When The Door Slams
In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus. So do not let sin control your life here on earth so that you do what your sinful self wants to do. Do not offer the parts of your body to serve sin, as things to be used in doing evil. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have died and now live. Offer the parts of your body to God to be used in doing good. Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law but under God's grace.
Romans 6:11-14
Think about this: Can any human activity become an addiction? Yes. When carried to an extreme, any behavior can veer out of control and become the dominant, driving force in a person's life. It can master her. It can consume him.
Whatever the habit, the two-step pattern is always the same. The first phase is the mental preoccupation--the obsession. The thought of the activity grabs hold of the person and preoccupies him or her to the exclusion of everything else. The person can't shake it loose, can't let it go. At this point, the shopaholic is absorbed, even obsessed with the idea of a buying binge. She wants to acquire, collect, and possess.
In the case of the relationship addict, he is obsessed with the notion of taking charge of the relationship, and perhaps even taking charge of the other person. After the obsession comes the second phase: acting out the obsessive thought. The action is the compulsion. The relationship addict or the shopaholic loses control, gives in to the mental preoccupation, and is compelled--even driven--to do whatever he or she feels is necessary. She shops. He flirts. Or, in the case of other addictions, he or she might exercise, work, worry, scrub, or gulp mega-vitamins incessantly, like me.
The list of compulsions is practically endless. [We have] divided the one common compulsions into six general groups: money matters, wellness and health; work and play; service and voluntarism; relationships; and my favorite category perfectionism.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. Never Rest Ministries
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Ambition
When The Door Slams
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of self ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:1-5
Ambition or driven people often possess limited or undeveloped people skills. They are not noted for getting along well with others. They were not born without the capacity to get along with others, but projects are more important to them than people.
Think about this: Their eyes are upon goals and objectives, they rarely take note of the people about them, unless they can be used for the fulfillment of one of their goals. And if others are not found to be useful, then they may be seen as obstacles or competitors when it comes to getting something done.
There is usually a "trail of bodies" in the wake of the driven person. Where once others praised him or her for their seemingly great leadership, there soon appears a steady increase in frustration and hostility, as they see that the driven person cares little about the health and growth of human beings.
It becomes apparent that there is a non-negotiable agenda, and it is supreme above all other things.
Listen to this: Colleagues, friends, and subordinates in the world of the driven person slowly getaway, one after another, exhausted, exploited, and disillusioned. Of this person we are most likely to say, "He or she is miserable to work with, but they certainly gets things done."
And therein lies the problem or hardship..... The unexpected thing is that in almost every great organization, religious and secular, people of this sort can be found in key positions. Even though they carry with them the seeds of relationship disaster, they often are indispensable to the objectives.
Related Bible Texts: 1 Samuel 18:1-16; Acts 9:1-9; James 4:6
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for his forgiveness. Never Rest Ministries
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of self ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:1-5
Ambition or driven people often possess limited or undeveloped people skills. They are not noted for getting along well with others. They were not born without the capacity to get along with others, but projects are more important to them than people.
Think about this: Their eyes are upon goals and objectives, they rarely take note of the people about them, unless they can be used for the fulfillment of one of their goals. And if others are not found to be useful, then they may be seen as obstacles or competitors when it comes to getting something done.
There is usually a "trail of bodies" in the wake of the driven person. Where once others praised him or her for their seemingly great leadership, there soon appears a steady increase in frustration and hostility, as they see that the driven person cares little about the health and growth of human beings.
It becomes apparent that there is a non-negotiable agenda, and it is supreme above all other things.
Listen to this: Colleagues, friends, and subordinates in the world of the driven person slowly getaway, one after another, exhausted, exploited, and disillusioned. Of this person we are most likely to say, "He or she is miserable to work with, but they certainly gets things done."
And therein lies the problem or hardship..... The unexpected thing is that in almost every great organization, religious and secular, people of this sort can be found in key positions. Even though they carry with them the seeds of relationship disaster, they often are indispensable to the objectives.
Related Bible Texts: 1 Samuel 18:1-16; Acts 9:1-9; James 4:6
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for his forgiveness. Never Rest Ministries
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Strongholds
When The Door Slams
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5
Understanding human behavior has revealed that it usually takes three to five times to establish a habit. Beyond that point, the habit or thinking process becomes even more rooted as it is further practiced or repeated (deception and disobedience). Often these behaviors seem unchangeable, when put in a strong position.
This passage refers to them as "strongholds." Historically, a stronghold was a well established city that could withstand any outside forces that attempt to enter and overtake it. In God, we have weapons that can be used to help us break the strongholds in our lives.
Think about this: What behavior or thought has put down a root in your life? What habit has become part of you? Since a new habit can be started in three to five practice, you can choose to behave differently. Yes, it will take effort, but you can change, stop deceiving yourself by lying.
Lord God's spiritual weapons to assist you in change are His Word, His people and prayer. The old pattern can be broken. The stronghold can be torn down, You can establish a new habit. What habit has became a stronghold in my life? Will I invest three to five times a week of concentrated effort with God's help to make the change?
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Never Rest Ministries
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5
Understanding human behavior has revealed that it usually takes three to five times to establish a habit. Beyond that point, the habit or thinking process becomes even more rooted as it is further practiced or repeated (deception and disobedience). Often these behaviors seem unchangeable, when put in a strong position.
This passage refers to them as "strongholds." Historically, a stronghold was a well established city that could withstand any outside forces that attempt to enter and overtake it. In God, we have weapons that can be used to help us break the strongholds in our lives.
Think about this: What behavior or thought has put down a root in your life? What habit has become part of you? Since a new habit can be started in three to five practice, you can choose to behave differently. Yes, it will take effort, but you can change, stop deceiving yourself by lying.
Lord God's spiritual weapons to assist you in change are His Word, His people and prayer. The old pattern can be broken. The stronghold can be torn down, You can establish a new habit. What habit has became a stronghold in my life? Will I invest three to five times a week of concentrated effort with God's help to make the change?
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Never Rest Ministries
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