As Christian women, spiritual growth is essential. Our journey of deepening our understanding of God and preparing ourselves to serve others is continuous.

One of the most impactful ways we can grow is through reading books that enrich our faith, sharpen our knowledge, and equip us for the work God has called us to do.

God designed us for connection and learning. From the beginning, with Adam and Eve, to Jesus and His twelve apostles, we were never meant to walk this journey alone.

In the body of Christ, we need one another. This includes the wisdom and guidance we receive through authors—men and women who have captured their insights and experiences on paper to help us grow.

I’ve been deeply impacted by many powerful Christian books, and today, I want to share five that have shaped my life as a Christian woman.

These books have not only transformed my faith but have also equipped me to serve others more effectively.

These post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission from qualifying sells at no additional cost to you.

1. High Call High Privilege by Gail MacDonald

Shortly after finishing university, I felt God’s calling to serve in a Christian organization. My role involved preaching to youth and hosting gatherings, tasks I found intimidating due to my shy nature.

Thankfully, a fellow team member recommended High Call High Privilege by Gail MacDonald, a seasoned pastor’s wife.

In this book, MacDonald shares her journey of balancing life as a wife, mother, and ministry leader.

She emphasizes the importance of personal spiritual growth and creating systems that make serving others a joy rather than a burden.

Through her words, I learned that serving others in ministry is a privilege, and God used this book to transform my heart, making me a more open and compassionate individual.

To date, my daughters still refuse to believe I was once very shy and withdrawn. This is a testimony to God’s work in me.

Whether you’re serving God in a full time capacity or in what he leads you to do, you will find this book very helpful on your journey of walking with the Lord and serving him.

Find High Call High Privilege by Gail MacDonald here.

2. Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Burton Mains

Hospitality has always been a challenge for me. As an introvert, I often preferred solitude over social gatherings.

But God used Karen Burton Mains’ book Open Heart, Open Home to shift my perspective on hospitality.

Instead of seeing it as a task to impress others, I began to understand biblical hospitality as an opportunity to minister to others through my home.

This book helped me embrace authenticity in hosting, removing the pressure to entertain and focusing instead on creating a welcoming environment where people could encounter God’s love.

Over time, I learned that true hospitality isn’t about perfection but about ministering with a heart of service.

God has continued to work in me. I see evidence of this from testimonies of those who come through the doors of our home and leave strengthened, encouraged, and refreshed, despite my misgivings and insecurities about my hosting some of the time.

When I understood that hosting is a way of life for the Christian, a command from God and not an option, I was truly grateful to God for the insight and understanding of women like Mains, who helped me begin to adjust my life and environment to align to the will of God with regard to hospitality.

Several years later, I’m still growing in this precious practice. I’m however thankful to God I’m not where I was.

Find Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Burton Mains here.

3. Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald

One of the most important lessons in my spiritual journey has been learning how to “order my private world.”

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald taught me that spiritual growth begins in the quiet moments of our private lives.

The book emphasizes the importance of disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and solitude in cultivating a strong, vibrant relationship with God.

As I read, I learned how to prioritize my spiritual life, ensuring that my inner world—my thoughts, prayers, and actions—align with God’s will.

This book has been foundational in helping me navigate life with purpose and intention, so I can serve others more effectively and live a life that honors God.

My husband and I have been big proponents for adopting spiritual disciplines that help you grow your spirit man.

Part of the foundation of this part of our lives was reading this book early on in life.

Over the years, we’ve kept each other accountable as we incorporated what we learned from the book, tailoring the lessons to our context.

I have experienced the immense benefits accrued from ordering my private world. I trust the book will be a blessing to you too.

Find Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald here.

4. Feminine Dignity by Carolyn Mahaney

In today’s culture, discussions on feminism often cloud our understanding of biblical womanhood.

Feminine Dignity by Carolyn Mahaney provided clarity on this topic, helping me embrace my identity as a woman in Christ.

Mahaney draws from Titus 2:3-5 to present a biblical vision of womanhood, encouraging women to live with dignity, purpose, and grace.

