When Bad Ideas Gain A Foothold In our Life

                                                     When The Door Slams

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God's word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is any worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.                                   Philippians 4:8-9 AMP         

        

        There is a children's song that says, "Be careful, little eyes, what you see." The song continues by urging us to be careful with what our ears hear, where our feet go, what out hands do, and what our mouth says. 

        If we think about things that are off-limits for too long, we will see, hear, do, and say the wrong thing. When bad ideas gain a foothold in our life, we will go to the wrong places as well. It seems that this song for children is just as befitting to everyone.

        We almost always become trapped when we give bad ideas too much time in our mental understanding. Bits and pieces of wrong thinking leaves us confused and unfocused. In these vulnerable moments, our greatest adversary, the devil, makes sure we have everything we need to tempt us to try the life that God has always warned us against. 

        God knows that the battles we most often lose start in the mind. Getting our thinking straight can help keep our decisions honorable. Deciding beforehand how you will respond to sin-influenced ideas will go a long way in helping you make the best decision when it's easier to move in the wrong direction.

        Think about this: As you search for solutions to the inevitable challenges of everyday life, be sure to talk often with your heavenly Father. And after you have finished talking, listen carefully, as God speaks to us in different ways at different times. 

        Sometimes He speaks loudly and clearly. But more often, He speaks in a quiet voice that  is best heard in silence. So you must carve out quiet moments each day to study His Word and to sense His direction. If you sincerely desire to hear His voice, you must listen carefully, and you must do so in the silent corners of your quiet place in your heart. When God Speaks, oftentimes His voice will call for an act of courage on your part.

         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 acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). 

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 

                          

We Have Mastered At Riding On The Edge Of Sin

                                                         When The Door Slams

The mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God's law, since it cannot, and those who are in the flesh [living a lift that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God. However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God. [see Rom 8:14-16]                  Romans 8:7-9           

        

        When we fail-and we will-we will likely embrace the idea of trying harder. We remind ourselves that we know right from wrong, so all we need to do is control ourselves and double our efforts. After all, God gave us His laws, so shouldn't it be easier to obey them?     

        Who are we trying to fool? We tag an extra five to ten miles per hour onto the speed limit and somehow feel law enforcement should allow a little discretion. We are masters at riding the edge of sin and hoping we don't fall off the edge. 

        All the self-discipline, extra effort, and good intentions have never been successful in keeping us away from sin, because it is never been enough. 

        God sent a Helper called the Holy Spirit to be both a spiritual Companion and a living Guide. We tend to ignore His influence and grow deaf to His advice. God wants to help us avoid sin, but we need to be willing to accept the help. We must ask God to open our heart to the Spirit's leading, and ask the Holy Spirit what He would show you today.

        Think about this: First things first." these words are easy to speak but hard to put into practice. If you are having trouble prioritizing your day, perhaps you are been trying to organize your life according to your own plans, not God's. A better strategy, of course, is to take your daily obligations and place them in the hands of the One who created you. 

        To do so, you must prioritize your day according to God's commandments, and you must seek His will and His wisdom in all matters. Then, you can face the day with assurance that the same God who created our universe out of nothingness will help you place first things first in your life. 

        Do you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or confused? If so turn the concerns of this day over to God-prayerfully, earnestly, and often. Then listen for His answer, and trust the answer He gives. Put first things first and we get second things thrown in, but if we put second things first we lose both first and second things.

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.  

                                                       Never Rest Ministries

       

The Price Of Grace Was High

                                                       When The Door Slams

What Shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God's gift of] grace may increase and overflow? Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer? Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.                                                                                                                    Romans 6:1-3 AMPB

        God has freely offered grace to humanity to forgive sin and bring those who believe in Him into His family. To demonstrate grace and forgiveness, Jesus paid a once-and-forever price-His life. He became the sacrifice for all who would accept it. Grace costs you nothing. Grace cost God the life of His Son. 

        While Jesus rose from the dead, the cost of forgiving grace was the most important payment in the history of mankind. A man of integrity understands grace has a price. It is not just a concept the mind agrees with. It changes decisions, actions, and motives. 

