NO Need To Fear The Future

                                                     When The Door Slams

Do not let your heart be trouble. You believe in God; believe also in me.            John 14:1 NIV

        Outside of the Bible, no other sacred writings contain accurate, specific, detailed prophecies of future events. After all, only God can say what's going to happen! Here's what we have learn from biblical prophecy.

        We should never be surprised by the phenomenal (albeit short-lived) success of evil, Satan-inspired men and women. Until the climax of history, many evil men will triumph for a time. The twentieth century was no exception. There is no reason to believe the twenty-first century will be an exception either.

        But we never need to fear that evil will triumph completely. Why not? Because God controls the day they ascend to power and the day of their downfall. This will be true of even the most wicked, Satan-inspired man of all, the Antichrist. In the end, God will crush His enemies. With that we can be sure! No matter what happens this century, we need to keep the end of God's story clearly in view--and never lose faith in our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ.

        After calling His first disciples, Jesus takes them to Capernaum, where an unseen war become visible momentarily. When a demon-possessed man tries to tell Jesus what to do, Jesus immediately rebukes the evil spirit and tells the evil spirit what to do. To everyone's astonishment, the demon has to obey what Jesus says. 

        The reality is we all have to obey Jesus. We may shake and scream. We may try to tell Jesus what to do. But in the end, we have to obey Him. The question is not "Is Jesus Lord of your life?" The question is "Have you acknowledged that fact?"

        Think about this: Our world is in a state of constant change. God is not. At times, the world seems to be trembling beneath our feet. But we can be comforted in the knowledge that our heavenly Father is the rock that cannot be shaken. His Word promise, "I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6 NKJV).

        We mortals encounter a multitude of changes--some good, some not so good. And on occasion, all of us must endure life-changing personal losses that leave us breathless. When we do, our loving heavenly Father stands ready to protect us, to comfort us, to guide us, and, in time, to heal us.

        Conditions are always changing; therefore, we must not be dependent upon conditions. What matters most is my soul and my relationship with God. And it is because the LORD Jesus Christ do not change, and you can face your challenges with courage this day and hope for the future. 

        Petition: May I not live the rest of my time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For I have spent enough time in the past in doing the will of those without God, when I walked in licentiousness,' lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties, and detestable idolatries (1 Peter 4:2-3).

 Ask the Holy 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                              

                                                    

What Is Christmas Without A Little Drama

                                                     When The Door Slams

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."                                                                                                            Matthew 2:7-8 NIV  

        What is Christmas without a little drams? For children, the plethora of casting options includes sheep and camels. For adults, the choices narrow a bit, and some parts admittedly have become more favored than others. Which part would you prefer to play? Zechariah? Joseph? A shepherd? Or A wise man? 

        No, we reject such options and by default find ourselves living in ease and plenty, like King Herod, who feigned reverence for the one born King of the Jews, yet was driven by the cold calculus that a slaughter of the innocents now might, possibly, someday save his own neck.

        Why did the Magi risk everything? These wise men had become desperate, compelled, and finally obsessed. In the end, they traveled a thousand miles or more, probably in a small camel train, only to stop in Jerusalem to ask, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews?" King Herod was deeply disturbed when they asked this (Matthew 2:3 NIV). These men may have come from a prestigious city of the ancient Medes, Persians, or Chaldeans. Braving extreme heat, sandstorms, and the constant threat of thieves, these Magi traveled for months through foreign lands to the far west-to within a day of the great Mediterranean Sea.           

        Yes, with such a clear-cut calculus, we too are more than eager to raise our hands and voices, saying, "Pick me! I want to play the part of King Herod." Yes, it is us. True that, we won't take their lives ourselves, but we will demand that today's international aliens, and refugees die somewhere else, offstage, if only to ensure that we still get to take the final bow.

        After all, King Herod has the best of all lines: "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!" (Matthew 2:8 NIV).

        Think about this: Jesus is not only the light of the world; He is also its salvation. Jesus came to this earth so that we might not perish, but instead spend eternity with Him. What a glorious gift; what a priceless opportunity. 

