The Man from Nowhere

What Does The Bible Really Say About Sex Outside Of Marriage?

  Nowadays, saving yourself for marriage is considered an old fashioned and even unrealistic practice. And if you think this opinion is limited to the “unchurched,” think again. An estimated 40 percent of professing Christians engaged in sex outside of marriage. Yet, the Bible is pretty clear on the issue. And Pastor Lloyd Pulley has an eye-opening explanation of why God intended sex for husband and wife only!

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled” Hebrews 13:4

Sex Outside Of Marriage

It’s no surprise to most that the Bible considers sex outside of marriage a no-no. But if you asked why, most Christians and non-Christians alike would probably share the same answer: “It’s a sin.”
While that’s true, it’s much deeper than that. And Pastor Lloyd Pulley not only explains God’s purpose in reserving sex for marriage, but also gives some great advice on how to stand firm on the matter. And what he has to say is a message everyone should hear!



Please share this important message with everyone you know!

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

Source: Godupdates

Thanks for all the comments =)

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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.   -- Jeremiah 29:11 Whole-heartedly following after God can be such an adventure! God doesn’t want you to live a mediocre life. He wants you to claim the wonderful promises He has given you… promises for a hope and a future. Now, when you do choose to whole-heartedly follow the Lord, you will face battles in your life. You will face some opposition. But rest assured… with God’s help, you can overcome it! The first opposition you may face when you follow after Christ is the opposition thrown at you by your friends. They may tell you, “You can’t do it” or “It’s not worth it.” Some friends might even doubt you. But some friends will stand with you… which is why it is so important to choose your friends wisely.  Time is another obstacle to overcome when following after God. It can be so hard waiting on the Lord, but you have to remember that His timing is perfect. God could be delaying the delivery of His promise to you in order to strengthen and grow your faith and commitment to Him. He knows when you will be ready!  Isaiah 40:31 is a great reminder of the strength that comes in waiting on the Lord: “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” It’s my prayer you will decide today to follow whole-heartedly after God. And as you do, remember that every obstacle is an opportunity for you to grow more like Christ. And remember that if you keep your eyes focused on the promises and purposes that God has for your life, you can overcome anything through Him! Every obstacle you face as a Christian is an opportunity for you to grow more like Christ. The Blessings of the Lord by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Luke 24:50–51 As Christians we have received the greatest blessing possible in salvation through Jesus Christ. But God’s love is so amazing that He offers us far more. David, who experienced great blessings throughout his life wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death” (Psalm 68:19-20). We do not receive scanty blessings from the abundant resources of God. He loads us down with good things—good things which we do not deserve. A Christian who cannot find much for which to be thankful is simply not paying attention. We are surrounded by blessings every day. The fact that we often are not grateful is not a testimony to God’s lack of provision and blessing, but our lack of appreciation. Where would we be if God charged us for air, or there was a fee each time our hearts beat? How would we function if we had to create all the resources we need rather than using what God already created? Charles Spurgeon said, “God’s goodness to us is not merely bene volens, in which He wishes us well, but it is beneficence of good doing. His gifts and benefits are deeds of goodness, acts of goodness. He doeth to us that which is good. He doth not only wish us well, and speak to us well, and direct us well, but He doeth well unto us.” Though God is gracious and patient, it must break His heart when we take His blessings for granted, or even worse, when we complain because we don’t have more. Today’s Growth Principle:  Let us never fail to be grateful for the daily benefits we receive because of God’s grace.

Perspective =)

The Finer Things in Life

Salt + Pepper: The Finer Things in Life: BUSINESS MATTERS (BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE) By Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star) Updated June 12, 2011 12:00 AM What do you ca...