        A man of integrity brings God's command to love others into decisions, choosing to do the right thing rather than apologize after the fact. He knows he will mess up and grace will be freely available, but he decides that sinning to get grace is something like abusing God's gift.

        The price of grace was high, so receiving the gift should have a life-altering impact. A man of integrity remembers what Jesus said of the sinful woman who anointed Him: that one who has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47). And this love and integrity sides with discipleship, discipline, and obedience. 

        These are all hard things, but God's children are asked to trust Him and obey His commands. The man or woman of integrity views this as an important, but not burdensome, directive, because he understands the infinite grace that has been given him. 

        Think about this: A well-lived life is like a marathon, not a sprint-it calls for preparation, determination, and, of course, lots of grace. As an example of perfect grace, we Christians need look no further than Jesus Christ.

        Jesus finished what he began. Despite His suffering and despite the unspeakable pain He experienced on the cross, Jesus was steadfast in His faithfulness to God. We, too, must remain faithful when we experience the inevitable hardships of life. 

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 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                                     

How Can A Person Be Born Twice

                                                       When The Door Slams

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"   (John 3:3-4 NIV)        

        We are born male or female. We are born into a certain family. We are born with a certain ethnicity and skin color. And we are all born with a will to break God's law. Since the very beginning, mankind has struggled to trust that God's laws were worth following. We have wondered if perhaps God is withholding good things from us.

        God has things for us to do, and we ignore Him. God has things for us to stay away from, and that is what we find ourselves attracted to. God did not create us to defy His law-we do that on our own. 

        God forgives, offers mercy, extends grace, and love humanity because Jesus paid the price. God is holy, which means He's perfect, sinless, and set apart. Grace is not a free pass, forgiveness is not a green light to sin again, and mercy is a gift not an entitlement. 

        We all were born in sin. We are reborn to follow Jesus. The first birth is into the family of mankind. The second birth is into the family of God. One of those families has eternal benefits and life-changing impact. Have you been born again? And if you have, how have you been treating the grace, forgiveness, and the mercy that God has extended to you                   

         Think about this: God's laws are eternal and unchanging: obedience leads to abundance and joy; disobedience leads to disaster. God has given us a guidebook for righteous living called the Holy Bible. If we trust God's Word and live by it, we are blessed. But we choose to ignore God commandments, the results are as predictable as they are tragic. 

        Each day, we make countless decisions that can bring us closer to God, or not. Do you seek God's peace and His blessing? Then obey Him. When you are faced with a difficult choice or a powerful temptation, seek God's counsel and obey the counsel He give. Invite God into your heart and live according to His commandments. When you do, you will be blessed today and tomorrow and forever. Obedience is a foundational stepping-stone on the path of God's will.

Those who obey Christ's commandments abide in Him, and He in them. And this is how I know that He abides in me: by the Spirit whom He has given me (1 John 3:24).

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                    

        

Choose Wisely, Worry Less

                                                        When The Door Slams

If I walk into the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me. The LORD will fulfill His Purpose for me. LORD, Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands.                                                                                                                Psalm 138:7-8 HCSB 

        Do you ever feel panicked, the days of your life stretch out before you and not knowing how to use them in the best way to become more like Christ? Or do you see the work ahead and not know if you are up to the task?

        If you have ever felt anything like that, think about these truths. God is the Author of your faith; He is writing your story (Hebrews 12:2). 

        God is not a God of chaos. He is putting your life in order (1 Corinthians 14:33).

        God began a good work, and He will complete it in you (Philippians 1:6).

        God saves through His power, grace, and love. When we believe that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice needed to make forgiveness available to all who would ask, we start a new journey that ends with us being called new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

        You always have access to the LORD God who is reshaping your heart, reordering you direction, and giving purpose for your tomorrow. There is another benefit. God is faithful, and He won't give up on you. There will be moments when you are stubborn, rebellious, foolish and unwilling to listen. The LORD God won't throw up His hands in despair. The LORD will wait, encourage, and put detour signs in your path. You see, the LORD God knows your story and He can be trusted do to His part. While God does the work, life transformation will require your cooperation.

