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Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms
Women shaped the men who changed the world.
History tells of women whose love for the Bible shaped its earliest and most prominent teachers. It tells of women who were great theologians in their own right, yet whose only students were their own children. It tells, time and time again, of Christian men who owe so much to their godly mothers.
Raising children to honor and glorify the Lord is the goal of every Christian mother, but how can you do that? Who can teach you? One of the best ways to learn is to read examples of women who have succeeded at the very task you are attempting.
Come take a brief look at some of them. We will look to the church’s earliest days to find a man who owed his salvation to the careful biblical instruction he received on the lap of his mother. We will zoom forward a few centuries to a woman whose constant prayers were at last rewarded when her son came to faith and went on to become one of history’s most influential theologians. We will advance to recent centuries to see how the prayers, teaching, and examples of godly mothers have shaped evangelists, preachers, and stalwart defenders of the faith. We will learn together of Christian men and their godly moms, mothers who were used to shape the men who changed the world.
History tells of women whose love for the Bible shaped its earliest and most prominent teachers. It tells of women who were great theologians in their own right, yet whose only students were their own children. It tells, time and time again, of Christian men who owe so much to their godly mothers.
Raising children to honor and glorify the Lord is the goal of every Christian mother, but how can you do that? Who can teach you? One of the best ways to learn is to read examples of women who have succeeded at the very task you are attempting.
Come take a brief look at some of them. We will look to the church’s earliest days to find a man who owed his salvation to the careful biblical instruction he received on the lap of his mother. We will zoom forward a few centuries to a woman whose constant prayers were at last rewarded when her son came to faith and went on to become one of history’s most influential theologians. We will advance to recent centuries to see how the prayers, teaching, and examples of godly mothers have shaped evangelists, preachers, and stalwart defenders of the faith. We will learn together of Christian men and their godly moms, mothers who were used to shape the men who changed the world.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
279 people are currently reading
5452 people want to read
About the author
Tim Challies
61 books1,565 followersTim Challies is a leading evangelical blogger. A self-employed web designer, Tim lives in the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews
May 13, 2018
Every single mom needs to go get this book immediately! I know I will listen through this many more times in the years ahead.
Charlie’s takes a look at great men through out history and their godly mothers who came before them. He’s not offering a glib answer to parenthood questions, but rather pointing us mothers back to the only thing that truly matters: Christ. And where we stand before Christ and where our children stand before Christ.
Powerful. Convicting. Extremely thought provoking. Encouraging.
I highly recommend you get the audio version as it’s such an easy one to listen through throughout your day! A perfect one to go through slowly, bit by bit. Or binge listen to in one day...like I did ;)
Charlie’s takes a look at great men through out history and their godly mothers who came before them. He’s not offering a glib answer to parenthood questions, but rather pointing us mothers back to the only thing that truly matters: Christ. And where we stand before Christ and where our children stand before Christ.
Powerful. Convicting. Extremely thought provoking. Encouraging.
I highly recommend you get the audio version as it’s such an easy one to listen through throughout your day! A perfect one to go through slowly, bit by bit. Or binge listen to in one day...like I did ;)
June 21, 2022
I didn't really enjoy this book, but that wasn't because it was bad, it just wasn't my type of book.
Pros:
~ Mothers of boys will find encouragement in pages
~ The short segments make it easy to read/listen to if you don't have a lot of time
What I didn't like about it:
~ I felt like the author lacked the skill to make the short bios really as engaging as they should have been
~ The author spelled out what he thought you should get from each bio, I'm not a huge fan of this.
~ It felt a little odd that the author A) is a guy writing as if he knows motherhood firsthand and B) only focused only on men of influence.
~ The author pointed out time and time again the efforts of these people on behalf of reformed theology. While I think our theology matters, I found this bothersome. Some of these people may have been reformed but they did what they did for their LORD and God, not theology. This may be a silly pet peeve of mine, but it distracted from my enjoyment of the book.
Pros:
~ Mothers of boys will find encouragement in pages
~ The short segments make it easy to read/listen to if you don't have a lot of time
What I didn't like about it:
~ I felt like the author lacked the skill to make the short bios really as engaging as they should have been
~ The author spelled out what he thought you should get from each bio, I'm not a huge fan of this.
~ It felt a little odd that the author A) is a guy writing as if he knows motherhood firsthand and B) only focused only on men of influence.
~ The author pointed out time and time again the efforts of these people on behalf of reformed theology. While I think our theology matters, I found this bothersome. Some of these people may have been reformed but they did what they did for their LORD and God, not theology. This may be a silly pet peeve of mine, but it distracted from my enjoyment of the book.
May 9, 2022
I didn’t start this book with interest beyond getting some biographical sketches, but my interest morphed halfway through the first chapter. I wept reading this book. The wisdom and encouragement the lives and legacies these women lived and left for us is truly life-giving. I wanted every nugget I could glean from these short pages.