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”       John 3:16 Imagine looking at a swimming pool filled with people. All of a sudden, you see a small child caught out in the deep end, completely unable to swim and sinking to the bottom. So you start waving your arms and shouting at him, trying to give him some tips on how to make it back to the shallow end of the pool. Does that make sense? Would anyone in their right mind just stand there and shout while a child is drowning? Absolutely not! Every single rational-thinking person would jump in the water and pull that child to safety. Left in our sin, we’re exactly like that drowning child. We have no hope of escaping death on our own. And while the world’s religions wave their arms and shout instructions at us for pulling ourselves from death, Jesus is the only one who gets in the water to save us. As we move into the season of Advent, let’s focus our hearts and minds on the work of Jesus Christ – the one who came into the world to die for our sins and rescue us from a hopeless eternity. Praise God today that He loved you that much! Praise God that He didn’t just give us instructions for living, but came Himself to save us from a hopeless eternity! Holy Spirit Power by Dr. Paul Chappell “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 Dr. A. J. Gordon enjoyed telling the story of a Welsh preacher who was staying with a family prior to preaching in their church that evening. He asked the homeowner if he could spend some time alone before the service to prepare. As the time for the service grew near and the preacher had not come out, the man sent the maid to see if he was all right and let him know that it was almost time to leave. As she approached the door she heard him asking for God’s power. “I will not go unless You go with me,” he prayed. Without knocking on the door she returned to the homeowner. “He will be here soon,” she said. “And the Other One is coming with him!” How we need the power of God’s Holy Spirit for every part of our lives! We cannot do it alone. One of the most effective strategies of the enemy is to get us to rely on our own strength and abilities as we work for God. But we lack the resources to accomplish meaningful and lasting results. It is only as our resources are empowered by the Holy Spirit that we are able to be effective in our ministry. Human ingenuity and devices are no substitute for God’s power. It was not until the Holy Spirit had come on them in power that the disciples were ready to begin their ministry. We are just as much in need of His filling and power. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18). This command is not for a one-time event, but an ongoing process of continual filling and empowering. Today’s Growth Principle:  We cannot do the work of God apart from the power of the Holy Spirit of God working in our lives.

Faith =)

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A Vital Command

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
Luke 24:47–48
All four Gospels end with an expression of what we commonly call the Great Commission—the command of Christ to take the gospel to the world—and the book of Acts begins with the same command. There is little doubt about what Jesus considered to be important in leaving His last words for His followers. At the very beginning of His ministry, this was His call. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). And it was the same at the conclusion just before He returned to Heaven.
Evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman said, “If today is the day of salvation, if tomorrow may never come and if life is equally uncertain, how can we eat, drink, and be merry when those who live with us, work with us, walk with us, and love us are unprepared for eternity because they are unprepared for time? If I am to stand at the judgment seat of Christ to render an account for the deeds done in the body, what shall I say to Him if my children are missing, if my friends are not saved, or if my employer or employee should miss the way because I have been faithless?”
What was true nearly two thousand years ago is still true today: God’s plan is for His children to take the gospel to the world. The population of the world continues to increase, but the number of Christians obeying this vital command is not rising. We decry the social and moral decay of our society, and it is a tragedy. But the only solution to human problems is found in the gospel, not in moral reform or political renewal. Only new life in Christ changes things.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

There is no substitute for obedience to the command of Christ to be a witness for Him.

The Blessings of Meditation

by Joyce Meyer - posted November 27, 2016

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of Your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.
—Proverbs 4:20-22
In these verses, the writer used the words, attend to my words, which is another way of exhorting us to meditate. I love the fact that God not only frequently tells us to meditate—to ponder seriously His Word, but He frequently promises results. It's as if God says, "Okay, Joyce, if you meditate, here's what I'm going to do for you."
In this passage, the promise is life and health. Isn't that amazing? It's even a promise that when you contemplate and brood over the Bible, it will affect your physical body.
We've known for a long time that when we fill our minds with healthy, positive thoughts, it affects our body and improves our health. This is just another way of repeating this truth. Or take the opposite viewpoint: Suppose we fill our minds with negative thoughts and remind ourselves how frail we are or how sick we were the day before. We soon become so filled with self-pity and self-defeating thoughts that we get even sicker.
In the previous pages, I've already mentioned the idea of prosperity (see Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8). I believe that by "prosperity," God means that we'll be enriched and prosper in every part of our lives. It's not a promise of more material wealth, but an assurance of being able to enjoy all the wonderful blessings we have.
Recently when I meditated on several passages in the Bible, I realized God was showing me that the Word has hidden treasures in it—powerful, life-giving secrets—which God wants to reveal to us. They are there for those who muse, ponder, and contemplate the Word of God.
What we often forget is that God wants our fellowship, our company, and our time with Him. If we want a deep relationship with our heavenly Father, we have to make quality time for God. I recently heard someone say, "Quality time comes out of quantity times." In other words, it's only as we spend time with God on a regular, daily basis that we have those special, life-changing moments. We can't program them to happen, but if we're there on a daily basis, God will cause some of those times to be quality times of special blessing.
D. L. Moody once said that the Bible would keep us from sin, or sin would keep us from the Bible. That's the principle here. As we concentrate on God's Word and allow it to fill our thoughts, we will push away all desire to sin or to displease God in any way. We become more deeply rooted in Him. Again, think of it in the negative. When our mind remains focused on our problems all the time, we become consumed with them. If we meditate on what's wrong with others, we see even more flaws and faults. But when we concentrate on God's Word, light comes into our souls.
I want to go back one more time to that powerful statement in Philippians 4:8. No matter which translation or paraphrase we read it in, the message is powerful and exactly what we need to do to condition our minds for victory.
Here's Eugene Peterson's paraphrase in The Message: Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, not the worst: the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
Dear Father in heaven, teach me the blessings of pondering Your Word, of filling my heart and mind with Your spiritual manna. May I grow into maturity and become more and more like Your Son, Jesus. It's in His name that I pray. Amen.

