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