“Often the best ministry for your lost children is the ministry that they will never see — private, faith-filled, daily prayers in the closet” (49).
“Often the best ministry for your lost children is the ministry that they will never see — private, faith-filled, daily prayers in the closet” (49).
May 2, 2025
I absolutely loved learning about the relationships between these men and their mothers! So much wisdom and christlikeness in these women - I plan to listen again and again and again!
February 16, 2024
¡Sublime!
February 3, 2024
An encouraging insight into the lives of various Godly mothers who had a direct impact on prominent men in the faith. This is very convicting to not waver in faith and prayer over our children. It was a labor of love and patience for them to watch and wait for the Lord to bring their sons to repentance or to devote them to him fully.
I'm very thankful I read this. 4 stars only because I wish he had expounded more on many of the biographies and would have loved more detail.
I'm very thankful I read this. 4 stars only because I wish he had expounded more on many of the biographies and would have loved more detail.
May 5, 2024
A very edifying read for any mother whether you’ve got a band of boys, a gaggle of girls, or a mix of both. I was encouraged, convicted, and consistently reminded of the grace and power of God in a mother’s faithfulness…and the grace and power of God in a mother’s weakness and inadequacy.
November 3, 2023
This is an incredibly short but helpful book that will help any Christian to understand the immeasurable value of having a godly mother who invests in her kids.
Challies reads more devotionally than biographically. He clearly brings out the fact that the great missionaries, pastors and theologians who we celebrate in church history “owed so much to their godly mothers” (7). Mothers will be spurred on to see their work as eternally valuable. Fathers, husbands and children will be convicted with the lack of respect and thankfulness that’ve given to the godly mothers in their lives. I’m grateful that I’m able to say that my own wife is like Ruth Piper who “Through her willingness to bear any burden, through her simple but tenacious faith, through her tender empathy, through her ordinary life, she made an immeasurable impact on her [children]” (82).
Challies reads more devotionally than biographically. He clearly brings out the fact that the great missionaries, pastors and theologians who we celebrate in church history “owed so much to their godly mothers” (7). Mothers will be spurred on to see their work as eternally valuable. Fathers, husbands and children will be convicted with the lack of respect and thankfulness that’ve given to the godly mothers in their lives. I’m grateful that I’m able to say that my own wife is like Ruth Piper who “Through her willingness to bear any burden, through her simple but tenacious faith, through her tender empathy, through her ordinary life, she made an immeasurable impact on her [children]” (82).
August 11, 2022
Engaging and encouraging read! I was struck by the role scripture played in each of these men's conversions...the word of God IS living and active!
October 19, 2023
Great little book about Moms and sons. How powerful a Mom’s influence is. Some well known Mom and some not well known. God uses all types of people to further his kingdom.
April 29, 2021
Inspiring and convicting. This book definitely encouraged me in my walk with Christ and as a mother who desires to see her children come to a deep faith in the Lord. I would highly recommend!
October 30, 2020
So encouraging, MUST READ for Christian mamas!
May 25, 2019
This book shares the stories of ten (?) great Christian men and the mothers who raised them and prayed for them. I actually teared up several times while listening to this book on audio, because I was so challenged and encouraged as a Christian mother!
If you ever worry about how your kids might turn out, or if you ever feel like everything you are doing as a Christian mom isn't important enough, PICK UP THIS BOOK. Unlike so many Christian books for mothers that give superficial "cheerleader" encouragement (which I typically find more annoying than encouraging), this book will not only offer encouragement that what you do as a mother is important, but it will challenge you to be a better mother to your children by PRAYING for them. The one thing I noticed with each of these stories was how hard these mothers prayed for their children, and I was challenged to do better at praying for my own children just by listening to the stories of these faithful mothers.
I think this book can offer encouragement for every Christian mom, whether your children are young or grown, whether you are married or single, working or staying at home. This book offers godly examples and encouragement for each of these categories of mothers. It was excellent. HIGHLY recommend this one for any Christian mom!
If you ever worry about how your kids might turn out, or if you ever feel like everything you are doing as a Christian mom isn't important enough, PICK UP THIS BOOK. Unlike so many Christian books for mothers that give superficial "cheerleader" encouragement (which I typically find more annoying than encouraging), this book will not only offer encouragement that what you do as a mother is important, but it will challenge you to be a better mother to your children by PRAYING for them. The one thing I noticed with each of these stories was how hard these mothers prayed for their children, and I was challenged to do better at praying for my own children just by listening to the stories of these faithful mothers.
I think this book can offer encouragement for every Christian mom, whether your children are young or grown, whether you are married or single, working or staying at home. This book offers godly examples and encouragement for each of these categories of mothers. It was excellent. HIGHLY recommend this one for any Christian mom!
May 7, 2024
The audiobook is a short easy listen - less than 4 hours! But I loved the both encouragement to rest in God’s grace and the spurring on to boldly lead our kids in faith. Truly great men, ones who love the Lord and those around them, are built by mothers who they watched do the same. Highly recommend!!
