God's Priorities for Today's Woman, by Lisa Hughes

I adored this book. To be honest and fair, I was suspicious of it at first. The title, God's Priorities for Today's Woman: Discovering His Plan for You (published by Harvest House Publishers) made me wonder how much this book would be shared through the lens of the modern evangelical feminist. The title was deceptive, as far as I'm concerned, because it isn't a message for Today's Woman. (It is that. But it is also a message for women of the past and women of the future.) Lisa Hughes offers solid Biblical advice, focusing specifically on the following verses:

"[T]he older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5

The entire book focuses on these few verses, which are backed with "the priorities" (in relation to the title of the book) that God has for women. I have so many pages bookmarked that I'm not even sure where to start in the discussion of it. As I mentioned, I thought that Hughes was going to focus on the modern woman but she puts these fears to rest right from the get-go.

" . . . [F]requently people dismiss the Bible's commands as being old-fashioned and irrelevant for today. And many women would like to believe God would change His mind if He really knew and understood our modern culture and their personal situations. Yet God truly does know the issues we face. He didn't make any mistakes giving us His word exactly as we have it in our Bibles today. God knew precisely what He wanted to communicate for all time, for our time, and it is recorded in Titus 2:3-5." (Chapter 1, page 19)

She had me at hello, to put it another way. I find it so disheartening to open books about "today's woman" and hear them trying to suggest that it's hard to apply Biblical truths to our lives because we are so different than the early church. Not so. We're all human with sin issues and we struggle to follow after the commands of Christ. We can try to make excuses but they will not be valid ones. It is better to accept that we are imperfect, that God is perfect, and that His word is God-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) For all time.

Hughes teaches through Titus 2:3-5 in the following chapters (I think listing them will help you best figure out how this book is laid out):

1. The Art of Growing in Holiness
2. The Art of Speaking Pleasant Words
3. The Art of Self-Control
4. The Art of Sharing and Seeking Wisdom
5. The Art of Loving Your Husband
6. The Art of Loving Your Children
7. The Art of Living Sensibly
8. The Art of Pursuing Purity
9. The Art of Caring for Your Home
10. The Art of Showing Kindness
11. The Art of Loving Submission

Every single chapter will cause the reader pain in some form or fashion - which is a good thing. I had my "pet" topics, of course. It is hard to grow in holiness. I don't always like seeking out advice from older women. I don't always love my family effectively. Well, Christianity is HARD WORK! Anyone who says that following after Christ is easy, or that you can expect blessings upon blessings (without any struggles, mind you) is selling you something. It's a tough row to hoe!

But what is the point of all of this, ultimately? Is it to learn how to be a better Christian so that other people will like you? Is it so that you'll develop good habits that will cheer and enthrall those around you? No. It is to bring glory to God. That's why we press onward in the faith, isn't it? To learn more of who God is, what He has called us to and to learn what He has for us and how we might know best how to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

Naturally, if you pursue these "arts" as listed above, your family will benefit. Your friends will enjoy your company just a little bit more than before. You will be able to set your life priorities and pursue them more wholeheartedly, with less distractions. The closer we grow to Christ, the more we become like Him. The more that we become like Him, the more effective we will be in glorifying Him and enjoying Him.

Hughes speaks wisely and well in God's Priorities for Today's Woman. She is patient and loving, yet firm in her belief that scripture is healthy and good for Christian women of today. Scripture - and its truths - have not changed over time. Rather, it is designed to help instruct and change us and I appreciate Hughes conviction in this.

I highly, highly recommend it and wish I had more time and space to talk about it. I may pick a topic or two on occasion to talk about as the "inspiration strikes" but in the meantime, check out this book!

Thank you to Harvest House Publishers for sending me a copy to read. I am very happy to say that Harvest House has offered a copy to one of my readers here at Reading to Know! Would you like to win? (Well, maybe you wouldn't because it will convict you!) Simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Tuesday, May 10th.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER, AS SELECTED BY RANDOM.ORG IS #3 - AMY at Hope is in the Word.

Congrats!