When The Door Slams

                                                      Think About This 

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress;                                       have mercy on me and hear my prayer.                 Psalm 4:1                                   

You are the living God, And there is no god besides You. You put to death and You bring to life, You have wounded and You will heal, And no one can deliver from Your hand.                                                      (Deuteronomy 32:39) 

I will recall to mind the former things, those of long ago; You are God, and there is no other; You are God, and there is none like You. (Isaiah 46:9)

                                                        Confession                                                                                    When I sin against the Lord, I may be sure that my sin will find me out. (Numbers 32:23) 

                                                        Renewal                                                                                      May I not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove that the will of God is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) 

May the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give me a spirit of wisdom of revelation in the full knowledge of Him, and may the eyes of my heart be enlightened, in order that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of His power toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

                                                        Petition                                                                                Whatever I do, may I do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) 

                                                        Intercession                                                                               We should offer petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving on behalf of all men, for kings and all those who are in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and reverence. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (Timothy 2:1-4)

                                                        Affirmation                                                                           There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1

                                                        Thanksgiving                                                                               I do not lose heart; even though my outward man is perishing, yet my inner man is being renewed day by day. For this light affliction which is momentary is working for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while I do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are unseen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

        Think about this: The Lord reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness, And He will govern the peoples with justice. The Lord will also be a refuge for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, For You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:7-10)

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 

      

     

 

Are You Set Apart By God

                                                     When The Door Slams 

Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;                                                             the LORD hears when I call to him.                               Psalm 4:3

        No one is more precious in the Lord's sight than a godly person. God is pleased whenever He finds someone who strives to live a righteous life and bring glory to Him. God sets such people apart in a special place in His heart. They are always kept before Him, and He stands ready to respond to their faintest cries for help.

        Sin separates us from God, causing Him to close His ears to our praying. It is futile for us to pray when we are knowingly practicing sin. But the opposite is also true. God Chooses to honor us by listening to our every cry when we are living a godly life. An abiding security comes with living a blameless life. The righteous person never has to wonder whether God has listened to his prayer (1 John 5:14-15). The godly person has confidence that God has indeed heard her prayer and will immediately respond in all of His power.

        Think about this: It is exhilarating to be set apart by God, knowing that God observes your consecrated life and is pleased with what He sees. What a tremendous privilege to know that your life holds a special place in God's heart! The world may not accord any special status to you, but you will know that you are cherished by God. The world continues to find new ways to honor people, but even the world's most extravagant accolades are pitiful compared to the unfathomable blessing of holding a special place in the heart of God!  

Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all bay long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." Yet in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me (Romans 8: 35-37). 

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               

    

        

Who Is At Your Right Hand

                                                     When The Door Slams

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.                           Psalm 16:7-8 

        What does it mean to set the Lord always before you? It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. 

        If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do. In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one's chief adviser and supporter. When you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life as Counselor and Defender. 

        Every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength. When people insult you and mistreat you, you should seek direction from your Counselor regarding the right response. When you face a crisis, you should receive strength from the One at your right hand.

        When you experience a need, you should consult your Counselor before you react. When you face a fearful situation, you should take courage from the Advocate at your right hand. Everything you do is in the context of your relationship to Christ.

        Think about this: What an incredible act of God's grace that Christ should stand beside you to guide you and counsel you and defend you! How could you ever become dismayed over your situation with Christ at your right hand? What confidence this should give you! 

O Lord, I pray, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name (Nehemiah 1:11).                                                                            The Lord Jesus prayed these words for the unity of all who would believe in Him: "I ask that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You, that they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be perfected in one, that the world may know that You have sent Me and Have loved them, even as you have loved Me" (John 17:21-23). 

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

                                                                           Never Rest Ministries                     

                        

Bitterness Occurs For Many Reasons

                                                        When The Door Slams

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.                                            Hebrews 12:16

        Bitterness has a tenacious way of taking root deep within the soul and resisting all efforts to weed it out. Bitterness occurs for many reasons. It might come from deep hurts you received as a child, hurts you cannot forget or let go. Time, rather than diminishing the hurt, only seems to sharpen the pain. Bitterness can result from the hurtful words of a friend or coworker. Often the person who hurt you is unaware of the extent of your bitterness. You find yourself rehearsing the offense over and over again, each time driving the root of bitterness deeper within your soul. Bitterness can derive from a sense of being unjustly treated. 

       Bitterness is easy to justify. You can get so used to a bitter heart that you are even comfortable with it, but it will destroy you. Only God is fully aware of its destructive potential. There is nothing so deeply imbedded in your heart that God's grace cannot reach down and remove it.

        No area in your life is so painful that God's grace cannot bring total healing. No offense committed against you is so heinous that God's love cannot enable you to forgive.

        Think about this: When you allow bitterness to grow in your life, you reject the grace of God that can free you. If you are honest before God, you will admit the bitterness and allow God to forgive you. Bitterness enslaves you, but God is prepared to remove your bitterness and replace it with His peace and joy. 