“All we really need to do is love God’s word and live by it. Love it and teach your child a love for it too. It’s through the word that they will meet Christ, and it’s through the Word that they will know him more. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and spend untold money in Christian bookstores looking for that perfect resource that will help us teach our kids. But all that is really needed is a sincere faith and a desire to share that faith with our kids.”
“All we really need to do is love God’s word and live by it. Love it and teach your child a love for it too. It’s through the word that they will meet Christ, and it’s through the Word that they will know him more. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and spend untold money in Christian bookstores looking for that perfect resource that will help us teach our kids. But all that is really needed is a sincere faith and a desire to share that faith with our kids.”
August 26, 2022
This is a lovely, short, and encouraging book for Christian moms of sons. I thought and talked excerpts over with my husband. I read whole chapters aloud to him! (They are short.) I think this is one that would be great for a reader of the intended audience to buy for yourself or your book club or a group of close friends. It was especially encouraging to me as I am now the primary educator of my two boys, a role I take seriously and consider with immense gratitude.
I have @gailey to thank for the final push I needed to purchase this one! When he posted about it and wrote such lovely things about his own mother, it convinced me to get it for myself. I'm grateful! Go read his review - it's informative and lovely and I'd rather uplift it than say any more of my own words 🙂
I have @gailey to thank for the final push I needed to purchase this one! When he posted about it and wrote such lovely things about his own mother, it convinced me to get it for myself. I'm grateful! Go read his review - it's informative and lovely and I'd rather uplift it than say any more of my own words 🙂
November 8, 2023
I like the concept. A bit like drinking skim milk. And at times patronizing
March 11, 2019
What a sweet gem for my heart this weekend. I’m so encouraged by these godly moms- by their faith in Christ, their prayers, their hard work, and their determination on behalf of their kids. I was especially encouraged by the mama who suffered much physical difficulty as I feel right now. Devoted is a good title for this- Lord help me be so devoted! My one critique is that I wish the book would have mentioned that even if a son has a godly mom, one that does all these acts of godly devotion, this does not mean her son will come to a saving knowledge of Christ. But God is glorified by our devotion and obedience to Him nonetheless. We must point our children to Christ in our motherhood, not primarily for their salvation, although we hope and pray that is the case! But because God has called us to and it brings Him glory, so we obey with all joy!
January 10, 2023
Cannot recommend this book enough. The most convicting and yet encouraging book I think I’ve read as a parent. So thankful to have found this and I think it will require a yearly reread. Definitely finished this book resolved to pray much more diligently for my children. Really can’t say enough about how much I loved this one.
January 8, 2019
Every mom should read this book!! This is a compilation of godly moms that loved and served their families with eyes looking to Christ for their guidance. We ought to desire to live such prayer filled lives as these women, seeking to lead our children to faith in God.
March 1, 2023
This is an easy and encouraging read. The short chapters were originally blog posts. I listened to it on audiobook at a quick pace, but it would probably be more effective to read back over a hard copy, more slowly, with a pen in hand to underline and make notes.
July 21, 2023
4.5 🌟
Great little book on the power and influence a godly mother can have on her children. I liked the questions at the end, definitely made you think. Some of the stories made me want to read a more in depth biography.
Great little book on the power and influence a godly mother can have on her children. I liked the questions at the end, definitely made you think. Some of the stories made me want to read a more in depth biography.
October 21, 2023
Cannot say enough good things about this book. It is interesting, encouraging, inspiring and made learning an absolute joy. I am so grateful that Challies took the time to put this together. Currently free on hoopla, and a book that keeps your attention enough where you can listen to it.
October 9, 2018
Great book! Being a Mom is such an incredible blessing from God. Awesome reminder of how important it is to daily pray for our children & share God’s Word with them.
January 15, 2021
So timely, especially with teens! I used this book as a morning devotional and it really helped me shift my focus to important spiritual things with my children and Not just surviving! Simple and Two thumbs up!
January 23, 2024
Great easy, short read. Lots of encouragement for a mom to keep up the good work of training kids to love the Lord!
December 10, 2018
This was a very encouraging book. I felt like it was just as much a book about the power of prayer.
February 15, 2021
Really enjoyed this book! Would recommend for all new, old, single, married, believing moms!
March 29, 2023
Short, sweet & simple devotional-style chapters, each focused on a godly man and the faithful mother who raised him.
I listened to it for free on Audible and it was perfect for a short car ride to work, both challenging me and inspiring me in my role of mothering my boys.
I listened to it for free on Audible and it was perfect for a short car ride to work, both challenging me and inspiring me in my role of mothering my boys.
January 11, 2022
Inspiring, convicting, and a short read
January 21, 2021
This is an inspiring, engaging, applicable little book for all mothers. I'm so grateful for the way Challies highlights the privilege and opportunity and beauty of motherhood.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews