Sacred Singleness

I love this book it relates well to me and it is an easy read. I bought this book on a recommendation of another book (When God Writes Your Love Story), which I will be buying next. If you are single it is a must read.

Sacred Singleness finally has the message I've been looking for! Leslie Ludy was married young, and, according to her other books, she has had a beautiful love story with her husband. Her message, though, I've still found to be strong. In this book, she answers head-on the arguments of both sides who say that Christ in us isn't enough, that we must have some other human to share life with or we aren't enough on Christ's strength alone- her arguments are strong and convicting. I've found the verses she quoted in this book are not taken out of context, and the quotes from real-life single women are so encouraging- Elisabeth Elliot, Amy Carmichael (who "gave her life for the exploited children of India"), Gladys Aylward (poured her- single, God-focused- life into those in war-torn China), Danita Estrella (who, as a single woman, followed God's call to create Danita's Children instead of staying in her comfortable life, waiting to be married), and others who are pouring out their lives, doing what God asks of them instead of planning out their future on their own. Ms. Ludy admits that marriage really is where God wants many men and women to be living their lives out, but in the meantime- well, Elisabeth Elliot said it best: "[He was asking] 'do you want to be worthy of Me? Do you want to know Jesus Christ as Lord?' What kind of a God is it who asks everything of us? The same God who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. He gives all. He asks all." After all, a single woman "can be devoted to the Lord and holy in and body and in spirit." (1 Cor. 7.34) Isn't it worth it to spend this time completely devoted to the Lord who created AND redeemed us? A few editing errors got my English brain off track, and it could have been condensed, though I was surprised at how thin it already is- only 181 pages. Overall, though, completely worth it. Let these gentle, encouraging words radically point change your life to be everything God has planned for you!

I loved this book. Over the years, marriage was something I was holding on to, even more than God. Almost like I was determind to get married if it was God's will or not for my life. But this book really changed the way I viewed things. I've always known how I should take my single years as a gift, to use it for God's purpose until He would send the right man into my life. But the question that always popped into my head was, "What if that never happens?" The book simply points out, "Will you still love God even if its never His will for you to marry?" Its a very hard question, for me. But I understand that I should never hold anything above God, including marriage. I fully gave up my dream once and for all to God about being a wife someday. And to be honest, I have never felt even happier. Cause the thing is, if I get married one day, that will be great. But if in this life I never do, thats alright as well. Cause God has His best in mind for me, which ever that may be. And I must trust Him by not focusing on what other people have, or what I wish I had, but to focus on God's will and how He will choose to use me this very day. its about taking your singleness one day at a time. Not dwelling on the future. It has greatly inspired me to see my singleness from a different angle, and its ok to not be in a relationship. Its not the end of the world to be single. My life on the earth is not for myself. its not about what I can do, and what I can accomplish, and get. This book will show you how to have your focus on eternal things, and making those things your top priority. I love how Leslie gets exactly what I feel and knows just what to say. I have never been disappointet.

This is one of the best books that I have read on singleness, and this is written for young single women. It was easy, however, for me as a guy to apply the material to my own situation. Who doesn't need to let God occupy first place in their lives? If guys follow this approach by not chasing after women and focus on becoming mature in Christ, they will become the kind of men that godly women are seeking. This is not a how-to-find-someone type of book. It's the opposite of taking matters into your own hands. You could summarize Leslie Ludy's perspective in a favorite phrase of Oswald Chambers: Let God engineer. In her words, it is "trusting God to script our love story in His own perfect time, without manipulation on our part." In a broader context, "This book is about laying down your life for Jesus Christ; surrendering every hope, dream, desire, and ambition to Him. Exchanging your agenda for His. Awakening to His glorious purpose for this sacred season of your life." Ludy acknowledges that this self-denying view of singleness is at odds with mainstream culture and even many Christians. She spends the second part of the book using Scripture to demolish "lies" that are floating around Christian circles. She says that "the majority of Christian single young women today are surrounded by messages that encourage them to follow their hearts, take matters into their own hands, and find themselves a husband as quickly as possible." In marked contrast, she believes the best way to find a marriage partner is to stop hunting for one and instead focus your entire life around Jesus Christ and His priorities. She writes, "God has not called us to build our lives around the pursuit of our own selfish desires, but to be poured-out sacrifices for His kingdom." Ludy wants to help young women live full and satisfied lives now, but she is not discouraging women from holding on to the dream of marriage. As she says, most people are meant to be married. It's a natural, God-given desire. Through her testimony and that of many others in this book, she makes it clear that it's a mistake to let that desire control our lives and put off present opportunities to serve. This no-nonsense approach is not only refreshing, but it has the potential to be life-changing and world-altering. The last section of the book provides a wealth of information on how singles can get involved and help change the world. This is very much in the spirit of Elizabeth Elliot's Passion and Purity, a classic on relationships. Ludy alludes to Elliott several times, and this is like a modern-day successor. The singular focus on becoming all that God wants us to be make this one of the best single books available. It's a strong incentive to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ as the best preparation for marriage. "Prince Song" by the 2nd Chapter of Acts fits so well with the theme of this book. The song exudes the "first love" kind of relationship that Ludy continually adv

This is the kind of book that the Christian world needs right now. I see so many young ladies that put their lives on hold until they can get married. It makes me sad. Then I see some young ladies that inspire me. I have a cousin in her early 20's, beautiful, bright, energetic and the only cousin in our family that isn't married. So does she pout about it? Throw herself at different guys until she can get one to propose? Goodness, no! She has devoted this stage of her life to the mission field. Something that she won't be able to do when she is married and has kids. She has been to amazing places (Morocco, Thailand, Himalayas, Sudan, etc...) and done amazing things with YWAM. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her and she is treating her singleness sacredly and turning it over to God. I know another young lady who is likewise single and not rushing it. She decided to take her college classes online this year so that she can move across the state over Labor Day to live with some relatives that had triplets 10 weeks ago. She is making their family her ministry and will take care of their 2 year old, help with the triplets and the housework and cooking all while doing her college classes online. She knows there will be a time when she can't just pick up and move and put her own life on hold for other people. But she can now because she is single and loving it. I asked a single young lady who is a dear friend of mine to read this book and give me her opinion. She said, "It's awesome! It also gave me some great comebacks to all the people that always ask me why I'm not married yet." Leslie writes an amazing book that will strengthen and encourage those that are currently single but don't wish to remain that way. Use the time you have now, treat it sacredly and God will do all in His time.