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The Necessity of Christ’s Death and Resurrection

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”
Luke 24:46
There are many times when we can substitute one thing for the original without much changing the result. For example, if you are baking something and are short one egg, you may be able to use a little applesauce and baking powder and the results will be about the same. If you break a taillight, you can cover the hole with red tape and the light will still shine through when you step on the brakes.
But there are other areas in which no substitute will work. When it comes to the matter of our redemption, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are absolutely essential. This is the very foundation of our faith. Paul wrote, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The reason Paul started his preaching with this truth is that it is the core of all doctrine.
There were no alternatives to provide a way for our sins to be atoned and for us to be reconciled to God. No angel could die in the place of man. No man could live according to God’s law. No one can pay the debt for another because we each owe our own debt. The only hope of salvation was the substitutionary death of the sinless Son of God. If there had been another way, surely God would have chosen it. But there was not, and so Jesus died in our place. The cross is the true measure of God’s love for us, and it should fill our hearts with gratitude and joy for our salvation.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The thing we need the most—salvation—is only possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Don’t Stay Angry

by Joyce Meyer - posted November 26, 2016

Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing
—Psalm 37:8
The Word tells us another way to resist temptation: When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him] (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Paul said that we should forgive people to keep Satan from gaining an advantage over us (See 2 Corinthians 2:10-11). If someone offends you, get over it quickly so you won’t leave open a door for the devil. It is a sin to hold anger and bitterness, so never go to sleep mad. If you forgive everyone before you fall asleep, freedom from wrong attitudes in your heart will help you start your day right the next morning.

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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.   John 1:5 Every single person, at some point in his or her life, goes through a time of darkness. Whether it be a darkness of failure, darkness of sin, or the darkness of sorrow, there’s no escaping the fact that darkness is all around us. This darkness causes many to wonder, “Will the darkness win? Will evil prevail?” The answer to that question was given over 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ was born into the world. To many in that day, it looked like the darkness was going to win. And while most people were afraid of the darkness of oppression by the Roman Empire, Jesus opened their eyes to the reality of something even darker… the darkness of their own sin. But in the midst of that darkness, God sent Jesus into the world to shine a great light… a light so bright and so overwhelming that those who experienced it were forever changed. God sent a bold answer all those years ago that while the darkness may sometimes seem overwhelming, goodness will ultimately triumph over evil. Jesus was the light of the world, and whoever believes in Him already has victory over sin and death. Trust Him for that victory today. In Christ, you can overcome the darkness and have victory over sin and death. Trust Him today! Opened Understanding by Dr. Paul Chappell “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,” Luke 24:45 Solomon was presented with an opportunity that was truly unique. When he assumed the throne of Israel after the death of his father David, God appeared to him and presented Solomon with a blank check—he could ask for anything he wanted, and God would do it. Solomon had his priorities in the right place (although later in his life he would turn away from following God), and instead of asking for riches, power, or fame, Solomon asked for wisdom. “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9). All of us have need of God’s guidance and direction for our daily lives. We understand that God does not speak to us in dreams or visions, but through His Word, and thus if we want His wisdom, we need to be careful students of the Bible. The wonderful news is that every believer has the Holy Spirit as a guide to help us live according to God’s Word. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). Rather than seeking guidance in signs and feelings, we need to read the Bible and find our direction and wisdom in the pages of Scripture. We have the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of Scripture to help us understand His meaning in the words. This is not something to be taken lightly. The greatest resource available to God’s children is often overlooked because we fail to listen to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit as we make decisions and choices. Today’s Growth Principle:  We have the promise of the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply God’s wisdom to our lives.

