Inner Conflict Rages

                                             When The Door Slams

Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the LORD  is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.     Proverbs 3:31-33 NKJV 

            Each time something replaces the love for Christ within us, inner conflict is the result. We can't have habitual, willful sin and also experience serenity. Sin is much like a splinter in our unconscious mind. unless sin is removed through confession and repentance, it will fester just as a splinter festers. It will lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. It is not as easy to stand tall and tell ourselves we are okay when we know we have violated God's standard. 

            Inner conflict rages. Still, we ignore it and the sin continues to fester. There is a loss of creativity and perhaps even lowered efficiency. If we continue to ignore sin, we will experience a sense of failure. After all, we have been unfaithful to ourselves and to Jesus. Even ill health can be a result if we refuse to acknowledge the presence of sin in our lives. 

            Becoming a Christian is not merely fire insurance. It is a relationship with a loving God that affects every area of our lives. It transforms our values, our lifestyles, our will, and even our sexuality. It involves obedience; unconditional love compels us to obey. Wholeness, serenity, and health are the result.

            Think about this: Habitual, willful sin is unfaithful to ourselves and to Jesus. Obedience and confession set me free The fourth step of the Twelve Step program is to make a search and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Have you done that yet?    

            Renewal: Since I call on the Father who judges each man's work impartially, may I conduct myself in fear during the time of my sojourn on earth (1 Peter 1:17). May I keep the commandments of the Lord my God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. May I follow the Lord my God and fear Him; may I keep Your commandments, hear Your voice, serve You, and hold fast to You (Deuteronomy 8:6; 13:4).

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.              

Unfair To The Natural Mind

                                            When The Door Slams

Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice. Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world? If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.                      Job 34:12-15 NKJV

            One of the most unfair parables Jesus told--unfair to the natural mind--concerned a landowner who hired men throughout the day to work in his vineyard. They all stopped work at the same time and were paid the same wage. 

            The last men hired were paid the same as the first men hired--and the first men hired grumbled about the unfairness of everyone being paid the same amount even though not everyone worked the same amount (Matthew 20:1-16). The landowner replied, "What's unfair about me doing with my money what I will?"

            Jesus' parable was directed toward the religious leaders, who thought it unfair that latecomers to the kingdom of heaven should receive the full measure of grace and kingdom standing as those who had devoted their life to God. Jesus' point is that God's actions are a blend of justice, grace, and mercy, all balanced by His perfect purposes. God is never unfair, but He is always just, gracious, and merciful. Faith comes when we trust Him to blend those elements perfectly in every situation.

           Think about this: God is the landowner, and we are the workers. It is His right to do as He will with what is His. The same grace that brings us salvation gives strength to live biblically in this age. We need grace-based living, but that can only happen as we focus our thoughts on God's Word and live it out.

            Affirmation: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).  

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  

          

Never-Ending Praise

                                             When The Door Slams

Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is Good! For His mercy endures. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His Praise? Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!           (Psalm 106:1-3 NKJV)

            When the Bible directs us to give thanks to the Lord, it reminds us of the importance of extolling His goodness to us. As sinners saved by grace, we have much to praise Him for! The benefits of living a praise-filled life are too numerous to mention, but know this: changing your focus from "me to Thee" will radically change your perspective in life.

            Psalm 106:2 says, "Who can declare all His praise?" Think about it-who, indeed, can declare all His praise? Our praises should be never-ending! Don't limit your worship of the Lord to an hour on Sunday. Keep a song in your heart throughout your day. Begin first thing each morning. 

            This remind me of a story of a Minister resolved to bless the Lord at all times. Starting with his morning devotions, he rose each morning as he was convicted by his work ethic and determined to be as diligent with his spiritual growth and survival. He depend on knowing the greatness of the Lord's power, is the greatness of His love for us each and everyday.

            When we start our day praising the Lord, it keeps a song in our hearts throughout our waking hours. As we offer our praise and worship to the Lord, He dries our tears and banishes our fears. Remember that the Lord is good--be thankful to Him and bless His Holy name (Psalm 100). 

             Think about this: God honors those who honor Him and put their trust in Him. Honoring ourselves is a thankless task, and hoping to be honored by others is prideful. When we acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and seek to worship and glorify Him in all we say and do, He has a way of blessing us, using us, providing for us, and establishing our reputation before others. 

            Confession: Lord Jesus, I have nowhere else to go; You have the words of eternal life. I believe and know that You are the Holy One of God (John 6:68-69).  

 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