Lord, Only You Can Change Me (text only) Revised edition by K. Arthur

Devotional Study

by Kay Arthur

Lord, Only You Can Change A Devotional Study on Growing in Character from the Beatitudes [Paperback]Kay Arthur (Author)

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Kay Lee Arthur was an American Christian author, Bible teacher, and co-founder of Precept Ministries International. Renowned for her accessible and inductive approach to Bible study, she helped millions engage deeply with Scripture. Arthur began her ministry informally, teaching teenagers in her living room alongside her second husband, Jack Arthur. Their work soon grew into a global outreach, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, under the name Precept Ministries International. She hosted the daily Bible teaching program Precepts for Life and became a respected voice in evangelical circles. Arthur authored numerous books and was a four-time winner of the ECPA Christian Book Award for titles such as A Marriage Without Regrets and The New Inductive Study Bible. Her ministry was rooted in a personal reawakening to faith in the early 1960s, following a divorce and a return to religious life. She and Jack also served briefly as missionaries in Mexico before founding their ministry. Arthur remained active in public faith-based initiatives into her later years and was known for her firm stances on social issues. She passed away on 2025 leaving behind a lasting legacy in Christian education and publishing.

Reviews

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of three books I read on the beatitudes in the last few weeks.

One thing I appreciated was that the author often broke down the information into key points, having you go back over the scripture and pull out key words and study how they fit in their setting. She gave practical solutions to how to get from where you are now to being a person of the beatitudes and she examined each one carefully.


My problem with the book came from the struggle the author seemed to have with balancing morality, judgment and grace. I'm not sure who the author thought her audience would be but many times she treated the reader like a non-Christian and yet there was nothing about her writing style that would encourage such a person to become a believer. There are some good insights here but the gift of that knowledge was tied up in legalistic ribbon.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best devotionals I've studied! I knew before I began it that I would be tested, and that has proven to be true! There were many days of wondering how I, as a Christian, should handle certain situations. Each daily devotion has plenty of scripture reading and Kay Arthur is excellent at teaching how to use these verses in thinking more about our walk with the Lord. We often hear that we are to be salt and light to this world, but do we think about what happens if a light goes out, or if salt loses its flavor.? Very eye-opening! This is definitely going to be added to my list of favorites!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kay Arthur provides an in-depth study on the beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I liked the premise given the transformation we all can experience through our faith. Also, I enjoyed my discussion with Kathleen. The author gets a bit preachy, and I personally felt like I was being lectured. There's some redundancy. While I was reading, I kept thinking that the book could have had fewer pages and had a greater impact. Despite these downsides, I was glad I had the opportunity to read it.

[Crossroads Ecc · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beatitudes
Do you ever become frustrated because you are not all you want to be for the Lord? Have you wondered deep in your heart how you could ever change? In the Beatitudes, Jesus calls us to an inner character which can never be attained by human effort. Through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, He can change you from the inside out--bringing about the relationship with God you've always longed for. One that is as real and pure on the inside as it is on the outside.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not typically read devotional books, but I won this one while on a women's retreat with my church, so I decided to go through it when I returned. I really loved Kay Arthur's style of writing her study. I was asked deep questions, and not always given answers, which made me feel like I was physically at a Bible study with other people while sitting on my couch in my living room. I plan to find another one of her books the next time I am looking for a devotional because she takes you right to the Bible each day to pursue what God says over what people say.

Never before have I looked so deeply at the beatitudes! I loved having many cross-references brought before me that I had never looked at while reading the beatitudes. And this book holds many important reminders of the truths about being a child of God, that we will be persecuted and disliked by men, but that the reward we will receive for persevering is eternal, not earthly!

If you are looking for a devotional I highly recommend this book. It is a Bible study in the form of a devotional and makes it very easy to dive deeply into the Word for a few minutes a day (5 days a week) over the course of 9 weeks!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have done this study twice with two different Bible Study groups. As with any study the people in the group affect the input to the study. Both groups very much enjoyed the study and felt there was a depth of information they had not gotten in other studies of the beatitudes. In one of the groups just the reading alone without looking at the questions at the end of each chapter led to wonderful discussions and encouraged further investigation. Some members of the groups who had done other Kay Arthur studies were really pleased that this book contained all the necessary scriptures and they could mark them up to their heart's content. After doing this study most of the women wanted to do others in this devotional series.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beatitudes have always been difficult for me to understand. I recommend working through this study at your own pace. (Instead of the scheduled 9 weeks, it took me several months to complete LORD, Only You Can Change Me. This gave me time to reflect upon my learning, as well as apply my learning to my daily life. This Bible study has improved my walk with Jesus.

[Julie Winkler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study!

[Darlene Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful study on the Beatitudes!

[Paul Silles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good study on the Beatitudes. Big emphasis on application and character development.

[Rose Capers · Rating 1 out of 5]

it wasn't what I thought it was going to be...

[Laura A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic bible study on the Sermon on The Mount and in particular, the so-called ‘beatitudes’.

I thoroughly enjoy Kay Arthur’s studies, and find them particularly useful in this stage of motherhood with very young children.

It has some teaching from Kay, but it is kept concise, and focuses more on bible marking and bible study.

Not a criticism as such, but the study is broken into ‘days’. Some days are super short and some days are very long, there is no consistency in the length. I tended to ignore the ‘days’ and done what I could.

[Jennah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapters:

1. Getting Beyond Our Masks

2. Where True Happiness Begins

3. Do You Weep Over Sin?

4. Meekness in the Presence of Sovereignty

5. Meekness: Is It Weakness or Strength?

6. Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness

7 How Can I Be Merciful...Pure?

8. Peacemakers...but Persecuted

9. Salt, Light, and You

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this as background for a Bible as Literature class. I'm approaching the Beatitudes as a list poem.

The book spent more time on behavior than Beatitudes. It may be an excellent book for someone else--but I wanted a sense of the words as paradox. This was not what I expected.

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ladies' Bible Study group at my church worked through this one a few years ago. I never had a full understanding of the Beatitudes until I read this book. Warning: it's deep. Don't try to read it without taking the time to think it through.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome for me! I read it after the tragic loss of someone very close and dear to me. Very inspirational book that taught me how to really READ my bible and pray. I finally found joy after months of depression.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are going to study the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, this is a good place to start. Very simple read with questions to help you interact with what the Bible is teaching.

[Chapman04]

I am really enjoying this daily study! It is my first by Kay Arthur and I highly recommend it. It is a thorough and personal study of the beatitudes and Your attitude.

[Cynthia]

My favorite of all the bible studies I have done. Written so that you really relate!

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of her best.

[Joyce Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are plenty of times that we are left in the fiery furnace for change.

This book is definitely a great companion and resource to stay strong in your faith.

[Jennifer Radtke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! The thoughts you think while working through this study are wonderfully helpful. Go and get yourself a copy.

[Debra Wagenecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great study to understand the beatitudes!

[Sherie Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very convicting study/book! Good devotional study on the Beatitudes or in other words, how to live out the Christian life that will be pleasing to our Father in heaven!

[Michelle Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really helped me this summer. I recommend it for anyone.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great study on the Beatitudes; be changed from the inside out.