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Disciplines of a Godly Woman

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Discipline. For many of us, the word alone evokes dread. It's not that we don't want to be disciplined physically, mentally, and spiritually. The challenge seems too hard, and the motivation more about duty than desire. When it comes to our Christian walk, we don't want to be legalistic and just follow some set of rules. That's not what it's all about, right? Barbara Hughes answers with this encouraging The true heart of spiritual discipline is a relationship with God. As you grow in that relationship, embracing your heavenly Father and his ways, you discover that discipline is your lifeline to him. It is how he gives meaningful shape to all the days of your life. The "dread" of a disciplined life will be replaced with desire and anticipation as you find that there is no greater purpose than loving Him in every moment, every activity, and every thought. Using poignant stories and faithful reminders, Barbara opens her own heart to help you find the joy of full surrender. Her honest and encouraging look at the Word of God reveals the keys to living a truly godly life. And to strengthen your walk day to day, she offers hymns and praise psalms for your devotional times, a long list of recommended books that will lift your spirits, and Bible study helps to remind you that you're not alone.

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

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About the author

Barbara Hughes

8 books28 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Barbara Hughes is married to R. Kent Hughes. She has supported her husband's pastoral ministry for over 40 years while also raising four children. She is the author of Disciplines of a Godly Woman and is a popular teacher of women’s groups. Together with Kent, she has also authored Disciplines of a Godly Family (formerly known as Common-Sense Parenting) and Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome. Barbara and Kent live on the West Coast, have an ever-increasing number of grandchildren, and are still actively involved in ministry.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha.
146 reviews9 followers
May 19, 2021
I feel like I can’t give this only one star because it’s not that there weren’t things of value in here...they were just buried beneath a mountain of assumptions and unjustifiably self-assured writing. For a woman with few credentials or qualifications, Hughes speaks with absolutely certainty on a variety of topics, and fails to allow for the complications of life or the variety of persons. For instance, her advice for single women is essentially to be busy, get a roommate, and/or spend one’s time helping one’s married friends with their kids. Which I’m sure is great...for single extroverts who like babies. I’m not sure what the rest of us are supposed to do, but it’s never acknowledged that those solutions might not work for everyone.
Overall, it frustrated me from beginning to end. I want more from a book about Godly discipline than a trite call to get over yourself and go along with even the uncomfortable things. I know there are uncomfortable things that I need to grapple with, but I have to allowed to grapple! I am coming for help in the grappling! not to be dismissed in my concerns and thoughts, and I felt very dismissed by Hughes.
Profile Image for Haley Annabelle.
300 reviews108 followers
March 1, 2022
This is a great primer on the disciplines that a Christian woman should have. If you are a new or baby believer, I would highly recommend going through this book. However, if you are already familiar with the definitions of these disciplines, I would recommend seeking out a more in-depth book, maybe specific to one of the disciplines that you struggle with.

I found the writing in this choppy, and basic. I disagreed with her interpretation of the gift of singleness, as well as her explanation of 1 Timothy 4:15.
The last chapter, on grace, was wonderful!
Profile Image for Leah Young.
4 reviews
April 21, 2022
One of the most challenging yet inspiring books I have ever read. It reminded me of the unmeasurable extent of God’s unending grace for his children. As his daughter, Christ has revealed to me my worth and image that is fully in him and his creation. Through discipline of the Gospel in daily living, we should be able to witness and evangelise with selfless and humble hearts, being sacrificial as Christ was for us.

Highly recommend to all of you Godly women out there 🤍
Profile Image for Michele Morin.
626 reviews30 followers
February 22, 2016
Strength Training for Countercultural Women





People and books reserve the right to surprise us, and it’s a real delight when both happen at the same time. I opened the pages of Barbara Hughes’s book expecting the equivalent of a heart-to-heart over a mug of steaming tea, an open Bible and a warm sharing of practices that have held us close to God throughout full and following lives. This I found, indeed, but behind the words of Disciplines of a Godly Woman beats the fiery heart of an apologist, a defender of truth!

