BOOK REVIEW—Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood
By
Melissa Kruger
Publication Date March 17, 2015
I cannot recommend this Bible Study strongly enough for all women, not just those in the season of motherhood. I found it so encouraging and helpful to me even though I am in my late 60’s and a grandmother to grandchildren many miles away. Even as Melissa Kruger uses this study to fulfill the Titus 2 mandate, it is a wonderful tool for all Titus 2 women to give to or to work through with the younger women in their lives also. Even if you have never had children of your own, you will find this study beneficial as all women can be helpful with other people’s children as we fellowship in the Body of Christ, even if the only way that we help with the children is to be an example to them as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This study can be a useful tool for this purpose. It would also be instructive for younger women who are yet unmarried or newly married, but currently with no children.
This is not a “how to” book. This Bible study is Christ centered and points out that the most important thing that mothers need is to know and be known by Christ, the Way and the Truth and the Life. It is through this relationship with Christ and abiding in Him and through a thorough grounding in His Word that is the foundation for and out of which naturally flows a Biblically based practical and theologically sound mothering. This tone is set in the first chapter and may we all begin each and every day with the prayer, “Lord help me to honor and glorify You and bring glory to You in everything I think, say and do, including in my mothering.”
Melissa Kruger’s book is set up as an 11 week Bible study with 5 portions (“days”) to each week, but you can actually do it at your own pace. I kept tally of the time spent on each “week” and found I spent anywhere from just under 2 hours to just under 3 hours for each “week’s” section. I finished the study in a little over 13 actual weeks.
These are the topics for each week:
Week 1: Understanding Your Purpose-Walking by Faith
Week 2: Knowing God’s Word-Walking by Wisdom
Week 3: Entrusting Your Child to the Lord-Walking in Prayer
Week 4: Ordering Your Home-Walking in Carefulness
Week 5: Reflecting the Heart of God-Walking in Love
Week 6: Encouraging a Thankful Spirit-Walking in Joy
Week 7: Fighting Against Anxiety and Worry-Walking in Peace
Week 8: Letting Go of Harshness and Anger-Walking in Patience and Kindness
Week 9: Training Hearts Through Discipline-Walking in Goodness and Faithfulness
Week 10: Guiding in Godliness by Example-Walking in Gentleness and Self-Control
Week 11: Recovering from Perfect Mom Syndrome (PMS)-Walking in Grace
At the end of the book are 12 Mom’s verses to memorize, one for each of the twelve months of the year. Following that are twelve topical verses for children. The twelve topics are faith, truthfulness, trust, compassion, joyfulness, obedience, honor, encouraging works, forgiveness, diligence, thankfulness and contentment. Under each topic, is the definition, the opposite of the topic (example is the opposite of faith is doubt, mistrust, unbelief), the Memory verse and Biblical examples (such as the Hall of Faith Hebrews 11 cites Biblical examples of faith.
This study is available in both book form and e-book edition. I did this study on my Kindle and I was able to answer the questions on my Kindle using the “Notes” feature, as well as highlight where it was appropriate to underline. All the verses are included in the book along with space to answer the questions so everything can be done in the book or in a notebook. The one and only complaint I had with this study was that the Scripture verses were mainly NIV with an occasional verse from the ESV. I did all my answers to the questions using the much more Biblically trustworthy KJV. This necessitated my looking up each and every verse, but I felt this was worth it. I also took the time to write out all of the verses for memorization on index cards, and again, used the KJV.
In chapter 5, the author narrates to us how at the age of thirteen her parents gave her a one year Bible that apportioned the Scriptures so that they could be entirely read through in the course of a year. From that day on she has diligently read and studied God’s Word. She gives good insights into ways to help our children establish a good devotional life.
I strongly recommend this devotional to ALL women. In closing, let me include several (though not all) of my favorite quotes from her book.
From page 10, “Delighting in our relationship with God is the first step toward embracing and enjoying our role as mothers.”
From pages 12-13 and a good overview of the content of the book, “Yesterday we examined our ultimate purpose in life: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The reality is that we are incapable of either one until we believe in Jesus by faith. And faith is a gift only God can bestow. We ask Him for it. Then it is by faith we can walk with God and can live by His Spirit. By faith we are transformed daily to look more and more like Jesus. I know that this purpose is often difficult to remember in the daily stresses of life and various tasks of mothering. In the midst of floors to mop and dinner to prepare, you may be asking, ‘How do I glorify God and enjoy Him?’ The answer forms our outline or study in the weeks to come. We grow in our enjoyment of God by abiding in the Word (Week 2) and prayer (Week 3). Finding daily time for these two key elements requires us to plan and order our priorities well (week 4). As we abide in Jesus, He changes us from the inside out. The next six chapters deal with the fruit of His Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) at work in our hearts and how the overflow of these virtues impacts our children. The final chapter explores our struggle with perfectionism and our continual need for God’s grace.”
From page 18 regarding abiding in Christ, “Only as we abide in Jesus will we bear the fruit of His Spirit. We need a source of strength outside ourselves in order to become the mothers we long to be.”
From page 85, “All of Scripture points to one ultimate conclusion, our Father treasures us and loves us dearly-all the way to the cross and back. Being rooted firmly in His love allows us to overflow with love for our children.”
From page 125, “Trusting in Christ anchors our souls to peace in the midst of life’s turbulent storms. While our anxious thoughts leave us exhausted and weary, daily dependence on God leads to refreshment and renewed strength.” Psalm 29:11
From page 213, “The lesson that I learned that day is that I cannot protect my children from my weaknesses. As hard as I may try, at some point my sin will affect their lives. However, the way I deal with my failure can provide an example for them to follow. I am a sinner raising sinners…By teaching our children about confession and repentance as well as grace and forgiveness, we bless their lives for years to come.”
And finally, on page 22, “…motherhood has exposed just how much I need Jesus.”
As a final word of encouragement to those who do not think they have the 2 to 3 hour block of time to spend each week in this study. I would strongly advise that you not let this hold you back from benefiting in the use of this book. Although it is arranged as a weekly study, it can be done at any pace. Especially if you are doing this study while doing your regular Bible Study, you might want to do just a small portion each day and not worry about how long it takes to finish it. It is better to do it that way and truly meditate on and pray about the portion of the Word of God that you are dealing with for that day so that it can become truly transformative. Melissa gives several portions of Scripture for each of the 5 days of each “week” and which specifically deal with that week’s topic and they are followed by several questions. You may only want to deal with one of those portions of Scripture each day so as to better benefit even though it greatly lengthens the time that you will spend in this study. May the Lord give you much wisdom in this and may we all continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as we endeavor to be the women that God wants us to be.
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Reviews with images
My Favorite Devotional of All Time!
God has used this devotional to encourage, and dare I say, discipline and correct me!?!! It is meant to be done in eleven weeks, but I have been going through it slowly over the course of a year, once or twice a week. I savor it. It addresses discipline and anxiety, two areas which I struggle with the most. Every time I pick up this book it has been EXACTLY what I needed in that moment. It includes all the Scripture in it and space for writing in thoughts, so it's easy to take with me if I decide to work on it outside my home. I received my first copy free from blogging for books for writing an honest review, but I've since purchased a copy as a gift for a friend and fellow mom, and I plan to purchase more. I think it's a devotional I could work through me than once as my kids grow and my challenges in parenting change. (I currently have 3 boys all three and under. )
Top reviews from other countries
Mark Johnston
Such a timely book in the season of motherhood
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2021Amazon Customer
Deep but easily accessible teaching
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2017