"Our heart is a habitation," says Karen Mains. "There is a mansion in our souls for which we need to take intimate responsibility." Unfortunately, because of sin, our hearts consist of "mean rooms, damp basements, narrow hallways, cramped spaces . . . The place God created to be open to the fresh wind of his Spirit, the dwelling he desires to occupy in order that it may be habitable to others, has become boarded. The windows are shuttered, the blinds drawn. Dust is accumulating. The doors have been padlocked."

What is the key that will unlock a wide veranda here, a turret spiraling there, or a whole new wing of rooms? The key that opens the door to the locked rooms of our hearts is forgiveness. And that is what this book is all about . . .

It is about rooting out painful memories, stored prejudices, petty self- loves, the junk of our attics and crawlways, and exposing them to the bright light and cool breezes of the Spirit. Here we begin the life- long process of sorting and cleaning out the house of the soul, scouring our conscious minds as well as our rich, subconcious selves, a task that is initiated, supported, and fulfilled by God's help.

Karen Mains suggests practical principles and true-life illustrations that help us understand and practice true forgiveness within ourselves, and in our corporate Body, the church.