Customer Reviews

A Woman After God's Own Heart® Growth and Study Guide

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was led to this book at the store during a time of confusion and exasperation with my relationship with my husband and life in general. A Woman After God's Own Heart changed my life because it put the focus of my efforts and energy in a different place. Suddenly I wasn't living for myself, or insisting on equality in my marriage at all times. I surrendered my resentment, surrendered my control to God. This book put everything in perspective and since I read it in 1998, I have been a very different wife, mother, neighbor and woman. Thank you and God Bless you ............

This book had a great impact on my life, especially as a wife and mother. Many times, the things she advocated made me resentful, because they demand that I die to my own will, and treat people the way GOD wants me to treat them, whether they deserve it or not! I loved her way of prioritizing things, reminding us that our husbands and children come before anyone else, and that our families should never doubt how important they are to us. Walking in God's path isn't easy, and it is a relief to hear an author encourage us to take the hard way, instead of the easy way!

I received this book as a gift at my bridal shower. And what a gift it has been! This book taught me what it is to have a Christ-centered marriage. As I read, I began to put away all the childish and wordly ideas I had about marriage and being a wife. It really became clear as to what marriage should be. I have been married for 2 years and still refer to it.

As there is more to being a Godly woman than being a good wife, there is more to this book: knowing and loving God, being an affectionate, prayerful mother, creating a loving home, and much more. I have given this book to many of my friends as they prepared for marriage. We all think it's wonderful. You will, too!

This book has been life changing for me. Elizabeth Gearge inspired me in a way like never before. She prioritzes the things in our lives that matter most. I absolutely believe she aligns with God's word and teaches women how to be the GODLY women we long to be. By breaking down each area of our lives and giving practical, realistic ideas for living each of these areas in a way that glorifies our God, Elizabeth gives truly applicable and easily obtainable thoughts and direction for daily living.

If you would like to become a woman who has a passion for God's word, a daily prayer life and a truly blessed walk with God, this book is for you! I am now going through the accompanying study guide and am continuing to grow spiritually.

This book should be a MUST READ for every christian woman!!!!!!!

This author is a wonderful Christian lady full of wonderful Christian values. She states things that are obvious that we should do and those things that we didn't realize we should do.

One part of the book really hit home with my personal life style, that I need to improve on. However, the largest impression that this book has given ME (maybe not to other readers) is everything that I DON'T do right. She has great concepts, but to me it is taken a little to the extreme. I think -"How would anyone have enough time to do ALL the things she mentions in her book?" For instance, we're suppose to make EVERY meal a special occasion with flowers, different table cloths, special plates, games, etc. That sounds great for maybe one day a week or especially for birthdays, but I can't see having time to do that plus take care of my husband, two-year old son, the house, the bills, the errands, the cooking, my prayer time, my reading time, my exercise time. Whew!

I had to take serveral breaks while reading this book, because of the negative feelings I received from it. You don't really get a sense from the author that she struggles with completing all things things. She has many references to things other people do and how she would quickly try to do those things in her family. I feel like I'm trying to keep up with the Jones'.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that we should follow God's Word. But should we live trying to be a perfect superwoman? I'm going to use the concepts of this book to improve my role as wife and mother, but in ways that usually come naturally pleasant for me. I think we should use our own likes and gifts to help build our family. Instead of getting joke books from the library every week, I might pick a fun activity that we like to do together, etc. I believe that God wants us to do our best at our roles, but still be the person he made us to be.

I don't discourage anyone from reading this book, it is a good book. I just recommend that you don't overwhelm yourself and think you're not a good person.

This book is an awesome tool of spiritual growth in your life--it is convicting yet George is very down to earth in relating her humilities, not to mention humorous. If your are looking to grow and apply Scripture to your every day life--this is the book to read!

This book tells about a woman's priorities. I liked the way the author told about each priority.

Even though I am not going to give a lengthy review, I will say that I liked the way the author told about how important the home is. In today's world, so many women don't realize how important and beautiful and cozy and secure a home is supposed to be. And that their efforts in home-making are as important as their efforts in working at a job. The home is to be a loving haven for her family.

