Disciplines of a Godly Woman

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!

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

Discipline. The word causes many of us to recoil, because it seems so difficult and challenging. But this book did encourage and inspire me. The apostle Paul encourages us to "discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness" (1 Tim. 7:4-8). I'm learning through the book that the disciplines of a godly woman is about submitting every single area of her life to God. It's about bringing our will in submission to God's will and surrendering every single area of our life to His lordship. This book shows us how to train our spiritual muscles through the spiritual disciplines of submission, prayer, worship, mind, contentment, propriety, perseverance, church, singleness (for those who're single), marriage (to the married), nurturing, good deeds, witness, and giving. One of my favorite chapters is on the discipline of the mind. It exhorts us to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" (Rom. 12:1-2). Barbara Hughes emphasizes the importance of programming our mind by the regular reading of God's word so that as we begin to think God's thoughts after Him, they become the dominant influence in our mind and heart. The author provides practical steps and suggestions how we can put the disciplines into action, and real-life stories of disciplined godly women in action. I found those real-life examples inspiring. I also appreciate the author's understanding of the Scripture and am grateful for her God-given gift of exhortation. She seems to really understand the common "struggles" or obstacles which we may go through in our practice of godliness and offers some helpful suggestions to overcome them. I love the "Resources" section at the end of the book. It's designed to be helpful in exercising the disciplines, which includes: A daily Bible-reading plan, a list of praise Psalms for our devotional time, a recommended reading list of book titles (from different genres like Christian classics, devotional, theology, biographies, fiction, etc.). There's also a page titled "Opportunities For Good Deeds," which lists suggestions, ministries, and ideas for women to get involved and invest in others' lives. This is a book not only on the "what" and "why" of spiritual disciplines, but also the "how". [A complementary book for men, Disciplines of a Godly Man, is written by Kent Hughes.]