Knowing How To Love Someone =)

Gratitude

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Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.   --Psalm 100 As Christians, gratitude should be a part of our daily lifestyles. And thankfully, the Bible reveals some godly habits you and I need to develop to truly be thankful people! The first habit is joyfulness. First Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Rejoice always.” Now, it’s important to remember that this kind of joy isn’t found in your external circumstances. It’s found by focusing on Jesus in the midst of your circumstances. The second habit of a thankful person is prayerfulness. First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Now, I know this sounds like a tall order! But the Scripture is telling you and me that we need to live life with a mindfulness of God’s presence all the time. We do this by acknowledging Him throughout the day and developing a habit of talking to Him about every experience we have in life, whether it’s good or bad. The third habit of a thankful person is, well, being intentional about being thankful! First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances…” This doesn’t mean we’d call everything we see or experience if life “good,” it means that in the midst of everything, God is good. And because God is good all the time, you have a reason to be thankful no matter what you’re going through today! Finally, being thankful requires the habit of hopefulness. Now, I’m not talking about wishful thinking here. I’m talking about believing what God says… that as a believer, you can become more and more like Jesus and that you will be with Him one day in heaven. So what about you? Are you living in joyfulness… prayerfulness… thankfulness… and hopefulness? Remember, these habits are actually commands! So I challenge you this day… and every day… to cultivate these important qualities in your life! Is gratitude a part of your daily lifestyle? All Bible Roads Lead to Jesus by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Luke 24:44 Charles Spurgeon told of a veteran Welsh preacher who gave some advice to a new minister regarding the importance of preaching about Jesus. The old minister said, “Young man, from every town and every village, and every little hamlet in England, wherever it may be, there is a road to London. And so from every text in Scripture, there is a road to the metropolis of the Scriptures, that is Christ. And my dear brother, your business is when you go to a text, to say, ‘Now what is the road to Christ?’ and then preach a sermon, running along the road to the great metropolis—Christ. And I have never yet found a text that has not got a road to Christ in it.” The Jewish people divided what we now call the Old Testament into three sections—the law, prophets, and psalms. In His first appearance to the disciples following His resurrection, Jesus declared to them that all of the sections of Scripture told of His coming—and that He had fulfilled the prophecies exactly as God had given them to the inspired prophets of old. They had spoken of His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection; and He had lived just as they said. In addition to being a powerful statement about the complete reliability of Scripture, this is a pattern for us to follow in our lives and ministry. Jesus is to be at the center of everything we do. Paul said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The focus of our efforts should not be anything other than our blessed and wonderful Saviour. Today’s Growth Principle:  If we make much of Jesus and glorify Him, we have fulfilled our great duty as His children.

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And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.   1 Peter 1:17-19 A very vain woman went to get some photos taken one day. She spent hours with the photographer, getting just the right angles with the perfect lighting. By the end of the day, the photographer was exhausted and the woman was irritated because she didn’t think the pictures were going to turn out well. When she received the proofs, her fears were confirmed. She hated every single one of them. So she called up the photographer and let him have it. “These pictures,” she shouted, “none of them do me justice.” At his wit’s end, the photographer said, “Lady, you don’t need justice; you need mercy!” We can’t physically see the filthiness and ugliness of sin on our souls. And while many people might think they’d look just fine if they sent their spiritual photo to God, the truth is that no amount of makeup or Photoshop could ever do us “justice” in His eyes. We need mercy! But the good news is that God’s mercy is available to us. Through Christ, we can have God’s goodness and His pardon from all our sins. Because of that, God sees us as having the righteousness and beauty of Christ, which covers all sin. This season of thanks, spend time thanking God for the remarkable gift of mercy He’s given you! THANK GOD THAT THROUGH CHRIST’S MERCY, HE COVERS EVERY SPOT AND BLEMISH OF SIN AND SEES YOU AS HAVING THE BEAUTY OF JESUS! The Importance of the Physical Resurrection by Dr. Paul Chappell “And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.” Luke 24:42–43 Even after Jesus showed the disciples the scars from the crucifixion in His hands and feet, they were not fully convinced that He was in fact alive. Many of the Jewish people of that day believed in ghosts that could appear in human form, but were not really alive. To convince them that He was truly alive, Jesus sat and ate with them. His ability to eat food was a clear proof that He had been physically resurrected by the power of God. The resurrection to which we look forward—whether the instant transformation of those who are alive at the Rapture or the rising from the dead of those who sleep in Jesus—is only possible because Jesus first was raised from the dead. If He had not been physically resurrected, there would be no hope for us. All of our hopes hinge on the reality of the resurrection, and without a living Saviour there can be no salvation. Thankfully, He is alive! Paul wrote, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first ​ ​ fruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15.20). Because Jesus was raised with a physical, glorified body, we have the same future hope. The importance of the physical resurrection is not a new idea. We find this longing and hope expressed in the Old Testament book of Job. “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26). The reality of death has been part of our world ever since the Fall of man, but the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus changed everything—past, present and future. Now we no longer need fear the grave for its power has been broken. Jesus is eternally alive, and His resurrection guarantees our eternal life. Today’s Growth Principle:  Because of the physical resurrection of Jesus, we have confidence that we too will live again.

