Search results

What is spiritual direction? Answer It has become popular in modern times to be “spiritual but not religious.” People who describe themselves this way often use the word spiritual to mean “in touch with one’s own spirit, the spirits of others, or some Higher Power or Spirit that inhabits the...

How can a Christian avoid being a doormat for other people? Answer A doormat is a small rug placed just inside a doorway where people can wipe their dirty shoes before entering the house. The term doormat is also used figuratively to describe people who allow themselves to be (figuratively)...

What is spiritual dryness, and how can I overcome it? Answer When people say they are “spiritually dry,” they usually mean they feel distant from God or are struggling to grow spiritually. They don’t see God working, the burdens of life press in, and they begin to feel discouraged. They search...

What does the Bible say about being a godly man? Answer The Bible is a handbook for anyone who desires to be a godly man or woman. God created man and woman after His own image (Genesis 1:27), and part of being in His image is that we are to reflect His character. However, sin marred that...

How should a Christian view tradition? Answer The word tradition can have two meanings, one secular and one religious. The secular understanding is that tradition is a long-established ritual, custom, or belief that is passed down from one generation to the next. For example, families have...

Does a believer have authority over Satan? Answer The believer’s authority over Satan and victory over the spiritual forces of evil depend on the power of God, the relative power of Satan, and God’s power within the believer. First, God’s power is perfect and unlimited. He created the heavens...

How can I maintain a good attitude when I am hormonal? Answer Hormones are natural substances produced in the body that regulate and influence the way that body grows and develops. At certain times in a person’s life, extra hormones are produced to facilitate growth spurts, such as during...

Should a Christian be a monk? Answer Although monastic tradition has been partially inspired by biblical figures such as Elijah, John the Baptist, and even Jesus Himself (during His 40 days in the wilderness), monasticism is not a practice promoted or even mentioned in the Bible. Monks and...

What does it mean to be God-centered? Answer Everyone’s life has a center. Our center is the hub around which all decisions revolve. For some, survival is the hub from morning until night. For others, the acquisition of wealth or material goods drives daily choices. In many Western cultures...

I overcame _______ sin. How can I avoid a relapse? Answer Temptations batter us from every side. No human being gets through this life unscarred by sin. Even with our best efforts, we often relapse into the very sins from which we were rescued. We learn quickly that we can’t save ourselves...

What is the authority of the believer? Answer The authority of the believer rests on the believer’s mandate to serve the Lord. When we are in God’s will, we can move with confidence that we are doing what is right and that the Holy Spirit’s power is at work within and through us. Some...

Why did God choose me? Answer In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in him before the...

What is spiritual bondage? Answer The exact phrase spiritual bondage does not appear in the Bible, but Scripture does speak of unbelievers’ being in bondage to sin (Acts 8:23; Romans 6:6, 16, 19; 7:14; 2 Peter 2:19). Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin”...

What is a spiritual harvest and how can I achieve one? Answer Throughout the Bible, the harvest carries spiritual significance. It is used in parables (Luke 8:4–8) and as a metaphor for spiritual growth and health (2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18). The harvest has always been a beautiful and...

What does it mean to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14)? Answer In the Psalms, Proverbs, and many other books of the Bible, we find commands to wait on the Lord” like this one: “Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14, KJV)...

Does the Bible make a distinction between the secular and the sacred? Answer We tend to categorize things, and two categories often spoken of are “secular” and “sacred.” By “sacred” we usually mean “Christian-themed” or “suitable for church use,” and by “secular” we usually mean “worldly” or...

What are the different types of fasting? Answer Usually, fasting is the abstaining from food for a certain period of time. There are different types of fasting in the Bible, however, and not all of them involve food. Many people in the Bible fasted, including Moses, David, and Daniel in the...

How can I learn to not take offense at little things? Answer Trying to not take offense is like trying to not think about elephants. If someone says, “Don’t think about elephants,” we automatically think about them. If we focus on trying not to take offense, we will keep thinking about the...

How can I get a clear conscience? Answer Conscience can be defined as “an inner feeling that acts as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.” For those with a biblical worldview, the conscience is the part of the human soul that is most like God (Genesis 3:22). Those who...