        As mere mortals, we cannot fully understand the scope, and thus the value, of eternal life. Our vison is limited but God's is not. God sees all things; God knows all things and His plans for you extend throughout eternity.

        If you have not already done so, this is the perfect time to make the ultimate choice and turn your life over to God's only begotten Son. When you give your heart to the Son, you belong to the Father-today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

        Petition: Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul (Proverbs 2:9-10 NIV). There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2 NIV). 

Ask the Holy 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  

                   

                 

This Faithful Promise Might Encourage You

                                                      When The Door Slams

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and his king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."                                        Joshua 8:1-2 NIV

        

        I looked at how the unconfessed sin of one man stopped the army of Israel in its tracks and how our own unconfessed sin might do the same in our lives. Yet God's words today show us how God stands eager for us to get past our sin. God's plan for Joshua was to move forward not stand still. Rather than hinder the plan, God wanted to see the sin removed so that He could continue His work in the lives of the people of Israel. His promises were not taken back because of Israel's sin.

        How true this is in our own lives! God has a uncompromising and positive action  toward us. He is for us to move forward in His power; we are encouraged and emboldened by the Holy Spirit He has given to those who believe in Him. 

        Sin is a desperately disastrous reality in our lives, to be sure; however, God desires that we confess that sin and move on in His power and in His strength, for "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV). How will this faithful  promise encourage you today?

        Think about this: If you want to trust God's plan for your life, then you must learn to trust His timetable. You will be extremely tempted, however, to do otherwise. Because you are a fallible human being, you are impatient for things to happen. But God knows best. 

        God  has created a world that unfolds according to His own timetable, not ours . . . thank goodness! We mortals will make a terrible mess of everything. God does not. God's plan does not always happen in the way that we would like or at the time of our own choosing.

        Our task-as believing Christians who trust in a benevolent, all-knowing Father-is to wait patiently for God to reveal Himself. And reveal Himself He will. Always. But until God's perfect plan is made known, we must walk in faith and never lose hope. And we must repent in all our short coming, and continue to trust God. Always. We must learn to move forward according to the timetable of the Timeless One, and to be at peace with each other. 

          Thanksgiving: Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in One He love                 (Ephesians 1:3-6 NIV).                                  

  

Ask the Holy 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

          

The Best Things In Life

                                                     When The Door Slams

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'                                                                       Matthew 25:21 NIV   

        There are some things you will spend a lifetime applying, and this is one of them: You don't get the best things by going after the best things. You get the best things by going after the important things.

        I understand what is the "best things in life," Listen to this: "Best things in life" is  loving relationships, good marriages, good children, spiritual truths and gifts, effective ministry, peace of mind, happiness, even financial security; all the stuff that makes life meaningful. You don't wind up with all the good stuff by going after it directly. 

        You will get the big stuff by minding the little stuff along the way. Take "happiness," for example. We don't get "happiness" by saying to ourselves, "I'm going to make myself 'happy' today!" Happiness comes almost unconsciously when we get other things right: our relationships, our obedience to God, and our daily walk with Jesus our LORD. 

       The same thing with love. It don't come today because we sweat and strain for love. It comes because-while-we are doing the little things right by folks, like kindness and concern. Then when we get the little things right-the essential little things, and the big things tend to follow.

        Think about this: Sometimes it is hard to stand firm in your faith, especially when the world keeps pumping out messages that are contrary to your beliefs. The media is working around the clock in an attempt to rearrange your priorities. The media says that appearance is all-important, that social standing is all-important. These messages are untrue.

        The important things in life have little to do with appearances. The all-important things in life have to do with your faith, your family, and your future. Living in the twenty-first century, you are relentlessly bombarded by media messages that are contrary to your faith. Take those messages with a grain of salt or not at all. Our fight is not against any physical enemy; it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We must struggle against sin all our lives, but we are assured we will win.  

        Intercession: As living  stones, we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light              (1 Peter 2:5,9).       

Ask the Holy 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         

Joseph And Potiphar Refuse To Sin

                                                      When The Door Slams

As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.                                       Genesis 39:19-21 ESV 

       Let's unpack this: Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of trying to seduce her, when it was actually the other way around. "She caught him by his cloak and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he left his cloak in her hand and ran" (Genesis 39:12 NIV). When I unpack it referred to that Potiphar "burned with anger," it is always been assumed that he was angry at Joseph. I looked again. It just says Potiphar was furious (Genesis 39:19 TLB). If he was furious at Joseph-a slave from parts unknown-his option was clear: Kill him. 