I must defend the author about the page 166 issue. I re-read that page. Her husband wasn't grounding her. SHE asked HIM for his advice because she couldn't seem to get things done, and so he suggested that she spend one day a week running errands, and Wednesday was the day they decided was the best day. (I think that's wonderful advice for all of us - most of us spend too much time, energy, and money running errands 3 or 4 or 5 days a week; one day a week running errands would save time, energy, money, gas, etc.) He simply gave her a good suggestion that gave her a lot more time to spend on the home. I guess until she got used to the idea of only spending one day a week running errands, she felt grounded. (I think any of us would.)

Being submissive to your husband is not the same as allowing him to control you. They are 2 different things. Control is a sin and I don't think God will bless a marriage in which the husband is controlling. The author used biblical passages to back her up with the submission issue. (And with everything else she talked about.)

I'm sure this review will get attacked. The author's descriptions and explanations of a woman's priorities, and the way she should live a Christian life, are wonderful and breathtaking and beautiful.

I am only 17 years of age and any thoughts of marriage and children are far on the horizon. Naturally, when my pastor's wife recommended this book to me, I thought it odd. However, after reading A Woman After God's Own Heart, I discovered this is a book for all women, married with children or single with not the slightest thoughts of marriage. Elizabeth George may have intended to reach an older audience, but her novel offers much needed advice to younger women, like me, who plan to marry someday in the very distant future. I've always thought I would become the modern working mom and somehow beautifully balance marriage, motherhood and a successful career, but this book has changed my plans. After reading chapter after chapter of how a woman must manage her household wisely; honor and submit to her husband; and nurture and teach her children in God's Word, I realized that just being a wife and mother is more than a full-time job! Obviously, I had a newfound respect for my own mother after reading this book.

I think what really impacted me the most is Elizabeth George's life stories of how she slowly became the woman God designed her to be. At first, I couldn't see how a wife can completely submit herself to her husband and respond with an enthusiastic, no questions asked "Of course, honey!" to all of her husband's decisions, even a missions trip to Germany that would cause them to be separated for 5 months! That completely goes against the strong independent woman image the world is teaching young women today. However, as I began to read through Elizabeth George's transformation and each of the accompanying Bible verses, I found that a wife IS to submit to her husband. She is to help by supporting his decisions and not hinder by pouting when his decision is an inconvenience to her. Not only does Elizabeth offer her own experiences, but she talkes about the examples of other God-fearing women, like Ruth Graham, who were especially

encouraging to her. I think it's awesome how much God has blessed the women who continue to seek after His heart. I recommend this book to all the other young women out there who want to follow God in every areas of their lives. Not only is it a preparatory guide to how to be a godly wife and mother, it's a great preview of the blessings God has in store for those who seek Him.

I think this book is incredible, and has helped me understand my role as a woman, wife and mother (from God's perspective, according to the Bible).

I just wanted to clarify something that the person with the 3 star review made, about the husband grounding the wife, with an excerpt from the book:

"As a young mom with two little ones and a home to maintain, I began to whine and cry to Jim [an expert on time management], '...I just can't seem to get anything done!'
"[O]nce I had [my calendar] spread out on the kitchen table, he said, '...which day do you need to do something outside of the house?' Well, of course I said Wednesday ... the day of our women's Bible study at church.... Then Jim stated, 'OK, Wednesday is your day out. I want you to try to do all your errands and running around and visiting with friends on Wednesday, and be at home the rest of the week.'
"Although he didn't actually say it, I was grounded! But oh, how many times since then have I thanked Jim - and God - for that guidance!"

I interpret this as a very pleasant, supportive and functional interaction with a spouse: wife has a problem, wife needs advice, husband (who is an expert in solving this type of problem) gives GREAT advice! I interpret the rest of the passage as the author admitting she had a problem looking for interest, excitement and fulfillment in places outside her own home. As a result, she was neglecting her responsibilities in her own home (which is why she felt like she couldn't get anything done).

Hope this helps clarify the issue. I haven't found anything in this book that sounds off any alarms for me.

As far as being "superwomen" and this book setting unrealistic goals for women, the author states somewhere in the beginning that of course WE don't have the strength to be a Godly wives on our own; we have to look to God for that strength. I have seen improvements in my own life by leaning more on God. I have the same # of hours in a day as I did before, but I can tell that I am using that time better because of my obedience to God.

This is a truly amazing book. I found so many great ideas between the covers. I am convicted and encouraged at the same time. What a wonderful author! She truly has a grasp on true Christian womanhood, femininity and what God's desire for His woman are. I will definately recommend this book to all my friends.