Bible Study Book Review: Lies Women Believe

Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Woldgemuth was one of the first Bible studies I ever tackled with a group of women.

As I reflect back, I am so thankful that the woman leading the study offered this one. I was a fairly new Christian and others might have suggested I study something with less depth or something geared towards “Bible study beginners”.

However, Lies that Women Believe was exactly what God knew I needed to spur some serious growth in this girl who had grown up in the church, but had not understood until then the difference between knowing who God is and knowing (relationship) God.

Lies Women Believe allowed me to confront several lies I had embraced as Truth.

When I heard that the book had undergone an update and expansion (with 30% of the content new or updated), I jumped at the chance to be on the launch team!

As I’ve spent the last few weeks working my way through the updated version of Lies Women Believe, God was quick to remind me of a lie that He had me conquer the first go-round.

I had bought into the lie that “I can’t help the way I am.”

The oldest of three girls (my sisters are twins), I was active in musical theater from a young age. I embraced every opportunity to sing on stage, plaster on stage makeup, create a character, and perform in front of crowds. My tendencies to be dramatic were honed and encouraged.

So much so that when people told me I was “being dramatic”, I received it as a compliment. And when it was clear they didn’t mean it as such, I replied, “That’s just the way I am.” I shudder to think that I probably even responded aloofly, “That’s how God made me!”

Surrounding myself with others in the theater program through high school just served to reinforce the lie I was telling myself.

As a young adult my flare for the dramatic gave me license to over react and explode emotionally.

It wasn’t until I came face to face with the lie I was living through the Lies Women Believe study that my eyes were opened and my excuses rang hollow.

As much as I didn’t want to face it at first, God did not create me to “be dramatic”. I was created in His image and to glorify Him. Over reacting and stealing the spotlight drew the attention to myself, and did nothing to point others towards Christ.

I received a much-needed wake up call.

While you may not struggle with the lie “I can’t help the way I am”, as a busy women’s ministry leader, you may be able to relate to lie #19 – “I can thrive without consistent time in the Word and prayer.”

I admit, I’ve had many busy ministry seasons, where I allowed my to-do list for an event to take over and my time in the Word was sorely neglected. Nancy is quick to point out,

“If he [Satan] can get us to try to live the Christian life without cultivating an intimate relationship with Jesus, he knows we will be spiritually anemic and defeated. If he can get us to do a great many things “for God” without seeking the will of God through His Word and prayer, we may sir up a lot of religious dust, but we won’t do Satan’s kingdom any real damage.”

We may think we’ve got a pretty good handle on Satan’s lies, but Lies Women Believe will certainly highlight some areas where Satan has ensnared you.

Are you struggling with any of these lies?

• God doesn’t love me.
• God’s ways are too restrictive.
• My sin isn’t really that bad.
• God can’t forgive what I’ve done.
• God’s standards for sex are out of date.
• If I submit to my husband, I’ll be miserable.
• If I feel something, it must be true.
• If my circumstances were different, I would be different.

As you and your women walk through the 45 lies that Nancy shines a bright light on in Lies Women Believe, you, too, will no doubt come face to face with lies that you’ve embraced.

It is in unpacking and discovering the Truth that we are indeed set free!

At the end of each chapter, Nancy restates each lie AND counters each with the Truth including scriptural references.

Chapter 6, “Lies Women Believe about Sexuality”, is a brand new edition to the book. As women are bombarded with sexual messages by society, the church must not be silent. Women are battling with porn, erotica, adultery, and same-sex attraction. Dannah Gresh, founder of PureFreedom.org helped to write this chapter and doesn’t shy away from sexual topics that are a reality for ourselves and our women.

Lies Women Believe is an excellent book for both personal study and for a group study. (A free sample of the book can be found here.) You’ll want to check out the companion Lies Women Believe Study Guide which includes ten sessions for individuals and small groups featuring chapter overviews, daily personal study helps, and engaging questions.

If you are teaching or mentoring young women, be sure to check out Lies Young Women Believe. While they would certainly benefit from either study, younger women face some unique and different struggles.

Ladies, we’ve got to be willing to confront the lies that are holding our women, and ourselves, from living the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).

Lies Women Believe is a resource that will help you to speak and share Truth with the women God has placed in your path. I pray you’ll be bold to do so!

You may also want to read:
Tips and Tools for Bible Study and Small Group Facilitators
How to Teach our Women to Be Discerning
Why We Must be Careful What We Quote
Teaching Women to Read the Bible

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