        But he didn't kill him. I think he knows full well that his wife is lying (certainly not for the first time!) and that he will have to take over the responsibilities that Joseph was handing. But he can not side with the slave against his wife. So he treats Joseph about as well as he can, sending him to a prison for the privileged, through that is still no picnic. 

        Joseph is forgotten for two years, then begins to rise from the ashes to vice president of Egypt. And all because God saw Joseph doing one thing, the one thing that He longs for from all His people. He saw Joseph refusing to sin. We all should take a stand. Refuse to sin. It is where everything else begins. 

        Think about this: The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. "Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, Your Maker?"

        "I am with you to deliver you." Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

        Affirmation: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance        (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His for His Forgiveness.   

                                                      Never Rest Ministries

Some Christians Depend On Someone Else's Faith

                                                      When The Door Slams

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am remined of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.                                                                                                   (2 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV)  

        Spiritual dependency: It is one of the saddest situational I have encounter. Too often Christians let others become their compass, and when the compass is gone, the dependent Christian has no personal relationship to point to. So he or she just spins. Paul wrote to Timothy, the son of his soul, what Paul probably knew this would be his last letter. In it, he gave Timothy the key to avoid spiritual dependency.

        There are those who feed off others' spiritual dependence: some pastors, parents, or just people with dominating personalities. And there are those who make themselves dependent, who might simply be followers or might admire another's supposed to be spirituality. But here is the key: they can somehow never bring themselves to actually make that spirituality a part of their themselves.        

        Such was not the case with Timothy. The spiritual tradition and maturity that lived in his mother and grandmother, and in Paul himself, now lived in him. It is the opposite of spiritual dependency. Spiritual dependents are empty of faith-and of almost everything else. They depend on someone else's faith.

        Simply ask them: Are you walking in your mentor's footsteps, or is they taking all the steps for you? They need encouragement from those whose walk is steady...to start taking their own steps, before it is to late.

        Think about this: Jesus is not only the light of the world; He is also its salvation. He came to this earth so that we might not perish, but instead spend eternity with Him. It is a glorious gift; what a priceless opportunity.

        As mere mortals, we cannot fully understand the scope, and thus the value, of eternal life. Our vision is limited but God's is not. He sees all things; He knows all things; and His plans for us extend throughout eternity. 

        If you have not already done so, this is the perfect moment to make the ultimate choice and turn your life over to God's only begotten Son. When you give your heart to the Son, you belong to the Father-today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

        Affirmation: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 3-5 NIV).    

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

                      

Your Sins Are Forgiven In Christ

                                                               When The Door Slams    

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.                                                                                   Ephesians 3:12 NIV 

        So often when we pray to God for a pressing need, a sense of sinfulness rises up to discourage us. The thought frequently come in waves: You are unworthy. God won't answer your prayers. You might as well stop praying. This is the voice of the enemy. His name, Satan, means "accuser" in Hebrew, and he don't just accuse you of sin. The Bible calls him "the accuser of our brethren" (Revelation 12:10 NKJV). Satan accuses all believers.

        If you have given your heart to Christ, God has forgiven you and made you an heir of His eternal kingdom. If there is current sin that you have not repented of, however, it will hinder God from blessing you in this life (Isaiah 59:1-2). That is why His Holy Spirit convicts you to repent (John 16:7-8). 

        But know this also: God will forgive you as you confess your failures to Him (1 John 1:9). The devil may try to accuse and condemn you, telling you that God won't forgive you-but don't listen to that lie! God will forgive, if you repent. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).

        Are you in a time of need? Are you desperate for mercy? Christ's death on the cross, His shed blood, has made the way to His Father's throne, the door is open. Your sins are forgiven in Christ. You can come to God's throne with your prayer requests, boldly and with confidence.

