Ruthie Delk graciously filled in for us for this week - thanks so much Ruthie!!
I can’t believe that I am the one that ends up reviewing the chapter from SWSH on Sexuality: The Heart’s Unsuspecting Mirror. How did this happen!! 
I want to say right off the bat that I think this book is amazing and EVERY woman should read it. I’ve never read a book that quite captures the struggles that women deal with in such an authentic way. And this chapter is no different. She tackles the issues surrounding physical intimacy between a husband and a wife in a truly insightful way. For instance, have you ever thought of your physical relationship with your husband as worship? Have you ever thought of it as being celebrated in heaven? Have you ever thought of your attitude about it as being a true reflection of what’s going on in your heart and in your own relationship with God? Startling questions. The answers are even more startling. But the bottom line is this:
“Physical intimacy, set in its true context, takes us straight to the heart of God, because the necessary components of trust and faithfulness and passion, belong first and foremost to him. Sex is a drama that mirrors the sacrificial love of God-a spiritual reality so beautiful, so profound, it will take the whole of our lives to comprehend….for now we have an experience that bonds us for life-body and soul- with the heart of another human being…we have a place of shelter, healing, passion and dare I say it , grace.”
I can honestly say that I’ve never really thought about it that way, have you? She does a great job of laying a biblical foundation for understanding the purpose of sex and helps us redefine our perspective along these lines-instead of our culture’s view. She also explains how men and women are different (duh!) but in a way I had never really heard before. As women we tend to compartmentalize our world and the various roles we play. I may not feel like I’m doing a great job as a wife, but I can look at my parenting, or work, or role as friend, daughter etc and feel like I’m doing okay in those spheres. But for a man, his world and roles are connected. If he is failing at work he feels like he’s failing everywhere. So it makes sense that if his level of intimacy with his wife is not satisfying then he feels like a failure everywhere else. “From a man’s point of view the absence of an intimate physical connection with his wife, one he can confidently count on, injects the most toxic of emotions into their relationship.” Isn’t it ironic, that we want to be loved unconditionally, but see nothing wrong with making them “earn” what really should be a gift.
As you think about this..
1. What in your life has distorted your view of your sexuality? What lies would you have to stop believing in order to line your thoughts up with what the bible teaches?
2. If you’re married, what changes do you need to make in your attitude toward this specific aspect of marriage?
3. If you are single, how can you keep your heart open and express your sexuality in good and rich ways that honor biblical standards and not the culture’s.
