One observation from the Bible is that wisdom is portrayed as a woman. Her character, virtue, knowledge and wisdom are what make a woman beautiful. Yet in today’s world we find ourselves struggling with godly-living.
The book, ‘Disciplines of a Godly Woman,’ by Barbara Hughes is an excellent read for any woman. Wife to a pastor, R.Kent Hughes, and mother to four children, Barbara presents the topic of discipline with a gentleness and grace that only a mother can pull off.
In the book, Barbara tackles 15 vital disciplines that a godly woman should embody. She begins by challenging the perception that discipline is a hard thing. Most people repel the word as they relate it to challenge and duty. Christians today also associate the term ‘discipline’ with legalism or religiosity as they feel that the path of discipline will lead them to an unhappy life.
But that’s not the case. When we build physical discipline such as avoiding sugary foods and exercising regularly, we are rewarded with great, healthy, beautiful bodies that boost our self-confidence. The same is true for Christian discipline. Barbara begins the book by explaining how vital discipline is for a christian by quoting the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 4:8-7. It says, “while physical training is good, it is even more important to train for godliness.”
The ‘Disciplines of a Godly Woman,’ is a thought-provoking book that will break down your construct of christianity and lead you to a Christ-centered way of life. The book tackles topics such as ‘Discipline of the mind,’ ‘Discipline of Contentment,’ ‘Discipline of Marriage,’ and so on.
What I like about the book is that it offers timeless insights that challenge one’s way of life as a Christian. When reading it, you will feel like you’re getting advice from your mother or a close friend. Most readers celebrate the book citing it as a treasure chest of Biblical wisdom. Using her own life experiences coupled with biblical teaching, insightful reflection questions, and other stories, this book will definitely motivate you to pursue a life centered on Godly-discipline.
Barbara does not give her readers a to-do list on things they must do to develop discipline. Instead, she talks about God’s grace and helps you see how easy it is to live a Christian-centered life.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book are:
- Legalism is self-centered; discipline is God-centered. The legalistic heart says, ‘I will do this thing to gain merit with God.’ The disciplined heart says, ‘I will do this because I love God and want to please Him.’
- The Christian life is about bringing the will under submission to God’s will.
- Faith in the goodness of God in the face of adversity doesn’t just happen. It grows out of a discipline of perseverance in the day-in, day-out grind of daily life.
If you have a friend who will be getting married soon, attending college or is about to start something new, this book can be a priceless gift. I got my copy at the iServe Africa bookstore. You can also find it on Amazon.
As for the men, there is a similar book titled ‘Disciplines of a Godly Man, written by Barbara’s husband, that is just as insightful and life-changing. I would put it this way, we live in a society where people are spilling to the altar in search of blessings. Yet, Jesus said, ‘blessed are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires, God will satisfy them fully.” Matthew 5:6-16. What does God require? discipline in the gospel.
Well spoken
We learn everyday