Authentic Beauty, Going Deeper: A Study Guide for the Set-Apart Young Woman

by Leslie Ludy

Experience the Fulfillment of your Feminine DreamsIn a world that mocks our desire for a fairy tale, do we dare long for more? Leslie Ludy offers hope to every young woman who wonders if lasting love can ever be found. In this companion guide to Authentic Beauty, Leslie gives you the opportunity to talk, write, and think through what it means to find unshakable fulfillment in a daily romance with Christ.Whether you are reading on your own or with a group, this 12-part guide will point you to Jesus Christ - the heroic Prince you have always dreamed of — and enable you to fall in love with Him like never before. Discover what it means to become fully set-apart for Christ, and experience the only true answer to the deepest longings of your feminine heart.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Spirituality, Faith

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Leslie Ludy is the bestselling author of Set-Apart Femininity, When God Writes Your Love Story, Authentic Beauty, and more than a dozen other books she has coauthored with her husband, Eric. She reaches thousands of young women each year and is passionate about helping them discover Christ's design for their lives. Leslie and Eric live with their three children in Colorado.

Reviews

[Jonahlynne Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will know what it takes to be a set-apart young woman of God. To be a lily among thorns, shaping Christ-likeness in you. I am in awe of God for giving Leslie Ludy such wisdom for this book. :)

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this with my 17 year old and let her stop it because, although I agreed with much of the content, the verbiage the author used was so grating. It really distracted from the message and just added way too much cringe.If I hear “intimacy with my Prince “ (in reference to Jesus) or anything about “lily whiteness “ I will lose it. The book was also very repetitive, it could have been about 1/3 the length and conveyed th r same message.

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift a few years ago and I was eager to read it, having heard of the Ludy's quite a bit.

What I Liked: This book deals with some very relevant issues in today's culture and I applaud Leslie Ludy for dealing with these issues and giving practicial ways to bring your focus back onto Christ and rejoicing in your womanhood and to pursue Godly purity--no matter what the cost.

This was definitely not a light read, but I like how this author takes a deep look into what a close relationship with Jesus looks like and how much He loves us, no matter what mistakes we might make. He's always waiting for us, beckoning us to return to Him. I also liked how in this expanded version, the author's husband, Eric Ludy, added his input on how guys think and how to encourage them to man up and be the men God created them to be.

What I Didn't Like: While this book was good, I definitely would not recommend it to younger readers, there were even some circumstances described here that made me cringe and I even skipped over one page of this book. I can see how this book is so helpful to young ladies who live in a very secularized culture, but I just advise for younger ladies to read with discretion.

I give this book 3 stars for a good read. I was definitely encouraged to grow closer to Christ.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is a five star book for sure, but far one of the best Christian books I have ever read. This book is not only wonderfully written, but incredibly moving and inspiring.
And I strongly believe EVERY teenage girl (and even older women in there 20s, 30s, 40s, and on) should read this book! I definitely recommend it to every young girl who has hopes and dreams for a romantic future but Still wants to remain pure and Christ centered.

Disclaimer: It does deal with heavy but relevant content so I would be cautious with letting anyone under 14 read this book.

[Jianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was gifted to me by a close friend.
The book comprises of relatable and genuine stories from other Christian women, sharing their experiences with societal pressure and the extent to which this pressure has affected their relationship with God. The author shares ways to overcome these obstacles and emphasises the importance of having an intimate relationship God and putting Him in the centre of all your relationships.

[Stevi Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much <3
This book not judge me. Whenever I read this I felt like as if you and sometime Eric were there sitting with me at the coffee shop to chat with me as my best friend. I also felt God loves flowed from them.
Thank you for writing this book ^ ^!

I wish I had read it when I were younger so that I can be wiser and protect my inner innocence of femininity. But I believe it never too late because no matter what God (Prince of Heaven) loves me just the way I am.

I quote this letter written at epilogue here so that I can re-read it again whenever I need it :

"Trust Me, My child, "He says, "Trust Me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. Trust Me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live.

And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away from Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell me your deepest cares, your every trouble. Trust Me to keep My hand upon you. I will never leave, you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you.

Do not fear, O child of My love, do not fear, I love you."
~Amy Carmichael

[Anna]

I loved this book!!! It really helped me to go deeper in to my faith and help me understand what God wants for my life. He wants me to be a set apart women. He wants me to save myself for marriage and not conform to this secular world. I loved how Leslie Ludy was able to share her personal experiences about how she was able to trust God throughout her life! I cannot wait to get started with the life God has set apart for me!

[Megan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Authentic Beauty’ - A heart to heart conversation of the shaping of a set-apart young woman.

I admire Leslie Ludy for her wonderful insight on what it is like/how you should strive towards being lily white. I also appreciate Eric’s insight throughout the book on men! Although I must be honest, this book is more of a “learn from these stories” book rather than a bible study, but I took many things that I will hold on to and remember. Beautiful view of romance.

[Katie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book drew me closer to Christ and reminded me of God's amazing love for us. It also expanded my view of purity and what it means to live a life that is set-apart (becoming the best that you can be, who you were meant to be, who God created you to be) and how to challenge and encourage others to do the same.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for young women! <3

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read for young Christian women, it has honestly shaped the way I see my Prince Jesus and the idea of a God-written-Love-Story.

[Tina Parry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for teens, but would’ve been too heavy of content for me in my teens, as she described her public school classmates’ casual approach to their sexual lives in the first few chapters. I had to get used to calling Jesus “her Prince” throughout the book, but I appreciated her desire to encourage teens/women to have the intimacy that is needed and possible with the Lord that overshadows all earthly love stories. She inspires readers not to let the increasingly vulgar society to affect your views on holiness.

[Joy Kadowaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will open your eyes to a whole world that's been patiently waiting for you all your life. This book will truly hit you in the heart and give you practical ways of becoming a more set apart women. This was a big tool that helped me understand and become more intimate with God, and it is a journey that I hope everyone experiences someday. There will be days where you will read this book nonstop and days where it will be difficult to even pick it up, but that is the beauty of it; it isn't just a story, it is a part of your story, and guide you to a more set apart self. If you feel like it's becoming too difficult to grow in faith or just as a person, this book will give you many more practical steps on what to do next, and it will just be up to you whether or not you will take the guidance to heart.

[Shelby Somers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read for research, this book gives a very boxed in mold for God's design for women. It also idolized marriage and told women that they needed to learn to be "content at home" and disregarded any destiny she could be called to outside the home. Lastly it gave a false narrative on "what men want" and their idea of beauty.