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.”
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Living Our Days 
We are changed towards holiness as we abide in Jesus. The more we abide, the more we are changed. Thanks for the introduction, neighbor. Blessings to you!
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I’m also reading a review book on the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship, “Habits of Grace.” Lots of those around. ha. But yes, good reminders! Thanks for sharing about this one, Michele.
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I definitely need to read this! Thanks for the recommendation!
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Loved this Michelle and loved that godliness workout.
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I love the call to hard work to know God. I am taken with the second quote “I will follow the teaching of God’s Word because I am in relationship with its Author . . . not because I fear losing that relationship.” because everything I have been learning about God and a relationship with Him points to this as being true. I am working on pursuing a deeper interaction and understanding of God’s word so I may know Him even better. Great thoughts here friend! Blessed to be your neighbor at Testimony Tuesday.
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Thanks, Mary, for reading and for sharing your own pursuit with me.
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I’ve read that people are like books. We know their story like reading a book.
It’s amazing when we find interesting books and people. Especially inspiring ones.
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Hi Michele, thanks for sharing this…sometimes I’m amazed by your speed!
How have you been friend? Hope all is good at your end?
Hugs and Blessings
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I’m afraid it makes me sound old to say so (eek!) but I believe discipline rooted in love is something my generation is sorely lacking – we threw the baby out with the bath water when we heard about grace and now many of us flounder as we try to figure out how to move forward. Thanks for sharing your good reads with this community.
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Smiling, because I almost titled my review “The ‘D’ Word” because of the overwhelming negativity regarding discipline. Thanks for weighing in – I feel old sometimes too when I advocate for discipline or any kind of structure.
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Thanks for these thoughtful observations, Michele. I hadn’t heard about the book until now and I’m grateful for the time you spent reviewing and sharing it with us. Blessings to you!
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So many good thoughts from Barbara Hughes!
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It sounds like a well-balanced yet encouraging book! Thanks for the great review :).
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Yes, my take-away was this: Go Deep. Don’t settle for a surface commitment to Christ. I loved the author’s wisdom – won by years of faithfulness.
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I will act in obedience because of my love for God. – I love this! The book sound wonderful, thanks for the review, Michele. Thanks for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
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This IS an excellent and foundational book for anyone who wants to grow in her relationship with God.
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As always, you feature great and inspiring books. I love it when you link up with us at Literacy Musing Mondays.
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[…] — Deliverer by Beth Willis Miller25 Easy Ways to Save Money by Debbie at Simple Joys of Home Strength Training for Countercultural Women by Michele at Living Our […]
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You have made me really want to read this book, and I NEVER actually want to read non-fiction! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday this week!
Tina
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Yes, this is really a great, affirming, and challenging read. I would like to meet the author.
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This sounds like a great read!
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[…] by David Mathis The Radical Pursuit of Rest by John Koessler The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes The Cultivated Life by Susan S. Phillips The Making of an Ordinary Saint by […]
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[…] Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes–you can read my review here. […]
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