        Think about this: What does God intend for me to do with my life? It is not an easy question to ask but, for many of us, a difficult question to answer. Why? Because God's purposes are not always clear to us. Sometimes we wander aimlessly in a wilderness of our own making. And sometimes we struggle mightily against God in an unsuccessful attempt to find success and happiness through our own means, not the LORD. 

        If you sincerely seek the Lord's guidance, He will give it. But be forewarned: He will make His revelations known to you in a way and in a time of His choosing, not yours. So be patient. Today and every day, when you listen carefully-and patiently-you will be amazed at the wonderful things that an all-knowing, all-powerful God can do.

        Renewal: "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well build (Luke 6:46-48 NIV).

Ask the Holy 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 

                                    

         

When People Are Persuaded By The Devil

                                                            When The Door Slams

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.                                                                                                    Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

        "The greatest lie of the devil is to persuade you that he don't exist." The devil has many weapons, but his primary weapon against us is lies. Jesus described the devil as "a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). The devil's lies began in the garden of Eden, when he persuaded Adam and Eve that God was keeping something good from them. The result was sin and separation from God. 

        Satan's lies not only can cause us to doubt God's goodness but also can confuse us as to what is true. Jesus explained that there is no truth in the devil (John 8:44). The devil has servants who seem to profess truth but skillful or clever distort it and deceive the faithful        (1 Timothy 4:1-3). These false prophets, or wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15), can lead believes astray. 

        When people are persuaded by the devil, their minds can become blind to the truth, and they can be prevented "from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Such people can be led to commit sins because their thoughts has "led them astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). 

        How do we ensure that no weapon that is fashioned by the devil against us shall succeed and that we can refute every tongue that rises against us in judgment? Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Thanks to the work of Christ, Satan, our accuser, cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (see Romans 8:31-39). 

        Think about this: "All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.

        "Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. "This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD (Isaiah 54:11-17 NKJV).            

       Intercession: But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory Chris, who is the image of God, should shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV).

Ask the Holy 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

           

             

When You Hear The Word Of The LORD Meditate On It

                                                             When The Door Slams

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.                Hebrews 2:1-4 NIV

        

        Most people who leave their faith in God behind don't make a sudden, deliberate decision to do so. Rather, they slowly drift away, little by little, day by day. The gradually become colder to the LORD, they lose interest in prayer, reading the Word, and fellowshipping with others Christians, and over time, they value their relationship with God less and less.

        Hebrews 2:3 (NIV) asks, "How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?" But that is what many people do. They don't dramatically revolt against God. They simply ignore Him for prolonged periods of time. Eventually such people become "nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins"(2 Peter 1:9 NIV). First, they become nearsighted, their eyes are out of focus. Eventually they completely lose all spiritual sight. 

        Second, they often still go through the outward motions of being a Christian, but their heart has departed. They question the basic beliefs of the faith and believe it is irrelevant to their life in this modern world. 

        What is the solution? How can you avoid this from happening to you? You must pay careful attention to what you have heard from the Bible. When you hear the Word, meditate on it and allow it to change you. "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7-8 NIV). Pray and ask God to renew your relationship with Him and determine to truly live by faith in the Word of the LORD God

        Think about this: Today why not focus your thoughts on the joy that is rightfully yours in Christ? Why not take time to celebrate God's glorious creation? Why not put your trust in spiritual hopes and prayers, instead of your fears? When you do, you will think optimistically about yourself and your world, and you can then share your optimism with others in the power of the Holy Spirit.

        Affirmation: We have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart (2:Peter 1:19 NIV). The Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him                (Revelation 19:1-2)   

Ask the Holy 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 

   

                

These Thoughts Frequently Come In Waves

                                                             When The Door Slams

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.                                                 Isaiah 59:1-3 NKJV

      You can believe in God yet lack faith that He cares enough to respond to you heartfelt prayers. Many men believe that God exists and sent His Son to die for their sins; they even concede that God answered prayers in old Bible times, but still, they have little faith that God still do. 

        They have been disappointed when past prayers were not answered, and this led them to believe that God does not involve Himself with people today except in truly unusual circumstances. 

