Purity: A Godly Woman's Adornment

On-the-Go Devotionals

by Lydia Brownback

The Christian community often thinks of purity only as it relates to issues of sexuality, but the term encompasses much more than that. We need to look closely at all it means to be pure as God intended. So what does purity mean? As modern women, how can we follow Paul's command in Colossians to "put to death" impurity? How does purity adorn a godly woman? Lydia Brownback looks to Scripture to answer these questions as she engages an issue faced by all women.

The newest in a series of compact devotional books for women, Purity guides us to understand that our hearts are purified as we lean on the purity of Christ and his perfect work for us. These devotionals are a daily reminder to women that putting Christ first takes care of everything else.

Genres: Devotional, Christian Living, Womens, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Lydia Brownback (MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary) serves as a senior editor at Crossway in Wheaton, Illinois, and an author and speaker at women’s conferences around the world. Lydia previously served as writer in residence for Alistair Begg and as producer of the Bible Study Hour radio program with James Montgomery Boice.

Reviews

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very encouraging read. The author has a unique and fresh perspective that was refreshing.

[Sarah]

LOVED IT. So well-written. I learned a ton from this, and I would recommend it to any woman.

[Elizabeth Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The second this book started bashing women who are independent or who are working mothers or who dye their hair or even wear lace tank tops… I knew.

I ended up angry reading the rest of this book and my frustration was very justified by the end. However the author has some good points, I don’t think I can support the overarching message of this book and its contents, which I gathered as:

1) being a woman of God means being in the home, denying yourself always, never letting yourself be seen nor taken care of, and always surrendering your whole life for your kids and husband and in-laws and elderly parents and so on

2) anyone who thinks other wise is 1000% wrong and ignorant

This type of writing - the extreme “I’m right you’re wrong” - does not bode well with me. Saying that all women who don’t live life EXACTLY LIKE YOU are terrible and impure is not only insensitive and alienating, but it’s also just so incorrect and mean.

“‘Those conversations are personal and private!’ No, they’re not. They’re just stupid” [p.126].

This is an actual quote from this book. I think I rest my case.

So no, I can’t say I recommend this book, and at the same time, I am so blessed to have stumbled upon it so I could ponder, pray, discern, and then share for myself what real purity looks like to me. (To me, not anyone else.)

“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God” [Matthew 5:8].

[Chesed Thifault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and challenging. I read it every night since I started the challenge and am looking forward to starting another one like it. Really good reminder to focus on things that are important like our relationship with the God and others rather than myself.

[Keiki Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Unique and to the point, this is a devotional for women who want to see God by focusing on purity in several areas of life.”

This is a unique Devotional book broken into two parts: Part One: A Pure Heart, and Part Two: The Fruit of a Pure Heart. There are 42 devotions in all. I purchased this book as research for a book series of my own and it proved to be very beneficial.

Part One: A Pure Heart focuses on the description and the behavior patterns of women who seek purity in all areas of their lives. I found several of these devotions refreshing, especially since the author did not limit the discussion of purity to simply sexual purity.

My personal favorites in Part One: A Pure Heart were those dealing with discernment, desire and hope.

Part Two: The Fruit of a Pure Heart includes more devotions than Part One and addressed more personal issues such as identity, modesty, relationships and idolatry. Again, it was refreshing to see these topics included in a discussion of biblical purity.

My personal favorites in Part Two: The Fruit of the Heart were those dealing with personal restraint, passions, and mission mindedness.

We need more books on this topic. We need to begin to see purity not as a trendy topic to focus on for a short time but in a cleansing, consecrating way.

Lydia Brownback does this in this devotional. Purity: A Godly Woman's Adornment is well researched and well written, this is a book I’d recommend for any woman wanting to know the truth about purity supported clearly God’s word.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of a series of "on-the-go devotionals." Each chapter is only 2 to 3 pages so they are quickly read. One problem with short chapters is that the chapters often sound like they're repeating each other. If it was all in one chapter it wouldn't sound so much like repeating itself it would just sound like building on a thought. Brownback doesn't say anything extraordinary but what she says is generally good and solid. She also does a good job of addressing the heart and continually pointing us to the cross. However, another problem with short chapters is that things are left unsaid and sometimes that makes what is said come across as one-dimensional or trite. Here are a couple favorite quotes:

"Fighting to protect our most cherished hours and activities doesn't lead to happiness, but it can lead to loneliness."

"Guarding what we watch, read, and hear isn't legalism. It's just sanctified common sense."

"We must keep our tongues from flattering, certainly, but we must also guard ourselves from the flattery of others... The sort of flattery that leads to immorality is dangerous and subtle, and it's something that hooks us when and where we are weak."

[Mary A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...I LOVE this devotional. Each entry is short, to the point, convicting, and encouraging me to look to Christ for his help and salvation. As a married woman I wasn't really compelled by the idea of a devotion on "purity", but as the description says, it refers to so much more than sexual purity. Would recommend this to anyone who seeks to follow after God with a pure heart, and now I want to get all of her devotionals!

[the blushing reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman should read this book!! Obviously it was written for a godly woman's adornment, but it was full of edifying knowledge for men too.
I found it detailed and sound. Each day hit the spot of my soul that needed reminding or encouraging and guided me back to God.