My mother loaned me a book recently called “Captivating” by John and Staci Eldredge (which my sister loaned to her). I’ve read a stack of books on “being a woman”, “what the Bible says about women” and “what is wrong with women”. What I haven’t read, is a book like this (although Beth Moore’s, Breaking free is along similar lines).
Maybe this book touched me the way it did because God was already bringing me to these realizations prior to reading it and the book validated those for me. I dare not share too much because I don’t want my impression to be conveyed on you should you decide to read it. I will tell you that the fifth chapter, entitled A Special Hatred, was my favorite. Now, if you read this book, don’t just jump to chapter five, be sure read the whole thing.
I found this book rather empowering, not in a bra burning, feminist sort of way. I don’t believe women have been able to view their sex as powerful unless it’s linked with the notion that we “can do anything a man can do”. This book shows that women are quite powerful in God’s design. The explanation that men and women each reflect different characteristics of God’s image was great and to me shows how a husband and wife become one flesh.
My recommendations for using this book are:
1. Pray that the Lord will speak to you and that Satan will be bound before you begin.
2. Pull out your Bible and go through the subject matter with the Eldredges, matching what you find with scripture. Remember that the authors are human (therefore, imperfect) just like the rest of us and no book (aside from the Bible) should be taken as gospel.
3. Be very honest with yourself and do not jump to conclusions.
4. Don’t get hung up on the references to movies and literature used. This is a real turn off to some who've read the book; others, like me, saw the references as “visual aids” used by the author to make a point and nothing more.
5. Consider following up Captivating with Breaking Free for a more in-depth look at overcoming the wounds of your past.