==================================================================================
08/02/05
THE ANSWER IS ON ITS WAY
Scripture: Daniel 10:13 "The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me
twenty-one days..."
Daniel had mourned, fasted, and prayed for twenty-one days but received no
answers or solutions from God. At the end of this agonizing period, Daniel
had a supernatural vision in which a messenger from God appeared to him and
told Daniel that he had come because of the words that he had prayed. The
messenger also told Daniel that from the first day that he had set his heart
to understand and to chasten himself before God that his words had been
heard, but that the answer to his prayer had been delayed those twenty-one
days by an evil presence. Daniel was not the only one that was suffering in
this situation, for the messenger himself had to call for one of the warring
angels, Michael, to come help him.
God has pledged to answer our prayers when our petitions are made in
accordance to His will and presented to Him in faith in the Name of
Jesus. God does not lie and His words do not fail. What He has spoken will
come to pass. Yet we see from Daniel's situation that the answer to our
prayers can be delayed in the heavenlies by evil forces. It is difficult to
endure a season when we do not receive answers to our prayers, for when we
don't hear anything from Heaven, we begin to wonder if God even heard our
prayer in the first place. This delay is a prime time for the devil to
plant doubt in our heart and tempt us to give up. Yet, in His heart, God
has heard us and He has already responded to our cry and answered our
prayer. The matter is completely taken care of as far as God is concerned.
If you have sought God concerning situations but have received no solutions
and have prayed prayers that have seemingly not been answered, I encourage
you to keep holding on to your faith until you hear from God. Never give
up, for even though it can happen, answers are not always immediate. It may
also be that you do not recognize the answer because it is not exactly
what you asked for or expected. In any event, you can be sure that God will
always arrive on time and will never be late. You can also be confident
that however He chooses to answer, He will have your best interest in mind,
for He is for you and not against you. He will always give you the best
when you allow Him to do the choosing and at the end of the matter you will
be thankful. God loves you so trust in Him and know that even though the
answer to your prayer seems to be delayed, it is already on its way. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/03/05
YOU SHALL BE
Scripture: Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which works in you, both to will
and to do, of His good pleasure."
From the very beginning, God had a plan and a purpose for your individual life.
The moment He breathed life into you, He began to sovereignly work to bring that
desired plan to fruition. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God's plan is designed
for good and not evil. God even sacrificed His most precious possession to give
you life, a future, and a hope. His ultimate goal is to make you an expression
of your Creator. As He works in you to bring about that future and hope, He
works patiently as a potter does with clay and from time to time remakes you
over again and again. He works tirelessly, forgiving and cleansing you from
your sins and faults. Look at the example of Peter. When Jesus first met
Peter, He saw his potential and knew that God wanted to work His will and
pleasure in Peter's life. In John 1:42 Jesus said, "You are Simon, ... you
shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone."
Yet, before Peter reached the state that God intended for him, he faced many
failures. Even after receiving a revelation from the Father in Heaven that
Jesus was the Son of God, Peter was rebuked by Jesus Himself. Jesus told him,
"Get thee behind me, Satan: you are an offense to me" (Matthew 16:23). Can you
imagine Jesus saying those words to you? Later, Peter denied Jesus three times,
cursing and swearing that he did not even know Him. Peter was also very
impulsive, as in the situation when he cut off the ear of the servant of the
High Priest. Yet despite all of Peter's faults, God had a future and a hope for
him and planned for him to stand one day before thousands of people and preach
the message of Jesus Christ. Through this one sermon alone in Acts 2:14-47,
thousands repented and were added to the church.
God is working in you right now to make you an expression of Himself just as He
worked in Peter's life. Seasons of discouragement may come, but whatever the
enemy causes in your life for evil, God means it for good. "All things work
together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose"
(Romans 8:28). Remember Jesus' words to Peter, "You shall be." Your future is
inside of you right now! Surrender to God and allow Him to complete His will
and His pleasure in you. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/04/05
FROM VESSEL TO VESSEL
Scripture: Jeremiah 48:11 "He has settled on his lees, and has not been
emptied from vessel to vessel ... therefore his taste remains in him, and
his scent is not changed."
This scripture speaks of the country of Moab, which had settled down in its
prosperity, and because it was not in captivity or facing adversity, it felt
no need to trust in God. This season of ease and lack of challenges that
Moab was experiencing had caused the hearts of the people to become stale in
their faith. Jeremiah compared its state to the process of wine making,
declaring that Moab had "settled on its lees." When wine is being made, it
must be poured from one vessel to another. This process separates the
liquid from the dregs and forces the dregs to settle in the bottom of the
vessel, which improves the quality of the wine and produces a fresh scent.
Wine that is not poured from vessel to vessel acquires the essence of the
dregs that have settled at the bottom. It would be similar to drinking
coffee with stale grinds in the bottom of the cup.
