"Sexual Sanity for Women" by Ellen Dykas. A Review

Sexual Sanity for Women Healing from Sexual and Relational BrokennessSexual Sanity for Women Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness by Ellen Mary Dykas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frankly, most pastors and Christian leaders don't often think of women having sexual brokenness. Much of the news and material out there focuses on the failings of men. So it was with pleasure I took up "Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness" by Ellen Mary Dykas, Women's Ministry Coordinator at Harvest USA. Harvest USA seeks to bring the truth and mercy of Jesus Christ to individuals and families affected by sexual struggles. One way is by providing resources that address biblical sexuality to individuals and churches. And this book is an important piece to that sexual puzzle! This softbound workbook of 208 pages equips ministry leaders and Christian women with some much needed tools toward that end.

"Sexual Sanity for Women" is a series of group sessions, supplemented by six appendices. The author uses an arboriculture (tree care) motif for each session. In twenty meetings she addresses the female sexual sins, idolatry, traumatic pain, desires, looking for love in all the wrong places, gender, fantasies and ungodly thought-life, to name a few. Each session is outlined and ordered, with even suggested time-frames for every section (about an hour and forty minutes in total length). But the book is a workbook, so that each participant has plenty of room to write out answers and reflections to the questions everyone will be asked in the group. And to keep the meeting from wandering from Dan to Beersheba, there is a stated "Key Concept" at the beginning of every discussion.

In the end, Dykas sees clearly what the issues are and how to proceed. "Many women who wrestle with their sexuality in sinful ways - including promiscuity, pornography, fantasy life, masturbation, and homosexuality - have other heart struggles as well. The Bible is clear that we all live out of our hearts, and yet our hearts have been impacted by living in a sinful world, where people sin against one another in traumatic ways" (2), but change is possible in Jesus Christ! And this book is put forth to help facilitate that change. I highly recommend the book.

My thanks to New Growth press for the free copy of the book used for this review. I asked, they happily handed my a copy without any expectations, other than my analysis. All of my evaluations are my own, freely made and freely given.

The book may be purchased here: Sexual Sanity for Women

A Leader's Guide can be found here: Leader's Guide

View all my reviews

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