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.   --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 I’d like to point out a few key words in today’s verses… “give thanks in all circumstances.” It’s easy to give thanks to God and have a grateful heart when things are going well in your life. But the hard part is being thankful when life gets hard! I believe having a thankful response in all circumstances starts with having an appropriate perspective. It’s easy to become narrow in your outlook and forget the big picture. When we become so focused on ourselves and our problems, the problem usually ends up being a lot bigger than it should be. So today… I encourage you to take your eyes off your problems and, instead, look to God. Say a prayer of thanks to Him that He has created you and given you life… and look at today as a gift from God to start fresh. As it says in Lamentations, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Most often, we can’t change our circumstances… but we can change our response to difficult times. If you allow every trial and tribulation to become an opportunity to thank God, He will always show up! When we come into the presence of God and sing praises to Him… He is always there! God inhabits the praises of His people and it can change your entire perspective on whatever it is you may be facing today. Having a thankful response in all circumstances starts with having an appropriate perspective.

The Scars of Our Salvation

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?”
Luke 24:40–41
The Bible tells us a great deal about the wonders and beauty of Heaven. It speaks of a place where no sin can enter, there is no night, and tears have been wiped away forever. Heaven will be completely perfect—except for one thing. The body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the worthy Lamb, still bears the marks of His suffering for us on the cross. The scars are not gone. Throughout eternity each time we see Jesus we will see the reminders that He died for us. When John saw the Lord in his vision of Heaven he wrote, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6).
The sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation provides a salvation for us that is free through His grace, but it was purchased at great cost. And the evidence of that payment is still visible today. Those of us who have been saved for many years face the danger of losing the awareness of how much our sins cost Jesus.
We speak of Jesus dying for the sins of the world, and He did, but what we need to remember is that His sacrifice was not general but very specific. It was my sin for which He paid. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Rejoice today in the love of Jesus that kept Him on the cross as a sacrifice for your sins.

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But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.      --Matthew 6:6 If obligations and a busy schedule have exhausted the energy in your spiritual tank, maybe you need to refuel! Whether you spend your day rushing to meetings, escorting children to school functions and sports events, or ministering to others, life can be exhausting! So if you feel drained of energy and strength, I want to share how you can be empowered. The Spirit of God can energize you through your prayer life. And when you worship God in the Spirit, you’ll be invigorated. Personally, when I’m physically tired and begin to worship God, my spirit becomes energized, revived, and revitalized. The same thing can happen to you! I believe one of the secrets to empowering prayer is committing to private prayer time. Jesus says in Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.”        Private prayer is that time alone with God when you and I draw near to Him through the Spirit to know Him, to talk with Him. And every Christian who wants to be refueled with the power of prayer must find a place to pray privately. Do you have a secret place? Do you have a quiet time dedicated to the Lord? Matthew 6:6 continues, “And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” When we join God in the secret place, His Spirit fills the space and we can truly converse and commune with God. That’s prayer that empowers you for living!                                                                                                                                                Get alone with God today to refuel your spirit! Why Are You Troubled? by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” Luke 24:38–39 Many people in our world live with fear, worry, doubt, and consternation on a regular basis. There are long lists of different phobias and fears that effect people. Some of them are common—fear of snakes, spiders, and other insects are widespread. Others are less common, only affecting small numbers of people. For example: Catoptrophobia—The fear of mirrors. Pogonophobia—The fear of beards. Ligyrophobia—The fear of loud noises. Coulrophobia—The fear of clowns. Allodoxaphobia—The fear of opinions. Disposophobia—The fear of getting rid of possessions. Fear is a natural part of life in a fallen world, but it is not something that we are to allow to control us. David spent much of his life facing people who were literally trying to kill him. More than once they nearly succeeded. In response to the threats he faced David declared, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3). The presence of fear is not a sin, but an opportunity for us to turn to God in faith and rest in His promises. On His last night with the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). The only real and lasting cure for fear is found in faith. Faith does not teach us that nothing ever goes wrong. Jesus said this just a few hours before He would be nailed to a cross. Faith teaches us that nothing ever takes God off guard—that He works all things together as part of His plan for our lives, and we can trust Him with the end result. Today’s Growth Principle:  When our faith is strengthened, our fears will be diminished.