        Religious people, basically believe that God has already done as much as He is ever going to do, and that is from here on. It is up to people to work hard, seize opportunities, and take care of themselves. This is a small wonder why, they don't bother to spend much time in prayer! There is no surprise that religious people end up thinking that they can pretty much manage life without God's help. They believe that they have to. 

        It is true that God expects you to work hard to provide for yourself and your family and that He expects you to think hard to solve many of your problems, but God is still very much active in the world today. God still helps the helpless. And He still helps ordinary people who find themselves in unexpected difficulties. 

        Think about this: If you want to trust God's plan for your life, then you must learn to trust His timetable. You will be tempted, however, to do otherwise. Because you are a fallible human being, you are impatient for things to happen. But God knows best. God has created a world that unfolds according to His own timetable, not ours . . . thank goodness! We mortals will make a terrible mess of things. 

        God's plan do not always happen in the way that we would like or at the time of our  choosing. Our task as believing Christians who trust in a benevolent, all-knowing Father--is to wait patiently for God to reveal Himself. And reveal Himself He will. Always. But until God's perfect plan is made known, we must walk in faith and never lose hope. And we must continue to trust Him. Always, God cares. And Yes, God responds to those who earnestly seek Him. But you must continually seek Him and don't give up.   

        Petition: Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, Let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV).       

Ask the Holy 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 

God Is Still Very Active In The World Today

                                                             When The Door Slams

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exits and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.                                                                                                                            Hebrews 11:6

        You can believe in God yet lack faith that He cares enough to respond to your heartfelt  prayers. Many men believe that God exists and sent His Son to die for their sins; they even concede that God answered prayers in old Bible times, but they have little faith the God still do. They have been disappointed when past prayers were not answered, and this has led them to believe that God don't involve Himself with people today except in truly unusual circumstances. 

        Many men and women basically believe that God has already done about as much as He is ever going to do, and that from here on, it is up to people to work hard, seize opportunities, and take care of themselves. It is a small wonder that they don't bother to spend much time in prayer! There is no surprise that they end up thinking that they can pretty much manage life without God's help. They believe this is the way.  

        It is true that God expects you to work hard to provide for yourself and your family and God expects you to think hard to solve many of your problems, but God is still very active in the world. He still helps the helpless. And still helps ordinary people who find themselves in unexpected difficulties. Yes, God cares. And yes, God still responds to those who earnestly and truly seek Him. But you have to continually seek Him and don't give up.

        Think about this: Psalm 145:8-9 makes this promise: "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made" (NIV). As God's children, we are blessed beyond measure, but sometimes we are slow to count our gifts and even slower to give thanks to the Giver.

        Our blessings include life and health, family and friends, freedom and possessions. And the gifts we receive from God are multiplied when we share them with others, May we always give thanks to God for our blessing, and may we always demonstrate our gratitude by sharing them . 

        Intercession: Salvation belongs to the LORD. May Your blessing be on Your people (Psalm 3:8). The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are with us (2 Corinthians 13:14). Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen (Psalm 89:52). 

Ask the Holy 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                 

Where Will You Place Your Trust Today

                                                       When The Door Slams 

"Yet if you devote your heart to Him and stretch out your hands to Him if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning."                                                                    Job 11:13-17 NIV

        

        Sometimes you are made to pass through a valley of suffering, and more often than not, it has to do with family issues, financial crises, or health problems. At the time, you may not even be certain that you will survive. It looks like you will fall. Perhaps you disobeyed God or you acted rashly or inconsiderately to others, and now the consequences of your actions are rising like floodwaters around you. Or perhaps problems have come upon you for no fault of your own. 

        Yet, difficult as your circumstances may be and difficult as it might be to believe it, soon enough you will be laughing again and will forget your troubles. They will be as waters that have evaporated away. David said of God, "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5 NIV). It is vital to remember when passing through tests that God's favor lasts your entire lifetime, His discipline, by contrast, is usually brief.

        God doesn't get any pleasure out of causing His children to suffer, yet some Christians have been led to believe that God is primarily focused on holiness, indignation, and punishment. God does allow suffering. true, but it usually only lasts long enough to bring about good in your life. "The LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones" (Isaiah 49:13 NIV). 

