Episode 59 – What do you do with your sexual thoughts and feelings? How do you reconcile the sexual and the spiritual, within the context of a healthy, Christian marriage? As a single person, what do you do with all those thoughts? What does sex look like when we age? What does prayer have to do with a healthy, God-honoring sex life? How can you make your sex life come alive within your Christian marriage?

Whether you are married or not, these questions are relevant for you today. As Christians, how do we talk about healthy, holy sex? What does sex have to do with intimacy with God?

Stephanie welcomes bestselling author, international speaker Shannon Ethridge, Sexuality Expert and devoted Christian. This interview takes us deep into the connection between the spiritual and the sexual. This is an honest, deep, vulnerable conversation between two Christian women, both deeply committed to the Lord, and to a healthy marriage!

Yes, we’re diving into what healthy sexuality looks like from a biblical perspective today. And we are diving deep!

Shannon Ethridge is an award-winning author of 22 books including the best-selling Every Woman’s Battle series, which sold over 1 million copies and was published in 30 different languages! She says, “we want to learn to be interested and motivated sex partners, but only with our husbands. That is what holy sex looks like.” And then we take it to the spiritual level. What does all this have to do with God?

The topic of this episode is not for very young ears, so please be advised not to listen to this in the presence of little ones, unless you are ready to answer questions about physical intimacy in marriage, and a healthy sex life!

This is a conversation for married couples, for singles alike. It takes us to the Throne Room in worship and wonder.

Shannon’s more recent books include The Sexually Confident Wife and The Fantasy Fallacy, which the American Association of Christian Counselors declared “a must-read for every pastor, every counselor, and every sexual being on the planet!”

In addition to writing best-selling books and speaking all over the world the past 27 years, she is a certified life coach with a master’s degree in counseling & human relationships.  She LOVES working with individuals, couples, and groups to help them make PEACE with their sexual past and cultivate RICH and REWARDING romantic relationships.

This episode is absolutely NOT recommended for young children.

Quotes:

-          “Single women seem to think they can’t live without sex, and married women, that they can’t live with it.”

-          “We are called to be horny and holy at the same time.”

You will find more at shannonethridge.com

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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