I was first introduced to A. Craig Troxel at the 2020 Annual Conference at Westminster Seminary in California. Troxel is a former Orthodox Presbyterian pastor who now serves as Professor of Practical Theology at WSC.

His conference address, “Sojourners East of Eden,” displayed his pastoral heart as he spoke of “how our gratitude for redemption from sin’s bondage ought to not only evoke compassion and empathy” for those still without hope and God in the world, “but also inform the ways that we reach out to them.”

His address drew from his newest book, With All Your Heart, which seeks to lend clarity to how the bible defines the heart, so that in gratitude for God’s mercies, we would know how to obey the command to “Love the Lord you God with all your heart.”

In his introduction, Troxel seeks to correct the misconceptions we have about the heart. The world often pits the mind against the heart.

The physicist Albert Einstein said, “Don't let your brain interfere with your heart.” Even in the church, we often differentiate between head knowledge and heart knowledge.

Troxel makes the point that heart does not speak about just one aspect of our inner-man, but actually encompasses the aspects of mind, affections, and will. It is a “comprehensive term that captures the totality and unity of our inner nature” and acts like a “hidden control-center,” governing what we think, desire, and choose.

The genius of this book is in the structure of the four parts that follow. I remember first telling someone about the book and being able to outline it from memory because of the manner in which Troxel addresses each aspect of our hearts.

The first three parts focus on the threefold scheme of the heart’s Knowing, Loving, and Choosing. Each of these is then divided into three similar sections.

The first section of each part surveys the scripture’s use of the term from a predominately positive vantage point.

The second section then demonstrates how sin corrupts our heart.

The third section wonderfully presents Jesus as the Lord who cleanses and renews our heart in his threefold office of prophet, priest, and king.

As prophet he speaks truth to our heart, both teaching and assuring, so we might have right understanding. As priest, he redeems and cleanses our hearts, so we might have right affections and desires.

As king, he subdues and strengthens our hearts so we might choose what is pleasing to God.

The fourth and concluding part of the book is a bit different and addresses the keeping of our hearts, “from which flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).” This last part again directs our hearts towards Jesus, who is the ultimate keeper of our hearts.

I highly recommend this book as a study on your heart and the redeemer of your heart. Let me close with Troxel’s own final thoughts – “You seek to love Christ faithfully with all your heart’s knowing, desiring, and choosing. But your deeper confidence is in Christ’s love for you and his keeping, preserving, and protecting you. He will keep your hearts, and he will keep us. We belong to him, who alone is the Lord of our heart.”