"Self" Will Not Fade Away If We Deny It

                                                     When The Door Slams

But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].   Galatians 5:16 AMP  

        Discipline, intentional action, and accountability are all good things that can help us overcome our sinful desires and shortcomings. We won't live as faithful disciples by accident. However, Paul shares the heart of the Gospel with us-the driving force in our lives that both unites us with God and empowers us to live in holiness. 

        The only way we will definitively and consistently overcome sin is to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit as our guide. we will begin to recognize the power of our own desires and, most importantly, our powerlessness in overcoming them.

        The "self" will not fade away if we deny it. Our cravings are too powerful. Our senses of self-preservation and enjoyment are too appealing. We can only educate ourselves so much in the consequences of sin. At a certain point, we need a more powerful guide to show us the right way forward and to redirect our desires with the presence and power of God. 

        The only way to overcome sin is to stop fighting it. We won't be shaped into God's people by what we deny, but rather by whom we yield to and who guides us. By yielding our wills to God, we will find new cravings for the presence of God and we will discover along the way that all days are not created equal. Some days are bright and cheery while others days are dark and difficult. 

        Think about this: Even some of the most faithful Christians are, at times, surround by occasional bouts of discouragement and doubt. But even when we feel far removed from God, God is never far removed from us. The LORD is always with us, always willing to calm the storms of life. The LORD is always willing to replace our doubts with comfort and assurance.

 Renewal: Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6).                                                                                                                                                                                              Petition: May I watch carefully how I walk, not as the unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. May I not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17).                          

 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 

As God Renews Our Minds

                                                       When The Door Slams

"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."                                                              Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV 

        Perhaps we all know quite well that God has made us righteous and freed us from sin's power, but perhaps it's harder to consider what's next. Are we freed from sin only for our own benefit? Today's passage from Isaiah says that we have been freed in order to liberate others from bondage, both spiritual and physical. If this calling strikes you as intimidating, or if you simply don't know where to start, there is good news for you. 

        God holds you and shapes you. The life of God is taking hold in your life and reshaping your heart, desires, and thoughts. As God brings liberation into your life, you will start to share it with others. You will even begin to recognize the opportunities to share that light with those who are blind or to bring freedom to those who are trapped. 

        As God renews our minds, He also take us by the hand, guiding us forward in His calling. Perhaps the thing holding most of us back is doubt that God is reaching out to us. Are you open to God's renewal and guidance? Are you too distracted? Do you need to set aside time to allow God's renewal to take hold in your life? 

        Think about this: The Bible promises this: Tough times are temporary but God's love is always. God's love lasts forever. So what does that means to me? Just this: from time to time, everybody faces tough times, and so will you. And when tough times arrive, God will always stand ready to protect you and heal you. 

        Psalm 147:3 says, "God heals the brokenhearted" but it do not say that God heals them instantly. So if you are facing tough times, face them with God by your side. If you find yourself in any kind of trouble, pray about it and ask God for help. And be patient. God will work things out, just as He has promised, but God will do it in His own way and in His own time.

        Confession: No temptation has overtaken me except what is common to man. And God is faithful, who will not let me be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation will also provide a way out, so that I may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).   

                                                Temptation is not sin.

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 We Fail, Trouble is Surely Coming

                                                     When The Door Slams

The LORD your God is with you, The Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."                                                                           Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

        When we fail, and we surely will fail, we may go through a season of the Lord's discipline or rebuke. Perhaps we dread such seasons. Perhaps we even fear being cut off or losing the Lord's favor forever. Could we ever sin so grievously or repeatedly that God would ever turn us away?

        It is understandable as these fears may be, a season of discipline is always intended to lead us to restoration with God. In fact, if God just let us go our own way or spared us the consequences of our disobedience, we could argue that God is not all that concerned about us. What parent would not reach out in discipline to a beloved child with any goal for restoration? God's rebuke is the ultimate sing that He is truly for us, and He is primarily concerned with our comfort. 

        And even if we pass through a season of discipline or distance from God, it is never intended to last forever, God want's to rejoice over us with singing and joy. We are His beloved people, the source of His joy and the focus of His song. However, anything that we trust more than God will not last, especially in a time of trouble that shakes our foundations.

        Think about this: If there exists even one person--alive or dead--against whom you hold bitter feelings, it's time to forgive. Or, if you are embittered against yourself for some past mistake or shortcoming, it's finally time to forgive yourself and move on. Hateful, bitterness, and regret are not part of God's plan for your life. Forgiveness is.        

        Placing our trust completely in God does not guarantee smooth sailing. In fact, the need for God to act as a fortress suggests  that we should expect conflict. Trouble is surely coming, and the question is whether we are truly waiting to pass through a season of failure and discipline only to discover that God will remains with us and never let us go.               

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