        Think about this: Will you trust in the wisdom of fallible men and women, or will you place your faith in God's perfect wisdom? When you decide whom to trust you will then know how best to respond to the challenges of the coming day.

        Are you tired? Discouraged? Fearful? Be comforted and trust God. Are you worried or anxious? Be confident in God's power and trust His Holy Word. Are you confused? Listen to the quiet voice of your heavenly Father. He is not a God of confusion. Talk with Him; listen to Him. He is steadfast, and He is your Protector, now and forever. The more God's wisdom enters our hearts, the more we will be able to trust our hearts in difficult situations.

        Renewal: Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools. The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction    (Proverbs 16:22-23). Whatever I do, whether in word or in deed, may I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17).  

Ask the Holy 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 

               

Delight Yourself Also In The LORD

                                                        When The Door Slams

THEREFORE I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.          Romans 12:1 AMP

        You might sometimes think that being a disciple of Jesus is nothing but privation and suffering, since several verses talk about dying to self and killing your desires. Let's be clear: Romans 12:1 describes laying yourself on God's altar as a "living sacrifice," and that might worry you since another verse says, "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24 NKJV). You might begin to think that truly following Jesus is a life void of pleasure and fun. 

        Certainly You will be called upon to make personal sacrifices out of love for God and others, and certainly you must not give in to the sinful passions and desires of your flesh-such as hatred, murder, adultery, and greed-but you will have many desires that are perfectly in line with the will of God. That is why He promises, "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4 NKJV).

        So don't be afraid to yield your body as a "living sacrifice." Let His Holy Spirit have His way in your heart. Listen to Him when He tells you to say no to a selfish desire or urges you to crucify hatred, jealousy, and covetousness. He wants what's best for us, and though you will die to sinful passions and desires, you will truly understand the will of God for you life.

        Think about this: Where can we find contentment? Is it a result of wealth or power or beauty or fame? None of that. Genuine contentment springs from a peaceful spirit, a clear conscience, and a loving heart. 

        Our modern world seems preoccupied with the search for happiness. We are bombarded with messages telling us that happiness depends upon acquiring material possessions. Their messages are wrong. Peace is not the result of our acquisitions; it is the result of our dispositions. If we don't find contentment within ourselves, we will never find it outside ourselves.

        The search for contentment is an internal quest, an exploration of the heart, mind, and soul. You can find contentment-indeed you will find it,if you simply look in the right places. And the best time to start looking is right now. Contentment is possible when we stop striving for more.

        Renewal: In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.                                                                             (1 Peter 1: 6-7 AMP) 

Ask the Holy 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

    

     

          

 

                     

When You Eat God's Word

                                                       When The Door Slams

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.                                             Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV 

        Jeremiah said, "When I discovered Your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight" (Jeremiah 15:16 NLT). But what do this mean? How can you eat God's Word? You do this by taking His words into your mind and heart, meditating upon them and absorbing them, and allowing them to inspire you and give you life. Just as you must chew, swallow, and digest natural food, so you must take God's Word into your very being.

        Paul wrote that you should to be "nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed" (1 Timothy 4:6 NKJV). You allow the Word of Christ to nourish you and dwell in you richly when you make time every day to read it and learn from it.

        This can be difficult to do in today's busy world, especially if you have a high-demand job that drain's you mentally, physically, and emotionally every day. You may have so much to do that you feel you don't have time to take in God's Word. 

        But failing to read the Word of God is like failing to eat regular meals: you may get away with it for a little while, but eventually this habit will catch up with you. You will feel weak. And if you go  without spiritual nourishment, you won't know right from wrong. So take in a meal of scripture today. "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11 NKJV). 

        Think about This: Psalm 100 reminds us that we should "shout to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the LORD with joy; come before him with singing" (VV. 1-2 NCV). As God's children, we are blessed beyond measure, but sometimes, as busy people living in a demanding world, we are slow to count our gifts and even slower to give thanks to the Giver.

        Our blessings include life and health, family and friends, freedom and possessions-for starters. And the gifts we receive from God are multiplied when we share them. The 118th Psalm reminds us that each day is a gift from the Word of our Lord God, and it is our responsibility to celebration begin!

