I have to share my favorite book read of the year! Womanly Dominion: More Than A Gentle and Quiet Spirit by Mark Chanski has been one of the most challenging and influential books I have read in strengthening and encouraging me in my calling of pursuing Biblical womanhood. It is a must read for every woman!
Mark Chanski presents this call throughout the book: “On the field of life, God challenges every woman to live and run in such a way as to win the prize (1 Cor. 9:24). In whatever she puts her hands to, she’s to “do it with all her might” (Eccl. 9:10) in order to hear that blessed commendation from her Lord, “Well done, you good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21). And if she’s to achieve this noble goal on the field of life, she needs to be convinced of living according to these two fundamental principles: “Play your position!” and “Win it!”
Godly women, made in the image of God, must daily tell themselves: Win it! to the glory of God. We must for the long haul, for the entire game, contest after contest, resolve to put forth maximum effort to rule and subdue our daily challenges, so help us God. We have each been called to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it. What field do you have to subdue? If you are a wife and homemaker, this will look like subduing the chaos and overcoming the obstacles in your home, creating order and stability for your family. If you are a student, this means pressing into your studies, focusing on the goal and accomplishing it. This is dominating your world whatever season of life you are in!
“A woman is to dominate aggressively her environment, rather than allow her environment to dominate her. She needs to work and play with a win it instead of with a surrender it mindset. She must rule and subdue, rather than letting herself be ruled and subdued. God has commissioned her to assert herself aggressively as a master over the teeming spheres of her life. God has not assigned her to sit on her porch swing with a pink parasol daydreaming what she might do “if only” the obstacles weren’t so complicated. No! She’s to get out there and do it with all her might! (Eccl. 9:10).
In marriage, He gives the challenge to “stop blaming your man, and start helping him!”
In child-rearing, he issues: Give yourself to raising those children! You have been given a royal assignment, so go forth and win their hearts for the gospel!
What challenged me the most in this book was the beautiful glimpses it provided in what a high calling God has assigned to women. We are the goalies in the soccer game of life. We may not be out in the front lines scoring points, but we are guarding our goalie at home. We are protecting the home base! It motivated and continues to motivate me to just do it, to play my position with all my might. I must not focus on the overwhelming task ahead of me in home managing, being a helper to my husband, and a nurturer to my children. I must get out there and subdue my domain. Do the next thing…work heartily as to the Lord and not unto men for you are accomplishing a kingdom purpose!
Highly recommend this read! It is one I will read again and again. I am hoping, Lord willing, to host a book study on this book starting the beginning of the new year. So pick up your copy or add it to your Christmas wish list! It is worth every penny!
Your website blesses me so much. What a gift of edification, encouragement, and inspiration. I am a mother of three, wife, and midwife. As a wife…a helpmeet, friend, and lover. As a mother…tender guide and biggest fan. As a midwife…with women through an unbelievable transition, and trying to live in such a way to inspire that desire to be helpmeet and mother. Thanks for the book review. Thanks for your encouragement in the highest calling of wife and mommie. I hope to read it in the near future.
Thank you so much for sharing your review of this book. Though growing up in a very strong Christian home, I have struggled for many years with living a life of true Biblical womanhood. We are currently facing a season of depression in my husband, and I am trying with everything I possess to finally be a “helpmeet” to him. This will definitely be a book I will read again and again.
Dear Lindsay,
Thank you for your kind words on Womanly Dominion: More than a Gentle and Quiet Spirit. In your review, you hit the nail right on the head in grasping the thesis and its implications.
May the Lord richly bless you in your kingdom labors.
Warmly,
Mark Chanski (Author of Womanly Dominion)
it would be very interesting to read a woman’s book written by a man. did you feel like he understood the issues? i feel like pastors, for example, never get to the marrow of what a woman’s calling and life are really about, which is why i so appreciate older women ministering to us younger ones. (debi pearl and nancy campbell are a few life-changing inspirations toward the Lord!) it is good that this man doesn’t ignore the ladies!
Honestly, I thought he did an awesome job defining a woman’s role biblically but also challenging her not just to be a passive submissive woman, but using her giftings and talents submissively for the glory of God! It was better than many books written by women.
This sounds great. I have so many books I want to read. You help narrow it down to what I REALLY must read. Thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m motivated to find a way to get my hands on it now.
Thank you for sharing this!!
Right now in life, I’m sort of struggling with the things this book is talking about. I think it could def. help me! Gotta find it!
~God Bless
Sounds like a very good read. Thanks for doing this review on it.
I am so grateful for your book reviews – they are really helpful as I try to build a “biblical womanhood” section to our home library (I have 17 and a 15 yo daughters – so this is for them as well as myself)
thank you
Definitely going to add this to my Christmas list….sounds very edifying and I am trying to surround myself with these thoughts on womanhood. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for that book review! This sounds like a book I need to read so I’m going to check and see if the library carries it.