John Eldredge - Get Your Life Back Study Guide: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad

T heres a madness to our moment, and we need to name it for the lunacy it is. Because its taking our lives hostage.

First, theres the blistering pace of life. Everyone I talk to says they feel busier than ever. Then theres the deluge of media coming at us in a sort of mesmerizing digital spell. This is all very hard on the soul. But what got my attention was what was happening to me as a person.

I found myself flinching when a friend texted and asked for some time. I didnt want to open email for fear of the demands Id find there. I had a shorter and shorter fuse in traffic. I felt numb to tragic news reports. It made me wonderam I becoming a less loving person? I had little capacity for relationships and the things that bring me lifea walk in the woods, dinner with friends, a cold plunge in a mountain lake. When I did steal a moment for something life-giving, I was so distracted I couldnt enjoy it.

Then I realizedit wasnt a failure of love or compassion. These were symptoms of a soul pushed too hard, strung out, haggard, fried. My soul just cant do life at the speed of smartphones. But I was asking it to; everybodys asking theirs to.

Im guessing youve experienced something similar. Its likely why youve picked up this studyyour soul is looking for something. Are you aware of what it is?

If we had more of God, that would really help. We could draw upon his love and strength, his wisdom and resilience. After all, God is the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9). If we had more of his lavish life bubbling up in us, it would be a rescue in this soul-scorching hour.

Jesus heard even my surface prayers; he came to my rescue and began to lead me into a number of helps and practices, what I would call graces. Simple things, like a One Minute Pause, that were accessible and surprising in their power to restore. Learning Benevolent Detachmentthe ability to let things go. Allowing for some transition in my day, instead of just blasting from one thing to the next. Drinking in the beauty God was providing in quiet moments. My soul began to recover, feel better, do better. I began to enjoy my life with God so much more. I began to get my life back.

This study guide is a companion to the book Get Your Life Back. You can do this series as part of a groupor on your own. Either way, youll want to have a copy of the book and video. Youll note that the book has fourteen chapters and this is a six-session study guide. Several sessions combine two chapters; others focus on one. Some chapters of the book are not included due to space. Thats why we highly recommend reading the book in full in addition to being part of this study.

If youre leading a group, a guide has been provided for you in the back of this study. Each session in this guide has these distinct offerings:

• Welcome / Introduction
• Getting Started Questions
• Scripture Reading
• Video Summary
• Group Session Questions
• Closing Prayer Topics
• Giving It a TryPersonal Practice / Exercise
• Between-Sessions Personal Study (Five Days)
• Recommended Reading for Next Session

God wants to come to us and restore our lives. He really does. But the process needs to be accessible and sustainable. Weve all tried exercise, diets, Bible study programs that began with vim and verve but over time got shoved to the side, lost in the chaos. I have a gym membership; I rarely use it. There are those books I havent finished, loads of podcasts too. Rest assuredthe graces I am offering here are within reach of a normal life. I think youll find them simple, sustainable, and refreshing.

God wants to strengthen and renew your soul; Jesus longs to give you more of himself. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youll recover your life... and youll learn to live freely and lightly (Matthew 11:2830, MSG). You can get your life back; you can live freely and lightly. The world may be harsh, but God is gentle; he knows what your life is like.

What we need to do is put ourselves in places that allow us to receive his help. This six-week study will show you how.