“Train yourself for godliness” — the truth of I Timothy 4:7 — is an invitation to enter into “a godliness workout.” Coupled with the Hebrews 12:1 injunction to throw off impediments, this training process involves practicing and investing energy into the development of habits and attitudes that lead to godliness.

Barbara is careful to differentiate between legalism and discipline with wise words about relationship. Any acts of godliness that I perform, rightly motivated, will arise from a desire to do what pleases God, or, what John Wesley referred to as “a zealous obedience.” Referring to her readers as “gospel women” clinches this biblical orientation to grace.

Barbara lifts up the spiritual disciplines that she examines and allows them to catch the light like multiple facets of a single jewel. The focus of discipline impacts all the roles that we assume in fulfilling the assignments that God gives, each diverse, each unique and performed with love.

Anyone who has logged in a few years in a pew has heard or read pages of important words about the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship. For those who have not, Disciplines of a Godly Woman is an extremely helpful primer, but the text moves on to the pondering of deep things of God in these important areas of “basic training.” No matter how long one has believingly followed Christ, there is always a need for growth, perseverance, and the bending of the will to God’s will.

Viewed as disciplines in my training toward godliness, issues such as contentment, propriety, nurturing, good deeds, witnessing, and giving become more than simply items on a never-ending checklist. They are exercises that build my understanding and my embrace of my role as a countercultural woman who understands that the words of Jesus identifying the Holy Spirit as “helper” have “forever elevated the position of the one who assists.”

Barbara brooks no excuses and holds high the standard of obedience. In her discussion of the call to marriage versus singleness, she says, “Maybe this sounds unpleasant to you. Obedience often feels that way initially.” My ear detects the crisp tones of Elisabeth Elliot’s no-nonsense teaching ministry. However, love is held up as the motivation for all good deeds, and may, in the end, have to be “put on” (in Colossians 3 parlance) as an act of the will — deliberately and one sleeve at a time.

With gentle assistance toward personal worship and reading of the Word in multiple appendices, Barbara puts an arm around her readers while affirming the truth that a relationship with God requires effort. Even so, there is “no contradiction between grace and hard work.” Grace says:


I will act in obedience because of my love for God . . . not to earn His love for me.

I will follow the teaching of God’s Word because I am in relationship with its Author . . . not because I fear losing that relationship.

I will persevere in the disciplines of the Christian life because I am held in a hope that is based on strong promises . . . not because I am hoping that the disciplines themselves will hold me in the faith.

Gospel women know this, of course, but we do need a reminder now and then, and sweet reassurance that we are not on this journey alone.

Thank you, Barbara.

//

This book was provided by Crossway in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Mary Knipp.
48 reviews7 followers
July 6, 2023
This book! Wow! It is convicting and challenging in an encouraging way.
If you are a Christian woman, this book would be good for you to read. Go slowly and prayerfully asking the Lord to show you areas where you need godly discipline.
Profile Image for Milina Kazlouski.
34 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2023
So i actually ended up only reading a little over half of the book and not finishing it.

I give it 2 stars because truely, it's a good book and has a look of good points. It covers a really wide range of topics and areas in a woman's life. It's biblical and points to scripture.

But in all honestly, I've been trying to finish this book for over half a year and I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO FINISH. I have no desire to pick it up, I can't read more than a few pages at a time, and I zone out too often. This book is just a bit too "information heavy" for me. These types of books are typically not my jam and are really hard for me to read and get into.

If this is your type of read, definitely give it a shot! Again, nothing bad to say about the book. It's just dragging out too much for me at this point, and I'm tired of forcing myself to finish it.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Prata.
99 reviews20 followers
February 17, 2019
I do not recommend this book.

I like the topic, and there were a few good nuggets in it, but overall it was simply a rehash of normal things any women has already heard, if she has been saved for any length of time. Few new insights.

