A Isolated Marriage Relationship

                                                        When The Door Slams

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen: Repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.                                                                                                                                                                                Revelation 2:4-5

         Marriage begins when two people make the clear unqualified promise to be faithful, each to the other, until the end of their days. That spoken promise makes the difference. A new relationship is initiated. In this day and age it's pretty rare for a marriage to last a lifetime, let alone for the couple to still like and love each other after all those years. That's really the way marriage should be.

        Think about this: When the enthusiasm and excitement has been replaced by mere existing. Communication continues to diminish as each partner pulls away from the other. The result is an isolated marriage relationship. Some of the lies we start to believe about ourselves include: "I only count when I'm perfect." "I only count when I avoid conflict." "I only count when I'm noticed, and can be center of attention." "I only count when I'm in control." These lies set you up for ridicule, abuse, fault finding, and so much more destructive forces. From one perspective they all stem from a critical, harmful, negative spirit. Lies such as these are particularly dangerous because they contain the message that "I have to be doing something or acting in a certain way to have worth as a human being." 

        Don't believe these lies. Bad things don't always happen in your marriage. You don't always goof up. In these verses, John, challenged us with regard to our relationship with God to return to our first love. We must remember and reflect on those special times we shared. Instead of focusing on all the negatives, remember the positive. The truth, is that I have worth simply because of the fact that I am a human being created in the image of God! 

        Secondly, repent or ask forgiveness for your part in letting the relationship get complacent. That process involves honestly looking at yourself in the mirror rather than pointing the finger and blaming your mate. Do some of the things you used to do in your relationship, add some sparkle by letting your partner know you were thinking of him or her. We can practice these same steps in our relationship with God. Why not start today!

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 

                    

Rationalization And Procrastination

                                                     When The Door Slams

As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.                                                      If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.                                                                                                                James 4:16-17

        It is never a minor thing to know God's will and not do it. God calls this sin. We can make excuses for our lack of obedience: "I'm just not ready yet," or "I'll do it later!" or "I don't think it will make a difference," or "I can't afford to!" We rationalize, we procrastinate; we want to be notice; yet, in God's, eyes, rationalization and procrastination are nothing more than disobedience. At times we deceive ourselves into thinking that if others see the good intentions will equal obedient actions. 

        They do not. A good intention without corresponding activity is disobedience. When we encounter God and He gives us a direction, it is not enough to write down the date in our spiritual journal, or even to tell our friends and church of our "decision." God's call is not to "make a decision" but to obey!

        Think about this: Deciding to obey is not equal to obeying (Matt. 21:28-32)! Loudly affirming the necessity of obedience is not the same as obeying (Luke 6:46-49). Making commitments, even publicly, is not the same as obeying our Lord. Substituting our own good works is not the same as obeying. 

        God told King Saul to wait until the prophet Samuel arrived. Instead of waiting, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered a sacrifice. Saul discovered, to his deep dismay, that other acts of supposed piety do not take the place of obeying a clear command from God (1 Sam.15:22-23). As with Saul, God expects you to obey everything exactly as He tells you. Only obedience satisfies God's  desire for obedience!  

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 

            

                                                         

Practical Faith And Confidence

                                                     When The Door Slams

I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us.                                                         1 John 5:13-15

        We can approach God in prayer with a confidence that if we are asking in His will, He will          answer it. This reminds me of a story: A few years ago the farmers in Middle Tennessee were      experiencing a severe drought. It had been weeks since it had rained and the corn crops were going          to be plowed under if they didn't receive some rain. 

        On Friday a group of believes decided to call a community wide prayer meeting to ask God to      send rain. As the people began to gather at the little country church on the appointed evening, a little girl came walking up the road carrying her umbrella.  

        Think about this: Not one of the adults had such practical faith and confidence that God would answer their prayer. Maybe this is why Jesus said that unless we become as a little child, we can't enter the kingdom of heaven (Mark 10:15). God wants us to take Him at His Word. He has promised He will hear and answer all our prayers that are in His will. 

        What do you need to ask God for today? (help with this ministry) Do you believe He will answer? (yes) Are you prepared for His abundant response to your request? (yes) Lord, when I pray in Your will, please hear me and give me confidence in Your answer. And when I pray out of Your will, hear me still, but convict me with the power of the Holy Spirit.      

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

Threshold Thinking

                                                        When The Door Slams

So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?                          "If  you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.                        And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."       Genesis 4:6-7 

        When temptation enters our hearts and minds, we either deal with it and gain mastery over it, or it eventually leads us to sinful actions. The time between the initial temptation and the chosen response is critical. Much hangs in the balance. This is call Threshold Thinking.   

       Cain knew that God was displeased with him but pleased with Abel. Feelings of jealous anger crept into Cain's heart, and thoughts of murder pervaded his mind. As threshold thinking considered what to do, God's Word came to him. God warned him that sin was waiting at the door of his life, looking for an opportunity to enter. Now was not the time to treat temptation lightly, not the time to assume sin would never cause any harm. Now was the time to master the sin and renounce it before it overcame him. Tragically, Cain did not master his sin; instead, he open the door, sin came in overtook him and destroyed his life.

        Temptations come at unexpected moments. Sinful thoughts may cross your mind. Selfish feelings may begin to invade your heart. Threshold thinking of the Holy Spirit will warn you that God is not pleased with the direction your thoughts and feelings are taking you.  

       Think about this: Threshold Thinking at that moment of conviction, you must master the sin that crouches at the door of your life. Sin lies and deceive. Sin destroys. Sin brings death. Sin is not something to play with or take lightly. God's Word to you is the same warning He gave to Cain: Master the sin at the door of your life before it brings its unavoidable and disastrous consequences. Heed The Holy Spirit warning, and you will avoid unnecessary hardship for yourself and others.                             

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-14

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