Customer Reviews

Disciplines of a Godly Woman (Paperback Edition)

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In Disciplines of a Godly Woman, Barbara Hughes guides women into a lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord, calling them to a spiritual workout that tones up the flabby spiritual muscles of behavior and attitudes.

Hughes breaks down the disciplines into five major categories: soul, character, relationships, ministry, and grace. As an example, to build up the soul to be godly, we must hold to the gospel, pray, worship, and submit to God. Each of those makes up a chapter, which the author provides ample Scripture and illuminating stories to bring understanding to the reader. What is wonderful is the way she provides context to the discipline, showing where the Bible talks about it, what the reason is for it, and how to go about working on it through the power of the Holy Spirit. She closes each chapter with a section titled "Renew Your Mind," which challenges the reader to examine herself and determine actions to be taken.

Written in a very personal tone, Hughes is able to encourage her audience toward godliness, with theologically sound concepts and practical suggestions for growth. This is a book that every woman from teenagers to seniors ought to read, either in personal study or with a small accountability group. Highly recommended. - Anne Walker, Christian Book Previews.com

This is a very meaty book that will challenge you to submit every area of your life to God in a very encouraging way. I've read through this book twice in six months, once for my ladies Bible study and again because I felt I rushed through it the first time.

At first the scope of this subject seemed a little daunting. This is not a book on a single topic. It is a book about the entire Christian woman's walk with God. Pretty much every area of life is addressed. But don't be overwhelmed. The book is organized by area of discipline, so I recommend reading one chapter, then taking the time to pray and think about the ideas in the chapter before moving straight on to the next chapter. Also, in the last chapter of the book Mrs. Hughes gives advice about how to prioritize the areas on which you feel God is calling you to focus.

After reading this book I feel like I had a month of intense one on ones with an older, godly, been-there-done-that church member or neighbor. One who calls you out on some of the things, but in a loving way. Some of the chapters will reinforce your beliefs or take you to that next level if you are already fairly disciplined. Other chapters just step all over your toes (for me it was the propriety chapter, especially regarding temper issues).

Mrs. Hughes' writing style is conversational and she shares stories to help make her points. But it isn't just a bunch of her ideas with a scripture tacked on to prove the point. The ideas are Biblical and then she shares her experiences (and others) with that particular Scriptural truth. You'll have to have your Bible handy to read this book as you'll be looking up verses. At the end of each chapter there is a question and answer section that is really helpful.

Some of the ladies in my group disagreed with Mrs. Hughes positions in one or two of the chapters. But this book, as a whole, is so excellent that I would urge any woman of any denomination to commit to prayerfully and carefully reading it. It has made a huge impact on my life in a short amount of time.

I also want to say that my husband's mens' group is reading the men's book (Disciplines of a Godly Man). They're still reading it as they meet less frequently than the ladies. This is his very first Bible study (yay!), and I've not grilled him about it so I can't tell you much about the companion book. But I can tell you that I have noticed an incredible amount of spiritual growth since he started reading it and meeting with the other men to discuss discipline and pray together. So even though I haven't read it, I have to recommend it if you're looking for a book for your husband.

Ideally you could be reading these at the same time.

Anyway, this is a must-read, especially for the younger Christian who wants to become more mature and deliberate in her walk.

This book has had the greatest impact on my life than any other current book. I love the way she writes and her book is saturated with scripture. She writes her book as conclusions she drawn from scripture instead of using scripture to prove her own agenda. I highly recommend this book for Christian women!

I just finished reading this book with my women's study group, and it is phenomenal!

PROS:

-VERY Biblical. I like a book that quotes so much scripture that it could almost be sued by Bible publishers for copyright infringement!

-Very well read author. Mrs Hughes has many quotes from both modern and classical theologians.

-It's even a great book for the unbeliever! There are a number of points in the book where the author pauses and practically gives an alter call for any women who are reading who are unbelievers (or maybe "playing church," or needing to recommit).

-Extremely well organized.

-Awesome list of follow-up material and other helpful resources in the back of the book.

-Does not teach either a domineering NOR a diminished version of Biblical submission (as many books do). She found the perfect medium: the BIBLICAL teaching on submission.

-Awesome for group studies or for an individual, young and old.

-Not watered-down!

-My personal experience with the book was encouraging, God-centered (rather than self-centered), thought-provoking, challenging, and much more.



CONS:

Nothing. The only things I considered nit-picking are so minuscule that as I started writing them, I felt foolish for even considering them a thing to complain about. Like the reflective questions at the end of the first few chapters being self-explanatory, or the author being almost too eloquent (speaking with such a high level of speech that it was a little hard to read/comprehend for the members of our group with lower vocabulary, but only a little.... and really, eloquence should be a pro, not a con).


For those who are curious, here are the disciplines covered:
Godliness
(The love of the) Gospel
Submission
Prayer
Worship
The Mind
Contentment
Propriety
Perseverance
The Church
Singleness
Marriage
Nurturing
Good Deeds
(Being a) Witness
Giving

Enjoy it. It's incredible! I learned a ton!

I found it to be quite insightful, full of wisdom and very applicable in every area which she discusses. I especially like the focus on the Gospel - the need to be disciplined in our lives in order to be living lives worthy of the Gospel and to be sharing the gospel as a way of life. Many times the Great Commission gets left out of Christian Living books, but Hughes reminds us that it is the centerpiece for why we must be disciplined

The book is filled with opportunities to reflect on your life as a woman who follows God's Word. It helps to put life into proper persepctive. I highly recommend this book.

Highly recommended book for women in the Body of Christ. Practical and filled with sound biblical principles. With the market flooded with books that cater to women and have no value, it is refreshing to read a genuine and wonderfully written book.

I bought this for a young woman trying to deal with the errors of her life that placed her in prison. It is an excellent guide on how she can maintain her dignity and keep from sliding into a prson mindset, keeping he goal of restoration and holiness in the forefront of her days there.

It has been working.. a real blessing

I haven't even finished reading the book I downloaded to my iphone yet, but I MUST say this book is GREAT!!! It's scriptural based according to the Word of God and organized. It's not just opinion but fact. Barbara Huges hits topics like "discipline", "discontentment" and how it related to eve's deception on the HEAD!!!!! I so much am enjoying this book and shall NEVER remove it from my iPhone. I am also trying to arrange for the ladies in my assembly to read and discuss it together! Praise God!

I bought Disciplines of a Godly Man, and gave Disciplines of a Godly Woman to my girlfriend. She's been continually raving about various chapters in it over the past month, and in an email to me she says:

"I was reading a GREAT chapter in the book you gave me... I looove it! I think it will become a very important resource manual for me to always keep around. It's got such great meditation in it! But it was about discipline of the mind. It gave me so much to challenge myself with... "

Thanks, Kent and Barbara! Five Stars!