Issues I had with the book were:

LOTS of anecdotes. The book would be half as long if she cut the personal anecdotes and stories that supposedly cemented her point and just stuck to the Bible. Anecdotes the author thinks makes her case, don't always connect with every reader, but the Bible unfailingly does.

Some misused scripture, or relying on a traditional view of famous verses rather than teaching their real meaning.

Quoting doubtful characters, i.e. William Barclay, a confirmed universalist who denied the Trinity; Watchman Nee, a mystic whose views on sanctification, the Holy Spirit, hermeneutics, baptism, the church and sin contain significant error; Christy the missionary written about by Catherine Marshall, who was a social justice warrior missionary who gravitated to Quakerism, and more. Her Resources page also contains iffy books.

Not recommended. A better book is Twelve Extraordinary Women : How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do With You by John MacArthur
Profile Image for Kindra.
140 reviews3 followers
August 30, 2011
Probably won't recommend it to anyone, and probably won't remember a whole lot of what I read. It was interesting, and certainly had some good points-but overall was full of things I've already heard in ways I've already heard them. Some cool thoughts on nurturing and how that's involved with womanhood.....that's likely the only thing I was really struck by. While all of her points were fairly good, and the way the book was set up and written is very user friendly and easy to read, if you've been going to a church that teaches from the Bible, you've likely heard anything before.

I'd recommend to someone looking for a general refresher on qualities of womanhood discussed in the Bible, or for someone who is brand new to Christianity and wants to learn more about this topic.

I'd not recommend it to anyone looking for new, scarcely discussed topics of Biblical womanhood.
Profile Image for Tori Samar.
560 reviews86 followers
September 25, 2022
Solid overall. Weakest part to me was the way she spoke about the mind (we are humans, not computers!). This is the kind of book I can appreciate not because it says anything new or earth-shattering but because it reminds me of many things easily forgotten. Personally, I would have liked Hughes to go much deeper on everything, but I'm not going to hold my reading background against her.
January 12, 2024
I feel like this book is a classic - and for the right reasons.

1) I enjoyed how the book was broken down into several sections (soul, character, relationships, ministry, and grace)

2) each section gave biblical support and practical applications. I especially enjoyed the sections on the disciplines of a godly wife and mum, but also greatly benefitted from the chapter on singleness.

3) despite being written nearly 20 years ago, the applications were relevant to today’s changing society.

4) the end is full of different resources for music, Bible reading plans, testimonials, etc.

5) this book is a great challenge to mature believers while offering practical insight to new believers - it is a great recommendation for any women despite where they are in their spiritual walk.
Profile Image for Angela Priebbenow.
92 reviews9 followers
September 26, 2021
I highly recommend this book to all Christian women. It's an encouragement and a challenge to self-discipline. While we are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone, our salvation inspires a desire to live for God's glory, and this book give practical tips for self-discipline toward this end.
Profile Image for Kacie.
29 reviews13 followers
December 27, 2018
Listened to this on on audio. The narrator spoke terribly fast. I’ll be picking up a physical copy of this one up.
32 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2024
Sheeeeesh 🔥 convicting and encouraging. It felt like my grandma was giving me a big hug and then kicking me in the pants. I will probably use this book as a reference for many years to come.
Profile Image for Zoe A.
31 reviews4 followers
March 25, 2020
If you are a woman wondering how to go about living a godly life, this is the book for you. In fact everyone should read it. I guarantee you will be both challenged and encouraged:)
Profile Image for Cheyenne Langevelde.
Author 5 books140 followers
November 2, 2022
This had a lot of potential, but it just didn't reach that for me. Much of the content was either too vague or too opinionated, or its application was very dated, and I also disagreed with some of the theology presented. The concept is great, but this book just didn't reach that for me. I felt like I didn't learn anything while reading it, and certainly nothing that I was hoping to learn.
Profile Image for Sarah.
56 reviews3 followers
April 19, 2015
Disciplines of a Godly Woman is one of the best books I've read thus far regarding biblical womanhood and its scriptural tenets. In a time where we're beset with innuendo and rhetoric esteeming an "every woman" mentality that the Lord did not mandate, it's refreshing to encounter the correct approach demonstrated within a humble grace laden wrapper. The author's words are imbued with a sensible calm that is unmistakable for its respect for her readers and their respective seasons along with her desire for us all to strive towards the mark we've been given in His word.

