6 Life-Changing Books for Women

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through the link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

There’s something about milestones that make us pause and reflect. Birthdays have a way of doing that for me. As I approach another birthday (and it’s a big one), I have so much to be grateful for.  I look back on the people, things, and events, that have shaped my life.  I see the many stages and the seasons I have walked through. And I see God’s hand at work in all of it.

One of the things that has helped me to navigate the many stages of life is a good book. For me, books have given me permission to own my feelings, made me laugh, supported me, given me hope, quieted my fears, and reminded me that I am not alone.

“Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood.”

–John Green

As I reflect, I recall some of the books that have had an impact on me. There are so many that I can’t list them all here, but there are some that simply stand out because of the way they have transformed my thinking. I share a few of them here with you in the hopes that you may also feel understood in the stage that you are currently in. This is by no means an exhaustive list but I feel strongly that they are life-changing books for women in various seasons of life. 

Life-Changing Books for Women

Singles

Undivided Devotion: Spiritual Focus For Single Disciples

Written to single Christians, this book provides advice for those who are looking for meaning and lasting fulfillment in the midst of the single life. When I first read it, I was fresh out of college and trying to find my place in the world of work. Though it is meant for singles of all ages, I found it particularly helpful during those years when I was first stepping out on my own. It covers topics such as finances, dating, purity, spiritual living and the future. There is a chapter each written for single parents and divorcees.  It reminds us that whatever our ‘singleness’, it is possible to be undivided in our devotion to God.

Wives

Pursuing the Pearl: The Quest for a Pure, Passionate Marriage

Too often when we think of purity we think of sexual purity, but that is only part of it. This book presents purity as the secret to a passionate, God-honouring marriage. Using the biblical story of the Pearl of Great Price, author, Dannah Gresh encourages readers to identify the fake pearls in their lives and pursue purity instead. This is one of those books that when you read it and apply its principles, your life and marriage can be forever changed.

When I think about marriage, Pursuing the Pearl always comes to the top of my list of life-changing books.

Moms

Grooming the Next Generation for Success: Proven Strategies for Raising the Next Generation of Leaders

As a parent I am always on the look out for sound parenting advice and as a result, it seems I’ve become a collector of parenting books. As my kids enter a new stage, a new book (or two) gets added to my collection. A new parenting challenge presents itself and you guessed it… a new book.  I have to say that when I read this book by Dani Johnson, I was impressed with her fresh, no-nonsense approach to parenting. She presents 9 strategies for parents to apply in areas such as their children’s self image, people skills and spiritual equipping.

Dani also introduces the concept of personality gems (or styles) that can help you identify your child’s dominant style so that you can improve communication and motivate them. I remember reading about a particular personality gem and nodding my head in agreement as it perfectly described my child.

While this book is written primarily to parents, anyone who is in a position to influence the next generation, should definitely read this.

 

All Women

All of the next three books are suitable for women no matter what stage they are in life. They each in their own way challenge our thinking so it’s no surprise that made it to my list of top life-changing books for women.

True Woman 101: Divine Design: An Eight-Week Study on Biblical Womanhood (True Woman)

This book will shake up your image of what it means to be a woman. It’s actually an 8-week study that will take you through the male-female relationship and gender-specific roles. By reading this we are reminded that not only is God’s plan for women, good, it is also perfect. When you purchase the book you also get access to on-line videos that reinforce the concepts.

With misconceptions about ‘women-rule’ and ‘girl-power’, this is definitely one that I will be sharing with my daughter when she grows older.

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

In this amazing book by Ann Voskamp (A Holy Experience), you are invited to embrace the life you have now by chronicling everyday blessings. Think of a gratitude journal with a thousand entries. Doesn’t our God amaze us enough each day to fill up those pages?

Ann’s writing is beautiful and she lets us into her world, the everyday, the painful, the joy, the grace. With every entry we see her gratitude growing and her love for God increasing.

Reading this book has been personally transforming for me and I’ve started my own one thousand gifts list. Remember to ask me what number I’m on.

A Gentle & Quiet Spirit – Discover the Truth about These Misunderstood Qualities

This is one of those game changers. Virginia Lefler starts with 1 Peter 3:4 to dispel our myths about what it means to be a woman with a “gentle” and “quiet” spirit. Get ready to have your beliefs shaken up and replaced with God-centered truths. No longer will you look at these qualities as weak or inferior. In fact, after reading this book I walked away feeling empowered and highly valued by God.

Within the book there are several areas to record your thoughts and journal your progress. I love going back and re-reading what I wrote several years before to see how my thinking changed over time. This is definitely another one of my favourite life-changing books!

What I’m Reading Now

The latest book that I am excited about is Raising Godly Children: Children Who Courageously Follow Their Lord by Aimee Imbeau. Aimee is a home educating support teacher who also home educates her three children. She runs a beautiful blog over at A Work of Grace.

‘Raising Godly Children’ is a Christian parenting book that looks at marriage, sibling relationships, parent-child relationships, how to effectively disciple children and more. Aimee’s book came out in August and I just recently started reading it. It is such a keeper! I am especially looking forward to reading Aimee’s views on the Parent-Child Relationship and Parenting out of Fear.

---

And now for a surprise! Remember, I said that I am about to celebrate my birthday? Well it would be my honour to give you a gift for my birthday. Yes, you heard right. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t turn back any gifts you want to send me 🙂 This is just my way of saying thank you for visiting my blog and being a part of this lovely community.

Raising Godly Children – Kindle Book Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of ‘Raising Godly Children’? As my birthday gift to you, all of my readers will have a chance to win the Kindle edition of this very special book!

UPDATE: The giveaway has ended and the lucky winner is… Dianne T.! Dianne, I am sure you will enjoy Aimee’s book, Raising Godly Children!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
To all my lovely readers who entered the giveaway, I say a big ‘thank you’ for entering and promoting it. As a bonus, all entrants will receive a complementary set of my P.R.A.Y. scripture cards (everyone else can get a free set here). And of course, you can still pick up a copy of ‘Raising Godly Children’ on Amazon.

Your Turn

Have you read any of the books from this list?

I would also love to hear what book has helped you be the woman you are today. Is there a particular book you think should definitely go down in the list of life-changing books? Which season of a woman’s life would you recommend it for?