God wired us as sexual beings for a purpose. How can we redeem the culture’s view of sex and embrace purity? Listen as Susie talks with Dr. Juli Slattery. We talk about the damaging effects of books like Fifty Shades of Grey and look at God’s original design for sex within marriage.

Women in our culture are more and more turning to erotica, or “mommy porn.” Juli says the explosive popularity of romance novels is linked to the deep longings that God put in the heart of every woman. She and Susie unpack five basic needs of a woman and how they are meant to be met within marriage.

A longing to escape reality.
If you’re bored with your current life, get involved in life’s real battles. Partner with a ministry to end sex trafficking. Pray for missionaries overseas. Do spiritual battle on behalf of your family.

A longing to be cherished by a man.

A longing to be protected by a strong man.
Women in our culture have gone through feminism and put on a front of being independent and strong. Underneath, Juli says, we’re wired to partner with a man and letting him “lovingly lead.”

The longing to rescue a man.
In Susie’s words, “There’s something in us that wants to fix, wants to heal, wants to be the one to save.” Erotica blurs this by setting up the female protagonist to be the “savior” of a man. Juli points out that biblically, as a wife, “you were created to make a significant difference in your husband’s life,” but you’re not the source of his salvation and hope.

The longing to be sexually alive.
Juli cautions every woman against trying to fill these needs with erotica and sexual fantasy. “You can’t mess with that kind of relationship and come out unscathed.” The answer to these needs is intimacy with God. Juli says, when we understand how we’re wired and why God created sex, we can start to see it as a sacred gift and not an end in itself.

Key Scriptures: Philippians 1:9-10

Theme Song: King of My Heart by Love and the Outcome

Highlight : The five needs of a woman’s heart

Pulling back the shades