The book is devoid of haughty undertones, scriptural stretching, or legalism. What she implies through heartfelt example and admissions of imperfection are the steps we each can take to move closer to the image and disposition that the Lord designed us each to express. Gone is the lioness and the endless cheers for stronger, tougher, locker room pep talk to help us get over the hump. Strength under submission when yielded first to God and His word has a very different odor that is pleasing and exceedingly hard to forget when you've been graced by its presence.

She takes us lower; deeper in Him and in our lessening we find ourselves leaping to heights and bounds we dare not find when we emulate men or succumb to worldly perspectives concerning our sex. Our womanliness and all the elements which make us uniquely feminine and divinely compatible with the opposite sex are beautifully presented and regarded for the sanctity of its difference and the wisdom God exhibited in our fashioning.
Profile Image for Teresa.
162 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2022
A very broad and thorough look at what Godly character and habits look like in the life of a faithful woman. Reading this felt like sitting down with a mature believer and just absorbing her wisdom on a variety of topics including modesty, attitude, prayer, church, etc. She begins with the “discipline of the gospel” as the foundation of all the rest. Definitely recommended reading.
Also, I am a sucker for great covers… the photo on this one is so simple and appealing. But my favorite little surprise was the tiny dust bunny under the chair. The disciplines of a Godly woman may not include the complete absence of dust bunnies! 😉

Update: reread with the church ladies summer 2022. Still great! A bit like a Swiss Army knife: you may come across a topic here and then realize you need a full-size tool instead, but she gives decent coverage to a broad range. Her anecdotes are helpful and inspiring too, especially as she described her parents’ marriage and her mom’s character.
Profile Image for Sophie Alexander.
12 reviews2 followers
November 4, 2021
“we Christian woman need to get rid of every every association, habit, and tendency that impedes godliness.”
By using both stories from her own life and accounts from friends and family, this book is great on giving insights on how we can practically live out our lives as woman of God and sisters in Christ. You are not along on this journey, you’re not the only one who has those thoughts, doubts and troubles and this book addresses some of the trials and tribulations we as woman face. At times it will make you feel embarrassed or almost ashamed in your acts and points the finger at where sin is in your life but we need that.
Some chapters are a little drawn out and others I could have read more but overall I’d read again. Highly recommend to anyone looking practical applications. “Sisters, as we attempt to do God’s will, He always gives more grace.”
Profile Image for Lisa Faircloth.
41 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2019
This is a very well-organized, well laid-out study for women seeking to deepen their faith through the knowledge of what God’s word says about their identity and roles as women of faith. It took me quite awhile to work through it because, though it was not particularly long, it was heavily supported with scripture and each point included much Bible study and meditation which I loved. I actually used this as a part of my morning devotion time. I worked through it for a few minutes each day and it took me the better part of a year to complete. The appendices in the back were also very helpful, especially the book list which I will reference in the future.
Profile Image for Abigail Stacy.
53 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2023
I really did enjoy and appreciate this book. The author’s distinction between discipline and legalism both at the beginning and end of the book was really helpful. I think there are several chapters in the book that are either missing or lacking in todays discipleship of young women but are so important (contentment, submission, propriety, etc). However, there were a couple of chapters that seemed to miss the mark. Specifically the chapters on singleness and generous giving. They were just watered-down, vanilla kinda of teaching on the topics that lacked vision.
Profile Image for Hannah White.
26 reviews
January 19, 2024
Overall Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

