Turning the Page: Must Read Books for Christian Women
- meghanray313
- Feb 18
- 6 min read
In pursuit of rooting your life - self care and self development should top the charts. Growth only comes from being willing to dive into new content, expand your way of thinking, and applying new concepts.
But hey - you know that - you’re here reading these blogs!
Podcasts and reels can be a great place for audio learning but for those of you like me that want quiet, intentional time of growth - reading is unparalleled. Plus it has been proven that when we read, we
Lower stress levels
Build empathy and resilience
Increase perspective taking
Reduce rates of depression
Broaden emotional intelligence
So it is clear that the benefits are abounding. So while I am a proponent of reading all genres that may intrigue you for overall improved mental health, I wanted to give you a list of my favorite Christian self-development books to try. It is my hope that by choosing to read some of these titles you gain insight and growth in the areas of your life that you find your wellness slacking. That through the inherent process of reading a good Christian word, you root yourself deeply.
*My list contains titles, Goodreads provided book descriptions, and a hyperlink for where to buy. The summaries provided are not my written word and are attributed to the publishers and writer of the actual publication.
My Must Read Christian Self Development Books
Christian author Jefferson Bethke delivers a powerful critique of the Western notion of the nuclear family and calls us to a sweeping new paradigm that brings not only longed-for stability but also radical blessings to the world. He uncovers the historic events that led to our obsession with the nuclear family, then exposes the devastating effects of our current "me culture." He argues that by returning to God's original design for families on earth we can participate in the kingdom work that restores and fulfills our innermost desires for connection, contentment, and meaning.
Every person has been designed by God for one-of-a-kind Masterpiece Mission, what most people refer to as personal calling or personal purpose. Everyone needs to be able to name what God has put them on the earth to do. Most people never do. That is a tragedy of epic proportions. This book will help followers of Jesus locate three signals that will help people discern their personal their Gifts, their Passions, and their Story, and help them take meaningful next steps to engage that calling.
Discover the bottomless, refreshing Well of God's Word―and experience a fullness and peace beyond your circumstances .In the chaos of our everyday, it can be difficult to live out and apply the truths of Scripture. We want more of Jesus, but we find ourselves looking to our own lives and accomplishments for our worth and identity. And while that may buoy us for a time, we're often left feeling dried up, discouraged, and longing for more. Using Scripture and her own personal story of surrender, Gretchen offers spiritually hungry women tangible tools to not only know Jesus more but to live a life that thoroughly enjoys Him, seeks Him, and follows Him into freedom.
The Whole Woman looks at what it means to care for another woman holistically—heart, soul, mind and strength—as an extension of loving God. The book explores how we might care for the emotions, motivations, desires, thoughts, and relationships of ourselves and others. It also provides some action steps that you can immediately put into practice.
Jinger Vuolo recounts how she began to question the unhealthy ideology of her youth and learned to embrace true freedom in Christ. Jinger shares how in her early twenties, a new family member—a brother-in-law who didn't grow up in the same tight-knit conservative circle as Jinger—caused her to examine her beliefs. He was committed to the Bible, but he didn't believe many of the things Jinger had always assumed were true. His influence, along with the help of a pastor named Jeremy Vuolo, caused Jinger to see that her life was built on rules, not God's Word. Jinger committed to studying the Bible—truly understanding it—for the first time. What resulted was an earth-shaking realization: much of what she'd always believed about God, obedience to His Word, and personal holiness wasn't in-line with what the Bible teaches. Now with a renewed faith of personal conviction, she shares what it was like living under the tenants of Bill Gothard, the Biblical truth that changed her perspective, and how she disentangled her faith with her belief in Jesus intact.
Christian author, Jennie Allen, explores the inherently lonely world we live in and discusses her vulnerable journey to finding community in a new town. She explores the type of Christian relationships each woman should find in her life in order to enhance their lives and find the full wonder of Christian community.
Christian author Bob Goff tells his own story where each day turns into a hilarious, whimsical, meaningful chance that makes faith simple and real. Each chapter is a story that forms a book, a life. Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too.
Pastor Timothy Keller with his wife, delivers an extraordinarily insightful look at the keys to happiness in marriage that will inspire Christians, skeptics, singles, long-time married couples, and those about to be engaged. Using the Bible as his guide, coupled with insightful commentary from his wife of thirty-six years, Kathy, Timothy Keller shows that God created marriage to bring us closer to him and to bring us more joy in our lives. It is a glorious relationship that is also the most misunderstood and mysterious.
Pastor Chris Hodges uses Elijah's life to show us that everyone is susceptible to depression. Even when we're walking closely with God, we can still stumble and get lost in the wilderness of tangled emotions. But we don't have to stay there, because we serve a God who meets us in the darkness. Out of the Cave helps us remove the stigma of depression and realize we're not alone; understand the ways our temperament and view of God affect the way we handle depression; and learn a comprehensive approach to wellness—mind, body, and soul—from Elijah's journey.
Sheila Wray Gregoire shares how God intends sex to unite couples physically, emotionally, and spiritually--and how to overcome roadblocks in each area.
Understand more about your two bodies and how they were meant to go together. Find healing from past sexual experiences, sexual trauma, or pornography addiction. Figure out the missing piece in your sex life that often makes pleasure out of reach. Learn how to help your husband give you greater pleasure than ever before. Embrace sex with freedom, rather than viewing it with shame or embarrassment.
BONUS: Not Christian but has a lot of Christian undertones - read this article to decide if the content aligns with your ideal for Christian self-development:
Our "thirty-is-the-new-twenty" culture tells us that the twentysomething years don't matter. Some say they are an extended adolescence. Others call them an emerging adulthood. But thirty is not the new twenty. In this enlightening book, Dr. Meg Jay reveals how many twentysomethings have been caught in a swirl of hype and misinformation that has trivialized what are actually the most defining years of adulthood. Dr. Jay weaves the science of the twentysomething years with compelling, behind-closed-doors stories from twentysomethings themselves. She shares what psychologists, sociologists, neurologists, reproductive specialists, human resources executives, and economists know about the unique power of our twenties and how they change our lives. The result is a provocative and sometimes poignant read that shows us why our twenties do matter.
If, while reading one of these books, you realize that you need more 1:1 guidance, perspective or coaching, turn to Meghan Ray for help. Through coaching at Deep Roots Collective you can be provided a wide range of services from spiritual coaching to family and relationship coaching. Schedule a consultation today by clicking here.
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