Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, and Love is Striking a Cord with Women Everywhere

Author Elizabeth Gilbert's number one New York Times' bestseller book, Eat, Pray, and Love, may have touches of New Age theology from her trip to India, but for the most part, it carries important truths to Christians searching to grow in their faith.

From outward appearances it appeared that Elizabeth had it all---a beautiful home, great marriage, etc. But inside she was dying---something was definitely missing and she was determined to find out what it was. After spending six months on her bathroom floor in depression over her life and marriage, Ms. Gilbert set out on a journey.

Her travels took her to three different countries, where she spent the next year learning about herself. In Italy, she enjoyed food, indulging on the best pastas and pizzas, adding about 20 pounds to her trim frame. But she lost the weight in India where she spent in prayer and fasting. Then in Tibet, she found inner peace in silent meditation and prayer. It was there she got in touch with her spiritual self.

Finally, she found love, again, in Bail, Indonesia, where she studies with a medicine man, falls in love, and marries, again. She recently shared with Oprah Winfrey how she wasn't looking for love, but it found her.

When she returned home, she collected her experiences and discoverins a book that has women reading it everywhere you go. They're reading it everywhere---on planes, in doctor's waiting rooms, noted Oprah Winfrey, sharing how Gilbert has struck a cord with other women around the world.

Again, "Eat, Pray, and Love" may have New Age roots, but the three basic messages of the book can be applied to Christians who want to enhance their faith. In other words, as a believer you need to "chew on the meat, but spit out the bone" as the saying goes. Here's some golden nuggets from the book---three things Ms. Gilbert suggests when taking your own inner journey.....

Each day ask yourself, "What do I really, really, really want?" Ms. Gilbert stressed really, not once, but three times. "If you don't say really three times, you won't take yourself seriously," she said, explaining how many people says they just want to be happy but don't have no direction in how to do it.

As a Christian, give your dreams to God, asking Him to take them. If His will lines up with yours, then you can be confident that your dream will become a reality. In other words, be specific and general about your dream.

Write down one thing that made you happy today. In other words, count your blessings, not your heartaches. True, we also have crappy stuff happen to us. However, don't focus on the negative. Instead, accentuate the positive.

Change your mantra---What do you tell yourself over and over? Whatever it is, that's your mantra. If it's a negative one, then change it to something positive. For example, do you tell yourself, "I'll never lose weight; I'll never succeed in anything?" Then start turning those negative statements into positive ones. Remember that you can "do all things who Christ who strengthens you." (Philippians 4:13.)

Elizabeth Gilbert went halfway around the world, but the good news is you don't have to go anywhere. It's not so much of a physical journey that she values, but one that traveled deep into her soul. You can stay right where you are and go on an inner journey that could change your life.