in print this time, since I listened to the audiobook.)

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/renovation-of-the-he...

[Brodie Gron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The near absurd density of this book is its greatest strength, and occasionally its only weakness.

Given the subject matter, it’s no exaggeration to say that some paragraphs contain back-to-back-to-back sentences that each hold the ability to transform a life. Amazing and profound, but for these ideas (or truths, as Dallas would say) to hit home, I’ll probably need to read this book half a dozen times.

Despite this (frustration? problem?) that I had, it’s a momentous work on the state of my very own heart.

Bravo, Mr. Willard! But let me breathe next time!

[Benjamin Shurance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I hope to be formed by its wisdom in the time I have left on earth.