        Renewal: May I be strong in the Lord and His mighty power as I put on the full armor of God, so that I will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11). Since I belong to the day, may I be self-controlled, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                    Never Rest Ministries                 

                                

We Can Only Be Saved By Grace

                                                       When The Door Slams

The grace or our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful and trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance and approval, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.                                                                                                      1 Timothy 1:14-15 AMP

       
        Paul was not just acting humble when he declared that he was the worst of sinners. He never forgot that, in his blind zeal for Jewish religious traditions, he had arrested and tortured numerous Christians and urged that they be killed. Looking back on his crimes years later, he bluntly stated that any righteousness he once thought he had, now realized was "rubbish' (Philippians 3:8 NKJV).

        Why did God choose such a violent sinner for one of His leading apostles? Paul explained that God wanted to show by his example that there was no person so vile or sinful that He could not redeem them (1 Timothy 1:16). You might also ask why God chose Peter as a leading apostle after Peter cursed and swore that he didn't even know Jesus (Matthew 26:69-74). Again, the Lord wanted someone presenting His Gospel who knew that he was unworthy, who was convinced that he, and others, could only be saved by God's grace. 

        However, sometimes after you have been serving the Lord for a few years, have cleaned up your life, and have overcome several bad habits, you can forget what a bad state of mind you were in. You can begin to think you are quite righteous and can even start to believe that you are good enough to make it on your own. But think for a moment about the life Jesus saved you from, and remind yourself that it was by grace you were saved, not by your own goodness (Ephesians 2:8-9).   

        Think about this:  Jesus made it clear to His disciples: they should pray always. So should we. Heartfelt prayer produces powerful changes in us and in our world. When we lift our hearts to our Father in heaven, we open ourselves to a never-ending source of divine wisdom.

        Do you have questions about your future that you simply can't answer? Ask for guidance of your heavenly Father. Do you sincerely seek to know God's purpose for your life? Then ask Jesus for direction-and keep asking Him every day that you live. Whatever your need is, no matter how great or small, pray about it and never lose hope. Jesus is not just near; Jesus is here, and the Lord God is ready to talk with you right now.      

        Petition: By God's grace I want to live to the end in faith, knowing that I will not receive the promise on earth, but seeing them and welcoming then from a distance, I confess that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. Instead, I long for a better country, a heavenly one. In this way, God will not be ashamed to be called my God, for He has prepared a city for me. Like Moses, may I esteem reproach for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of this world, because I am looking to the reward (Hebrews 11:13,16,20 NASB)

 Ask the Holy 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                                                                 

You Know The Story, The Way Of The LORD Perfect, Precise, And Practical

                                                     When The Door Slams

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.                                                                  Jeremiah 29:11:13 NIV

         There are no problems God cannot solve, no circumstance that escapes His attention. No future that can't be adapted to His plan. God is never surprised, never of education, and never in doubt. His way is perfect, precise, and practical. 

        In the difficult times of our lives, we struggle, misunderstand, and then blame God. Why? Because we don't know the end of the story. We think what we face is unfair and that God sometimes don't make sense, but that we can consider Him intentionally and untrustworthy. What He knows-but we don't see-is that there is an ending that proves His faithfulness. We just have not arrived at that part of the story yet.

        The LORD God, do not need to recheck His plan to see if it was correct. He don't need to ask someone if He should have tried a different plan. What God understands and plans for us can be trusted even when we struggle to make sense of it.

        We are familiar with the beginning of our story. We are living in the present. The future? That is the part God understands, and He promises there will be a future. Just hold on. Trust your heavenly Father promise that His plan for your life is perfect and for your good even when it don't make sense.

        Think about this: All of us must live through those days when we find ourselves distracted by the frustrations of life. Although we may; at times, struggle mightily to rise above the distractions of everyday living, we need never struggle alone. The LORD God is here, eternal and faithful with infinite patience and love, and if we reach out to Him, The LORD will restore our sense of perspective and give peace to our souls.

        Affirmation: Whoever is wise and understanding will show it by his good conduct and works done in the humility that comes from wisdom. If I harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in my heart, I should not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice (James 3:13-16).

 Ask the Holy 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