        Think about this: Life is a series of decisions and choices. Each day, we make countless decision that can bring us closer to the LORD God, or not. When we live according to God's commandments, we earn for ourselves the abundance and peace He intends for our lives. But if we become distracted and stray from His path, we create worries and make bad decisions for ourselves and our families.

        And when you are face with difficult decision or a powerful temptation, seek God's wisdom and trust it. When you do, you will receive untold blessings-not only for this day, but also for all eternity 

        I call heaven and earth as witness against you today that I have set before you life and  death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the LORD your God, obey Him , and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land the LORD swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 HCSB).

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                    

        

A Slow Creep Away From God

                                                       When The Door Slams

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter-Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.                                                                                                       1 Kings 11:1-2 NIV      

        After King Solomon's wealth and wisdom are presented in striking detail, the author of           1 Kings offers a sobering note that all is not well in the king's heart: he had married many foreign women who turned him away from the LORD. It's likely that Solomon didn't think a few foreign wives could be that much of a threat to his devotion to God. After all, he lived in the epicenter of worship for Yahweh. What harm could a few foreign alliances through marriage do to his heart? 

        Sure enough, his heart gradually drifted further from God, and he became more tolerant of foreign gods. As he added new wives and allegiances with neighboring kingdoms, Solomon lost sight of Yahweh as he filled his time joining his wives in their idol worship. Even the wisest king was no match for the slow creep of compromise in his devotion to the true God. 

        As you examine your heart today, ask yourself whether there are places or issues where you are compromising-even if it is just a little. Sin's most powerful trick is convincing us that it's not a big deal and that we can handle ourselves. This is a slow drift away from God, and we will spare ourselves and our families pain if we recognize it sooner than later.  

        Think about this: The LORD has a plan for our world and for our lives. God does not do things by accident; He has a perfect plan for His creation, a plan that includes each of us. But because we are mortal beings with limited understanding, we can never fully comprehend the will of God. No matter. As believers in a benevolent heavenly Father, we must always trust the will of God, even though we cannot fully understand it.

        As this day unfolds, seek God's will and obey His Word. When you entrust your life to Him completely, He will give you strength to meet any challenge, courage to face any trial, and the wisdom to live in His righteousness and in His peace .

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, But fear the Lord and depart from 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     

    

Intolerant And A Bigotry

                                                       When The Door Slams  

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."                                                                                  Isaiah 1:18 NIV        

        We live in a time when many people in our culture seem to have been offended not just a  pastime that they pursue with passion. This is the time to speak the truth about the Gospel of Christ and about godly life principles will get you labeled as "intolerant" and a "bigot." 

        People don't like being told that they need Jesus to save them and change them, and they dislike being confronted with their own sins. People really don't understand that there is only one way into the kingdom of God-through Jesus Christ.

        The prophet Isaiah ministered in the kingdom of Judah at a time when the people had fallen into some very grievous sin. They had become both pleasure seeker in their behavior and self-secure toward their God.

        In short, they were very much like us today-lost in sin and without hope...at least they had not been left on their own. One of the great themes of Isaiah's prophecies-and of the entire Bible-is God's willingness to forgive and restore those who recognize their sin and turn from that sin back toward Him.

        The words in today's verse are echoed hundreds of years later by the apostle John, who wrote: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us (1 John 1:8-10). 

        We all need God's forgiveness and restoration. He has provided a way for that to happen by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Our part in that equation is to acknowledge that we are sinners and that we need Christ our Lord and Savior.

       Think about this: Would you like a time-tested formula for spiritual growth? Here it is: Keep studying God's Word, keep obeying His commandments, Keep praying and (listening for answers), and keep trying to live in the center of God's will. When you do, you will never be stuck for long. Instead, you will be a growing Christian, and that is precisely the kind of Christian God wants you to be.

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