As I navigated my own journey of biblical womanhood, this book affirmed the principles I had been teaching others and provided deeper insight into God’s design for women.

It’s not an easy read for a mind that has been highly infiltrated with worldly feministic thinking. I however find hope and encouragement in the book for the teachable heart that is willing to submit to God’s will for the woman.

Amazingly, as I found out, once a woman willingly aligns herself to the will of God in her understanding of Biblical womanhood, she’ll experience joy, fulfilment and release to be all that God intended her to be as a woman.

I was immensely blessed by this book. From my honest review, this book will help you to become a virtuous woman, to the glory of God.

Find Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney here.

5. A Woman of Noble Character: How Can I Become One? by Clara Muruga

As the author of this book, I have poured my heart into sharing the lessons I’ve learned about biblical womanhood.

A Woman of Noble Character is a comprehensive exploration of the Proverbs 31 passage, offering practical insights on how to live out the virtues described in this well-known scripture.

I capture observations and insights from each verse, drawing practical lessons from these to help a woman grow and thrive in the Lord.

From foundations, to a woman’s worth, to her mission, and patterning her life after eternity, I cover over 12 topics that touch on biblical womanhood in light of the Proverbs 31 passage.

Through this book, I also share my journey of walking with God, mentoring younger women, and aligning my life with God’s plan and purpose.

The principles outlined in this book continue to speak to my heart and guide me as I strive to grow in my faith and serve others. I pray that it will bless you, as it has me.

Find A Woman of Noble Character: How Can I Become One? by Clara Muruga here.

Why Christian Women Should Read These Books

Reading is a powerful tool for growth.

Each of these books has shaped my understanding of biblical womanhood, ministry, and spiritual growth.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your relationship with God, serve others more effectively, or navigate the complexities of being a woman of faith, these books will guide and inspire you.

Reading not only transforms our hearts but also equips us to serve God’s purposes with excellence. As you explore these books, I pray they will have the same impact on your life as they have had on mine.

Get Started Today!

If you’re ready to dive deeper into your spiritual growth, I encourage you to start with these books. Each one offers valuable wisdom that can help you become the woman God created you to be.

Additionally, I invite you to join The Formations of a Noble Woman online program, where we explore the Proverbs 31 passage together.

This program is a wonderful opportunity for women to grow in their faith, connect with others, and gain practical insights for living out biblical womanhood. We open our doors twice a year in March and September.

Join The Formations of a Noble Woman program here.

Transform Your Life with the Power of Books
As 2 Peter 3:1 reminds us:

“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.”

I don’t know of a more beneficial way of exercising our minds unto godliness like reading.

Readers are leaders. Leaders as readers. Read to grow, mature, learn, and get transformed and equipped to better serve the purposes of God as you become all he is making you to be.

reading God’s Word and the wisdom of others stimulates wholesome thinking and aligns our actions with His will.

Let these books guide you toward a deeper understanding of God’s calling on your life, and may you grow in grace, knowledge, and service to His Kingdom.

Let’s Start Here

The first place to start though, is ensuring you have a daily custom of reading God’s Word. This is the foundation of all reading. You can read this post next: How to Have an Effective Quiet Time With God then: How to Read the Bible and Finish in a Year. I pray these posts will be a blessing too.

Happy reading, and may your faith be strengthened as you dive into these transformative books! 

Recommended:

Why Rising up Early is Biblical: Tracking the Proverbs 31 Woman Series

7 Reasons Why you Need to Rise up Early: Tracking the Proverbs 31 Woman Series

7 Most Dangerous Habits Hindering Your Fruitfulness and Productivity as a Christian

7 Rhythms and Routines of the Noble Woman: Tracking the Proverbs 31 Woman Series

Are there Cracks in your Spiritual Foundation? 4 Reasons Why your Spiritual Foundation is Weak

6 Components of our Spiritual Foundation

5 Ways to Know that your Spiritual Foundation is Weak

How to Pray for your Husband in the Will of God