Who Has Your Heart? The Single Woman's Pursuit of Godliness

by Emily E. Ryan

With freshness, humor, compassion, first-time author Emily Ryan provides an "unnamed, unmarried, and unshakeable" scriptural role model for single women. Drawing biblical principles from the example of Jephthah's daughter, whose story is told in Judges 11, the author gives single women a book that is not about dating, preparing for marriage, or how to be single. Rather than throwing all of their energies in finding a husband, Emily encourages women to discover who they are in Christ, following the lead of a "single woman who teaches us how to be godly."

Genres: Christian

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really liked it. Will be rereading.

[Shelbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It offered a great perspective of ways to live a Godly life no matter what stage of life you are in, although it focused mostly on the perspective of singleness. Emily Ryan took a often overlooked story from Judges about Jephtha's Daughter and fleshed it out to an entire study of what it means to live a life in pursuit of Christ. There were definitely areas I could see personal growth in as we studied this book and fresh perspectives on things I had never considered before. But mostly, it offers words of encouragement that we are not alone in some of these thoughts and struggles, but our hope can always rest in God. It could be a little cheesy at times, but I definitely recommend it for any of you single ladies out there!

[Sarah Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I’m a month away from getting married, I wanted to finish this book that I had started almost 4 years ago. I felt it was worth it, in a way that I could possibly pass on the wisdom to my stepdaughters or mentor single women through church.
Very well written and a quick little read. It has some funny moments as well as some serious moments - which I think helps keep your interest. The great thing about this book, is that it helps teach single women, that just because you are single, doesn’t mean you need to identify in that alone. That instead you need to identify in Christ first and foremost.

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great scripture heroine for singles!

Like Emily Ryan, I have read lots of books about the single life by both married and single authors. Also like Emily, I like to look at the ladies of the Bible and learn from them...and came to the same conclusion, they're married! - Sarah, Hannah, Ruth, Elizabeth, Rahab, The Proverbs 31 Woman, and Mary the mother of Jesus to mention a few. Unlike Emily though, I didn't pick up on this woman. Although I'd read her story before, I'd never picked up its significance.

Emily says she wanted: "A woman to imitate. A lady to admire. A heroine to learn from...Someone to teach about being a single woman because she was a single woman, not simply because she'd 'been there'". Emily found her in Judges 11 - the unnamed, unmarried, and unshakeable girl known only as Jephthah's daughter.

Oh, what a girl! Jepththah's daughter (JD) has become one of my favourite Bible characters. Her story is truly inspirational. As Emily leads us through JD's story she also tells of her own stuggles that she had to face, how JD's story helped her, and how JD's story can help us.

A story that will touch your heart.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I wish I had a hard line not to cross so when loneliness calls I would have the mandate to fall back on. I wish I knew for sure that I would never be married... Or that a husband is in wait... The elusive unknown is the hardest part.

All of that said, I appreciate the biblical story I have never read until now and the new perspective she offers for we perpetually single. Every little bit helps.