Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Experiments in Spiritual Transformation

by Jan Johnson, Dallas Willard

Jan Johnson guides you through 61 carefully chosen selections from renowned author Dallas Willard's best selling book, Renovation of the Heart. With each selection, you'll progress through Dr. Willard's plan for renovating the complete person.

Each provocative reflection includes a thoughtful, meaty selection by Dallas Willard along with Jan's illuminating personal stories, plus suggestions for making the concepts come alive in your own experience.

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2006

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a follow up to Willard’s book, this interactive devotional was a great vehicle to dive deeply and personally into the renovation God desires to accomplish. Very worthwhile.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dallas doesn’t miss and Jan Johnson’s contributions helped break down some big ideas into bite-sized pieces.

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting "renovation of the heart" to practice

I am so happy someone recommended this book to me. I have been reading it on a daily basis and has been a great guide to putting spiritual disciplines to practice in unique ways. Although I think it would be more useful to do with a small group or in community, still has enriched my heart and daily life with Jesus.

[Erich Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

True transformation isn’t about behavior modification—it’s about heart renovation. In Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice, Dallas Willard and Jan Johnson invite readers into a 60-day journey of spiritual formation that focuses not just on what we do, but on who we are becoming.

This companion to Willard’s classic Renovation of the Heart is beautifully practical, breaking big theological ideas into short, reflective readings that help shape the mind, will, body, social life, and soul—what Willard calls the six “aspects” of the self.

Each daily entry includes:

A brief, clear teaching
Thought-provoking reflection questions
A practice to engage in real-life spiritual transformation
Whether you’re just starting your formation journey or looking for a deeper way to walk with Jesus, this book is a powerful tool for slowing down and allowing God to form Christlikeness in your inner life.

🧠 This is for anyone who’s tired of quick fixes and ready for deep change.

📘 Learn more or order your copy here:
👉 janjohnson.org/shop/renovation-of-the...

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[D.J. Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure I was told about this book when I read Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart, but I must not have wanted to buy another book. This daily practice guide written with Jan Johnson would have been so helpful. I struggled with reading the original Willard book, partly because I was reading it for studies and partly because I was reading it via an eReader (and I don't retain as much when I am reading a book online).

I used this book as an actual daily reading (well, maybe not so daily as it did take me more than 61 days), and I definitely gained from doing so. The short excerpts inspire me to want to go back and read the original full book -- with this Daily Practice book.

I recommend the book to those interested in Renovation of the Heart. (As for my mom, um, maybe? She would think Willard is too academic for her but maybe this would be a gateway into his book...probably not, but maybe.)

[Lauren Gurnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would give this 3.5 stars. I am in the process of trying to implement more daily habits into my routine so I did this daily devotional. I like the idea of devotionals, but the hardest part is the application of it, participating in the practice. I found that the application practices they gave for this book were not something that I could realistically fit into my daily routine. Overall, I think that I could revisit this book and probably have a much more moving experience when I'm in a spot that allows me to be fully invested.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book for the faint of heart. Allowing God to renovate your heart is a painful, slow process. The book is broken into short chapters and ends with “today’s experiment.” These experiments are not in any way easy and require a lot of self reflection and submission. I read this book mainly as a weekly study with others and it was homework but found some very thought provoking ideas buried within the weighty text.

[Tim Littleford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I've really loved a daily devotional. Proliferating the ideas in Renovation of the Heart each day, letting me turn different aspects of a life truly walking in the character of Jesus around in my mind as I go, experimenting in the renovation of my own heart. Brilliant.

[Kimberly Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spiritual formation is something I’m understanding a little bit more as my awareness for God increases. I’m sure I’ll never fully be who God wants me to be- but I’m trying my hardest. This book is amazing

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended. I already look forward to reading through it again.

[Dawn Gentry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will return often to this devotional

[Stephen P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical exposition on heart issues

Dallas Willard and Jan Johnson communicate and encourage with words and style that are approachable to those seeking the kingdom.

[Ike Unger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book to use as a devotional.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skip this and just read the original Dallas Willard book! Jan's "excerpts" include rewording and enough omissions to change his points a few times. And it just leaves out too much great content.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Dallas Willard and I love this book. It’s my third time through it and highly recommend to learn about the heart and spiritual formation.

[Anna Osment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Dallas philosophy.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the single best book of its kind that I have encountered. Really, it has no peers, as far as I am aware. It is a book in the workbook/devotional genre in 61 lessons that seeks to present the basic content of Willard's well-known, "Renovation of the Heart," so as to provoke reflection and application in the formation of character and life of the reader. Each lesson is a brief, 2-3 pages in length so it can easily be used on a daily basis; however, one should not be in a hurry or on a schedule with this book. Generally, I do not find this style of book helpful but, as I say, for me this is one of a kind. Willard's material is always challenging. The thought experiments are good; much better than the perfunctory questions generally found in books of this sort. It doesn't take a whole lot of discipline to read the book day by day but to do the experiments with integrity makes it helpfully rigorous. My thought is that this would be a good book for a small group to gather around and work through together over the course of one year+. One will get much needed input for following Christ that you will almost never otherwise receive in a church.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was worth every penny! The book is broken down into small chapters, with one or two pages of explanation of a concept from Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart and then exercises to apply the concept in daily life. I found he first half of the book was ok, the second half was AMAZING. The author's exercises on how to apply Willard's ideas were concrete and doable in every day life. Some of the exercises were challenging, but that's the point, to grow and mature as Christians. I found the author's ability to convey clearly and simply Willard's complicated (to me) concepts to be such a blessing. And the author's ability to then take those concepts and then to apply them to daily living was simply brilliant and exactly what I was looking for. What I also found refreshing was she stuck to Biblical truth, and didn't add to it with alternative practices. This book, in my humble opinion, was solid Biblically. And what amazed me was how much you could tell the author truly tries to live as Jesus Christ has asked us to live. Such an inspiration.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Challenge To Pursue Change

Dallas Willard's challenge is a complete renovation of of who we are and what we do. He does not simply provide a list of disciplines to be practiced. No, his challenge is much grander, just as the reality of the gospel is much grander. This book will challenge your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength with thoughts to ponder deeply and questions and suggested actions to put into action. It is an excellent resource and does well as a devotional.

[Shiffra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was extremely timely for me, I ended up skimming through a lot of the 2nd half. But the first half spoke a lot to personal and spiritual transformation and how we often try to do it on our own and fail, but if we rely of G-d for it, and start from the inside out, dealing with the root of the problem then we can succeed. It also talked a lot about what we set our minds on and how that affects the words we speak.

[Jeremiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The format of this book is boring: usually an excerpt form Willard, then a retelling of that excerpt from Johnson (the editor), and finally excercises to put into practice. The strength of this book is that of trying to help the reader ingrain new habits into his whole person, habits of holiness.

[Kyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like a workbook combo of Dallas' Renovation of the Heart book and Jan Johnson's When The Soul Listens. I am using it now, not as consistently as I'd like...but it is a very disciplined yet gracious and loving tool for growing deeper in Christ's love.

[Randy]

Extremely helpful!

[Joe Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this every other year to help my heart in sync with the Kingdom. I am currently rereading it a third time. Guys are notorious for repeating stuff

[Charmaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent daily devotional with practical application.

[Summisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a challenging read to the soul.