Sometimes You Must Encourage Yourself

Be encouraged, God loves you. He didn't put you in the situation you are in by chance, there's a purpose! Be of good courage, face what you don't know with the certainty and assurance that God has ordered your steps. When David was being chased by Saul and he was hiding in caves, and mountains he wrote some of the most beautiful psalms (songs). He did this, not so that you and I would have something to read on Sundays, but as a way to encourage himself and remind himself of who God is. Draw that parallel to you, and your situation. You may in fact be in a situation to where you feel like you are being persecuted, , chased, or maybe you just feel alone. God was with David, and He is with you. Take David's example and encourage yourself, remind yourself of who God is; in the midst of the situation. 

~Erroyl

SALT

Let’s talk about sex

Let’s talk about SEX!

That got your attention, didn’t it?

    I have a friend who is struggling with SEX in marriage…

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    Before I begin, I must say that this devotional message is specifically pertaining to Christian, married couples, and those persons who hope to one day be a God-pleasing, Christian couple.

    Next,  If you are not married, in the eyes of God, you should not be having sex. Stop it, ask for forgiveness, and don’t do it again.

    Finally, nothing here condones any kind of abuse, or control.

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    I have a married friend who is a Christian, and who is struggling with the frequency of sex in her marriage. That’s right, she wants sex more often than her Christian husband (It happens more often than you might think). She asked me, “What does the Bible say about withholding sex? I mean, we are married. Honestly, I have felt tempted to cheat at times, when guys hit on me, or even just notice me. I mean, not really to cheat, I guess. But, tempted to indulge in flirting back...” The short answer is that her husband does NOT have the right to withhold himself, thereby depriving her AND opening the door to Satan in their marriage. That “temptation to flirt” is Satan putting his left foot across the threshold and into the doorway of their marriage. His right foot is busy getting the husband to turn the “lack of sexual desire” into a habitual inaction.

    Let’s be clear. There is more to intimacy than sex alone. There are more ways to show affection. And there are times, of course, when a spouse has the right to refuse sex.  This rejection should be delivered in love. Even still, a rejection delivered the correct way does not supersede the fact that, rejection hurts. How a person is physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually should be considered.

   Though they may be accepted, no one really wants “obligation sex”, or “one-sided sex”. These are given grudgingly and make the recipient feel guilty. Doesn’t the Bible say that God loves a cheerful giver. I know, I know, Paul was referring to giving as a way to support the ministry...but, is not marriage a ministry? Yes, it is. Reread 2 Corinthians 9, and focus on verses 7-8, and ask God if/can both verses apply to sex in marriage. Verse 8 displays “all” rather conspicuously, does it not?

    Sex, within marriage, is important. It is powerfully cohesive to the marital covenant. The act replenishes and revitalizes the individuals, and reasserts the promise of “two being one” in Him. With that level of importance, is there any wonder why the enemy tries to use sex  (lack of sex, perversion of sex, extramarital sex) to destroy marriages. Why do we greatly desire to have sex before marriage, but that desire lags after the nuptials?

    I referred her to 1 Cor 7 with instructions that they should each read and study it.  

1 Corinthians 7:3–5 (NKJV): 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

We love you, and we are praying for you.

~SALT,  Pastor, Dr. Erroyl McGinty, Jr., and Sis Pinky McGinty

Sis Pinky’s Prayer: Thank you Lord for transparency in ALL things so that we can be set free in ALL areas of our lives. Please, Holy Spirit, teach us married couples how to live lives pleasing to God.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen

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This link is to ©2018 FAITHFUL MAN® and is a great resource for this topic.