Guess what y’all?! I have the privilege of being on the launch team for Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl’s Heart by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal, and today is launch day for the book!
If you have read any of my other book reviews, you know I do them a little bit different than typical book reviews. I like to incorporate the review into a blog post so that you can kind of get a taste for what the book is about. Plus, even if you can’t buy the book, you still have a takeaway. Of course, I absolutely recommend buying the book because it includes so much more than I could include in a single blog post!
So before I do a short review of the book (scroll to the end for that!), I want to give you six truths about our God-given sexuality. I know that sex and sexuality are such hot topics in our culture, and unfortunately some churches don’t speak about the biblical side of the issue. I feel like many bloggers and authors (Kristen and Bethany included!) are doing better about speaking truth, and I love that! Basically, today I want to speak some truth into the topic for anyone struggling with it.
6 Truths About Sex and Purity
1. God decides the rules
Our culture is very adamant that we should be doing whatever is right for us or whatever feels good in the moment. Basically, we make the rules and whatever we say goes.
However, that is very contrary to what the Bible says. If you are a Christian, the Bible is your authority. And honestly, even if you aren’t a Christian, the Bible is still your authority, whether you recognize that or not. There is no way around it. God made us and our sexuality, so He decides the rules!
I don’t want to spoon feed you all of the answers. One of the most growing experiences you can have as a Christian is to study God’s Word for yourself! So I want to include one verse here, but I encourage you to study the Bible to decide what is right and wrong spiritually. If you need some pointers, Kristen and Bethany’s book gives more guidelines based on the Bible!
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)
If you would like some tips on studying the Bible, you can sign up for my free resource here!
2. Our sexuality is a good thing
I don’t want you to think that sexuality is a curse or something, because it isn’t! God has just given us specific guidelines in order to enjoy it. God created sexual intimacy to be a reflection of the intimate relationship we are able to have with Him! When you think of it this way, the guidelines start to make more sense.
3. There is always grace and a fresh start
We will mess up. We aren’t perfect and we have a sinful flesh. That isn’t an allowance to sin, but it does bring freedom when we do mess up. God gives us grace and forgiveness when we confess our sin to Him. He wants to make us whole and give us a fresh start!
Please don’t think that you have messed up too much or gone too far to receive His grace. When we don’t receive His forgiveness, it’s like telling Him that His sacrifice on that cross was not enough. And we know that it is. So please receive it and just give thanks!
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16 (ESV)
4. Purity begins in the mind
This is something great to know in order to fight the battle of purity. When you realize that all sin is conceived in the mind, meaning it begins there, you will realize you need to guard your thoughts! It is so important to stop sin before you act on it.
So when you catch yourself dreaming of a guy or thinking up an impure scenario, or even thinking of doing something sinful, stop and start thinking about something else or do something to get your mind off of it.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 (ESV)
Related: How to Guard Your Heart as a Single Girl
5. Purity is best done with accountability
Whether you are still single (like me!) or are in a relationship, it is so helpful to have an accountability partner to check up on you and see how you are doing in the fight for purity. If you don’t have someone like that in your life, pray and ask God to bring someone into your life. A godly woman in your church may be a very good option!
6. Doing it God’s way brings blessing
Please don’t think of these points or anything in the book as legalistic rules only meant to keep you pure. They are rules and rules are important. But they bring blessing! You have to remember that God gives us rules as guidelines so that we can thrive within them and bring Him glory.
Remember, He made us and our sexuality, so He knows what is best for us.
Related: 7 Ways to Stay Pure as a Single Girl
Book Review
Now to get to the book review of Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl’s Heart!
Before I get a little more detailed, I just want to say that Kristen and Bethany do an amazing job at making sure all of their work, whether books or blog posts, is based on biblical truth. They are one of the few bloggers that I can recommend without having to add a disclaimer. This book is no different!
To get straight to the point, I highly recommend it for every Christian girl or woman. There is so much practical truth and applications that are so important and needed in this world. They include stories and struggles straight from their own lives and others’ to make it personal and applicable.
I think they did a very good job of handling this sensitive topic with grace and truth.
If you have any questions at all about your sexuality, whether single or dating, I highly, highly recommend you buy this book. Like I mentioned, I am on the launch team for this book, but that does not effect my opinion whatsoever! I have been a long time fan of Girl Defined and recommend all of their books!
If you are interested, you can buy the book here!
Blessings,
Tags : book review, books, devotion, encouragement, lifestyle, sexuality, single girl, singleness
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