I finished reading the book Set-Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy a couple of weeks ago. I have always been a huge, massive fan of Leslie Ludy and this book had actually been sitting on my shelf for a while. In the past I really struggled with reading anything other than fiction...as I've studied the Word these past several months I realized how much I've been missing out. Obviously, the Bible is what needs to be read and studied the most, but there is so much wisdom out there based on scriptural truths that I've missed out on!
So yeah, Set-Apart Femininity. Words can't even express. This book is amazing. Her audience is mostly youth/college age but I got SO much out of this book. I want every woman I know, young or old, to read it. I have to say, though, that it's quite mind/heart stretching. She calls us out on our lives and what exactly about them represent Jesus Christ. As God has stretched me through the study of His Word, I related to so much of this book. I am pretty sure 78% of it is underlined or marked. Maybe more. There is so much in this book I couldn't possibly begin to scratch the surface with telling you the main points.
"The spectacular sparkle of set-apart femininity is found through absolute abandonment to the Author of all true beauty. It's found by exchanging a life consumed with self for a life consumed with Jesus Christ, by trading the desire to be attractive to this world for the longing to be attractive to Him alone. Find a woman who cares about nothing but loving, serving, honoring, and glorifying Jesus Christ, and you will see who truly is "the fairest of them all." (Set-Apart Femininity)
Rather than try to re-write the entire book on this entry, I'll attempt to sum it up simply. (I was never good at summarizing in college...don't tell me I didn't warn you...this is a smidge long.)
This book is getting back to the Gospel.
Our "Christian culture" has made Christianity something that fits in where it's convenient. The Gospel says Christianity is giving Jesus Christ your life. Your decisions, talents, money, thoughts, actions. EVERYTHING.
Our Christian culture encourages us to please OURSELVES. The Bible says to please the LORD. Our Christian culture says that God wants us to be happy and will never give us something we can't handle. The Bible says God wants us to be Holy and He does give us things we can't handle...that's why we need Him...to handle it for us.
Our Christian culture teaches us, as women to strive to be beautiful because we are of course, beautiful on the inside. The Bible teaches us that we have ugly, sinful, disgusting hearts that only want to please ourselves...there is nothing beautiful about us. The only thing beautiful is Jesus Christ living in us.
Our Christian culture teaches us to live as the world lives (same stuff as unsaved people like movies, tv shows, music, books, activities, friends, etc., ...although we might avoid maybe the "really bad" stuff...whatever you think that may be) and put Jesus where He fits (church, maybe a little Bible reading and prayer, Bible study, mission trip...wherever it's convenient). The Bible teaches us to wrap our lives around Christ..."whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, anything excellent or praiseworthy." Does the movie, Magic Mike fit in there? How about the book, 50 Shades of Gray? Two popular things I've seen going around Facebook. Maybe that's throwing too much of my opinion, but there you go.
The Christian culture is seeping with books, songs, etc. that are all about SELF. I realized at one point that even so far back to the moment I was saved, my relationship with Christ was swallowed up with ME. After all, I was the one who made the great decision to be saved. I was the one who made that change in my life. What a great thing I had done. I chose to live for Christ. Oh, it made me sick when I realized how everything about my relationship with Christ was all about ME, when in reality, it's all about HIM. His glory. His fame. His honor. His will. His direction. His plans. I knew all this of course, but I didn't realize how much of myself was wrapped up in my knowledge of Christianity. My mindset in reading God's Word, used to be, "what can God show me today," "what can I get out of His Word today," "God, what do you want to teach me today," "God, how can I become more like you today."
Do you see what's in common in all those requests? Me. Self. I.
I learned through the Reading of God's Word, as well as Set-Apart Femininity that it has nothing to do with Me. Self. I, but everything to do with, "God, may you be glorified today in the reading of your Word." Instead of my focus being all about me and how I can grow from God's Word, it became all about Him and getting to know Him. I will go ahead and tell you, this is impossible if you're just reading a few verses here and there. You can not truly know someone unless you're studying, spending time, seeking.
How does your life look? Like one placing Jesus where He fits, or like one centered around Jesus.
I tell you what...these past couple of months I have been hit upside the head too many times to count. I am certainly not above what this blog entry is all about. These are all things God has taught me...and is most definitely still teaching me. I have a long way to go. Know that my heart in sharing all of this comes from the fact that it's too great not to share! God has done so much in me that I'm truly a different person than I was a few months ago. My heart is that everyone reading this will let God do what He wants to do in your life. It will be amazing. I promise.
-Megan
I will have to check this out! Sounds like a good read!!!!
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