I think this book does a great covering the overall basics of Christian disciplines that women struggle with. If you are looking for an depth study on this topic, I might suggest going somewhere else. However, I think Hughes did a good job discussing certain topics such as the gift of singleness/ marriage and contentment. Ultimately, even if you are a mature believer, I am sure there is something of value to gain from this book!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
632 reviews5 followers
July 11, 2021
There aren’t any mind-blowingly profound moments in this book, but it is chapter after chapter of good reminders of what we are supposed to be doing as Christian women and I always need that. Plus it is packed with scripture. “The disciplined godly woman rids herself of associations, habits, and attitudes that impede godliness. Then she invests her energy in the pursuit of godliness.”
2 reviews
February 25, 2024
Barbara Hughes bases her disciplines on Scripture and provides many real-world examples of women living out these scriptures. She's also provides other resources for further study.
I will be coming back to this book to keep studying to be like Christ.
Profile Image for Antonia.
215 reviews71 followers
September 15, 2019
This book is a keeper, one to always have at hand. It has some good resources at the back and will help me in my journey of reading more from Christian women.
Read it.
3 reviews
August 11, 2023
Loved this book! Very straight forward, practical, spiritually challenging, and vitally important. I think many Christians lack discipline and are not concerned about their role in sanctification. This book is a good guide in actively working towards maturing as believers and not being stagnant in our walk. I doubt it is a popular opinion in our nominal society, but an absolute necessity. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Lauren.
25 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2023
Wow!! Will have lots to ponder and pray over in the coming days and weeks. Very thankful for this book and the way Barbara outlined these disciplines with grace and practical examples, while packing it with scripture.
Profile Image for Elise Orre.
6 reviews
January 8, 2023
Many areas covered, so they sometimes turned out rather brief, but she still managed to get the message through as she continously pointed to God and the Bible as the answer. I deeply appreciated that. Otherwise it was a good overview and reminder of how God has called us to live as his daughters and deciples in every aspect of life. All in all a great opportunity for reflection, so I'll most likely reread, atleast the first half.
Profile Image for Janine Kunz.
166 reviews
March 27, 2019
There are some really good nuggets here. I read this with friends and really enjoyed the feeling we were being mentored by a wise woman. Great for studying and covers a wide variety of topics, each chapter concludes with thought provoking questions that encourage personal reflection and action. Unfortunately the author uses some language that is old fashioned at best, could offend some modern day sensitivites at worst... along the vein of "put on a little makeup before your husband comes home." If you enjoy discerning value while you read and don't need to feel in total agreement with your author then I think this is worth it for sure!
Profile Image for Sierra Cusson.
57 reviews14 followers
April 16, 2022
There are several faithful Biblical books written on Christian disciplines for women, and this is definitely one of them! It isn't my favorite one - just coming off of reading Elisabeth Elliot's book on the same topic might have me biased! But I liked this book, and would recommend it for someone who may be new to Christianity or to learning about spiritual disciplines for the first time. It is a solid overview book of many basic disciplines in a Christian woman's life: prayer, submission, contentment, the church, marriage, singleness, generosity, etc. For Christian women who are already quite familiar with biblical teaching on womanhood, this book will not hold very much new information, but it still served as a good refresher course for me. Even if it is your fourth or twentieth time reading about these things, you should still be able to read Hughes' book and find an area in your life that needs growth and more discipline - I found several!
Something that I appreciated about Barbara Hughes' book is that she was very intentional about including a lot of help and resources at the end of the book. The appendix section has a huge list of suggested books to read (Christian and secular), a list of Psalms for meditation, a list of faithful hymns, the complete M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, and more!
After reading this book, I have found that I am leaning towards wanting to now read books that are dedicated to a certain discipline or area of growth - for example, Barbara Hughes/an appendix she included quickly discussed how one can do all things to the Lord while staying at home and doing household jobs, but now that I've had a book that overviews it, I would like to read a book that strictly focuses on fleshing that out more. In other words, I would like to go deeper into some of the subjects that she only had time to do a chapter on. But again, if this is all new to you, reading an overview would probably be very helpful!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews

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