May I let the fear of the LORD be upon me, and be careful in what I do, for with The LORD my GOD there is no injustice or partiality or bribery (2 Chronicles 19:7). May I meditate on Your precepts And consider Your ways. May I delight in Your statutes, And not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes that I may see Wonderful things from Your law (Psalm 119:15-18).  

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 Will The LORD Reveal About You

                                                       When The Door Slams

What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorn will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it. The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.                                            Isaiah 5:4-7

        The prophet Isaiah told the story of a man with a vineyard on a fertile hill. The man cultivated the ground and removed the stones so that nothing would hinder the vines' growth. He planted only the best quality vines. He built a tower in the middle of the vineyard so he could watch for wild animals and intruders. He constructed a wine vat so that he would be ready for the ripe grapes. Then he waited. Rather than producing good grapes, however, the vineyard produced worthless one. 

        This story illustrates the relationship between God and His people. God has done everything necessary for us to produce an abundance of spiritual fruit in our lives. He saved us when we were without hope. He gave us His Holy Spirit to produce fruit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23). God removed our sin so that we are free serve Him. 

        We have the Bible in numerous translations. We have access to more Christian books, music, videos, conferences, school, radio and television stations, magazines, and seminars than ever before. There are churches of every kind and size. We have teachers and pastors to instruct us and encourage us. Most of all, we have direct access to God through prayer. Jesus said that to whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 1248). 

Think about this: One day God will hold us accountable for all that He has done for us. God will ask us to show Him the fruit of all of His bountiful provision for our lives. What will He find?         

May I not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the LORD with all my heart. May I not turn aside to go after worthless things which do not profit or deliver, because they are useless (1Samuel 12:20-21). 

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                                   

Take It From Scripture -- Your Heavenly Father

                                                        When The Door Slams

When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"          Galatians 4:4-6

        The word father conjures up different images for everyone. To some it brings the picture of love, laughter, respect, and acceptance. Unfortunately others associate the term father with fear, rejection, and disappointment. That is why it is so important not to take your understanding of your heavenly Father from your experience. Take it from Scripture. 

        You undoubtedly had an imperfect earthy father, perhaps even one who brought you harm. But, as in all of your Christian life, the key is not to understand the Bible based on your experience, but to understand your experience in the light of the Bible. God is your model of a Father in the truest sense of the word. 

        Your heavenly Father was willing to pay any price in order to save you (Rom. 8:32). Your heavenly Father is always ready to meet your needs (Luke 11:11-13). Your heavenly Father loves you so much that He is willing to discipline you to bring you to Christian maturity (Prov. 3:11-12; Heb. 12:5-10). Even when you rebel against Him and reject His Love, your heavenly Father continues to do what is best for you (Rom. 5:8). He does not make His love for you conditional upon your love for Him. He loves you even when you are not loving Him (1 John 4:19). He has made you His heirs and reserves a home for you in heaven (Rom. 8:15-17). 

        Think about this: This is what a father is like biblically. If this has not been your experience, it can be be now. There is One who has adopted you and who wants to love you in a way you have never experienced. Take comfort and strength from Him--your heavenly Father. 

Jesus is Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22). Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world (John 11:27). Jesus is Your Son, whom You have chosen (Luke 9:35). The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand (John 3:35). 

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                                  

Faith Or Lip Service To Your Trust in God

                                                        When The Door Slams 

This is what the LORD Says:                                                                                                                                      "The man who trusts in mankind, who makes human flesh his                                                                        strength and turns his heart from the LORD is cursed."                                                                                                                                                                                         Jeremiah 17:5 

        The Israelites of Jeremiah's day believed they could trust in their army, the diplomacy of their king, and their foreign alliances to protect them from the powerful Babylonian empire. They gave lip service to their trust in God, but their actions showed where their faith really was: in their military and financial might. God spoke through Jeremiah to warn them that He would not bless those who trusted in anyone or  anything instead of Him. 

        Placing your ultimate trust in anything other than God is idolatry. How can you know if your faith is not truly trusting in God? Ask yourself these questions: Where do I turn when I experience a crisis? When I am hurting or afraid, what do I do? When I have a financial problem, who do I want to tell first? Where do I seek comfort when I am stressed or discouraged? 

        The Israelites were so stubbornly committed to trusting in man or human strength instead of God that, even as the Babylonian army approached Jerusalem, they continued to desperately seek for a person, or a nation, or an army that could rescue them. They realized too late that they had neglected to trust in the only One who could deliver them. 

        Think about this: Could it be that you are saying you trust in God, but your action indicate otherwise? God often uses other people as His method of providing for you. Be carful lest you inadvertently misdirect your faith toward His provision instead of toward the Provider. God may meet your need through your friends, but ultimately your faith and trust must be in God. 

        Don't make the same mistake as the Israelites. Go straight to the Lord when you have a need. He is the only One who can provide for you. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil (Proverbs 3:5-7).   

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