4 o’clock. I weighed the choice in my mind. It had been a long day, and I wanted to rest. TV is a go-to when I want to relax. But I knew I had more to do. I knew if I watched TV immediately, I’d lose time with my guy catching up on my to-do list later.
The remote beckoned.
I justified it in my mind, again.
God calls us to rest, right?
“It’s not a waste of a time…even if it is, it’s OK.”
That’s what I’ve told myself time after time. I found the sentiment echoed (and answered!) in Lies Young Women Believe. Written and updated by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Dannah Gresh, the book addresses common points of error young women face.
Kinds of lies exposed in the book include:
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Lies about God
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Lies about Relationships
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Lies about my Faith
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Lies about Media
Other sections focus on sin, why we fall for it, and how to break free from lies and their effect on us.
Nancy and Dannah write in a conversational, engaging way. Sharing personal stories, teen girls’ examples, and Biblical lessons, they expose the lies to the truth. I found the lies they selected to be “biggies” for any woman but also appreciated how they tailored the examples and explanations to young women.
Sample quotes include:
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Learn to run from anything that would send you in a direction that is contrary to God’s will for your life.
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The focus of our prayer life should not be “God, this is what I want,” but “God, what do you want of me?”
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There’s a difference between having a calling to do something great “for God” and being called to serve a great God.
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Our view of ourselves either enables us to do what God has for us to do or limits us from becoming all He means for us to be.
I highly recommend this book to young women. It is an excellent resource for small groups of girls to work through with trusted mentors as well. Should common lies we believe come up in conversation with young women I know, I’ll be recommending this book to them.
If there’s anything to criticize, it may be that despite updated language and examples, the graphics in the book are a little hokey. To me, that’s a small thing!
As for that lie about media being okay even if it’s a waste of time– I noticed something one day around 5pm after I succumbed to the temptation. I didn’t feel rested. I wasn’t relaxed. My energy wasn’t restored. All I wanted was more entertainment to quiet my more-cluttered mind.
Lies Young Women Believe contained the same observation. Plus, a smart point: rest is a good thing, but boundaries in relaxation are important too. The point of rest is to be refreshed in the Lord.
So the next day when my 4pm slump rolled around, I read and talked with God instead. Guess what left me feeling free and restored?
<I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.>
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Oh, rest. Sometimes I think I’ve got it all wrong about rest. When I pursue it I fill it with things that don’t truly bring rest to my spirit. Remembering that rest is about our whole self is key. And this book sounds like a great resource!
So often the things I look to for rest don’t help my spirit either, Becky. This book is great! Only one little section is about rest, but I think their approach to rest is a great example of what the book is all about- exposing common lies to the truth!
Hi Bethany, great review! Pinning this today. I read the book Lies Women Believe and enjoyed its thorough coverage. I’m sure this book is similar.
I read this review on my phone in the car when you first posted it, and glad to return to it to let you know how wonderful I thought your intro and title are. Sometimes that’s the hardest part of a book review.
This sounds like a great resource, too!
The companion book for adult women is a good book. I can only imagine the spiritual grit and encouragement in this one. Glad you reviewed it, Bethany, and shared it with us. Thank you! #faithonfire
People will both knowingly and unwittingly run you down, rest. Rest in His finished work. Take a nap if you can.