Through the challenges of life, God works this same process within our
spirits. Sometimes we don't understand why good people have to go through
bad times. Yet, it's the hard times that teach us how to trust God, and
it's the hard times that keep us from becoming like Moab, "settled on our
lees," or at ease and undisturbed. It's in the places of no options that
our faith is challenged and our hearts learn to believe in God. Only when
we are poured out and emptied can God fill us with His presence so that He
can use us. Through each test and trial, we go through a releasing of our
own desires and self. The more difficult the test, the more we release. In
reality, we would rather travel the road of least resistance. It is a lot
easier to settle on our lees and stay in the blessings or to sit on the pew
and receive rather than be poured out on the altar. Often we rebel against
being torn away from our desires, but God works with us anyway. He pours us
from vessel to vessel, disallowing us to settle in our own dregs, and
refusing to allow us to become stale. He molds us until we are conformed
into His image and then He fills us with His Spirit and causes us to take on
His essence.
Jesus experienced this same process as He made Himself of no reputation. He
emptied Himself of all that He was and allowed God to pour Him out for
mankind. He "took the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of
man: ... He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto the death of the
cross" (Philippians 2:7-8 & 5). He poured Himself out for us and challenges
us to do the same for Him. He says "let this mind be in you, which was in
Christ Jesus." As we yield to the Lord, He does the pouring and takes us
from glory to glory with each new experience. As we leave the dregs behind,
our lives begin to yield a freshness and a scent that is pleasing to our
Maker and not offensive to the world about us. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/05/05
ENABLED FOR BATTLE
Scripture: II Samuel 22:35 "He teaches my hands to war."
These words were in the midst of a song that King David was composing as he
praised God for delivering him from all of his enemies. David not only
praised God for his deliverance, but he also acknowledged that God had
trained him for battle. We may prefer the battles in which God instructs us
to "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" or "Hold your peace and
let the Lord fight your battle." God's deliverance is sweet when He takes
care of our enemies and we are not required to face the challenge. However,
when God supplied us with His armor for battle, He not only gave us
defensive weapons for protection, such as a belt of truth, a breastplate of
righteousness, a shield of faith, and a helmet of salvation, but He also
provided us with a weapon for offensive battle. This mighty weapon is the
Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With each challenge,
God gives us a fresh word and a new revelation by His Spirit. This word is
a two-edged sword, which equips us for battle and sustains us in every
adversity.
When David fought Goliath the giant, David had to lay aside Saul's heavy
armor and take the few things that he knew how to use, which were his sling
and a few stones. Saul's armor was a burden to David and would have cost
him the battle. So many times our battles are lost because we are trying to
use a word that someone else received from the Lord. We must understand
that God moves differently in all situations and we must sharpen our own
sword with a personal word from the Lord. Look at some of the battles in
the scriptures. God told Gideon and his army to hold their lamps, break the
pitchers, blow the trumpets, and shout, "The sword of the Lord and of
Gideon" (Judges 7:20). God told Jehosaphat to appoint singers to go before
the army and praise the beauty of holiness. As they did, God ambushed the
enemy and caused them to fight against themselves (II Chronicles 20:22).
God told Joshua to march around the city of Jericho for seven days and then,
on the seventh day, to march around the city seven times and shout. It is
recorded that when they shouted, the walls came down (Joshua 6:20). When
Moses and Israel were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptians, God
told him to raise his staff and divide the sea (Exodus 14:16).
These men's actions were sheer obedience to God's word. What do you imagine
would have happened if Gideon had acted on Joshua's word or if Joshua had
acted on Gideon's word from God? Most probably the battle would have been
lost and the walls would still be standing. Just like these men, God
enables you for battle. He teaches your hands to war not with a method, but
with His word. You don't need a formula; you need to hear what God is
saying and obey those instructions. When you listen, you will hear God
speak to you personally in a still small voice and His Word will be your
Sword of the Spirit. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of August 2005
08/08/05
MADE INTO ANOTHER VESSEL
Scripture: Jeremiah 18: 4 "... He made it again into
another vessel ..."
God led Jeremiah to the potter's house to encourage him and to show him a very
important life lesson; that things do not always work out as planned
and that sometimes you just have to start over. He allowed Jeremiah to
witness the great patience of the potter and his attentiveness to every detail
of the vessel that he was working with. Jeremiah saw the potter
diligently work with the clay in an effort to create a particular vessel,
only to destroy it. This did not mean that the clay itself was
useless but that it needed special attention by its maker. The
potter didn't try to patch the vessel up or paint over the cracks and flaws
but took time to work with it and made it into another vessel that was
without imperfections.
Like the vessel on the wheel of the potter, God puts us on the wheel of life.
From the very beginning of our lives, He has a plan to mold us into the
vessel that can be used for His particular purpose. Yet many times,
we do not stay in the center of His wheel, but instead we venture to the left
or to the right. We make great promises to the Lord but fail to
keep them. We develop unhealthy relationships and dwell on past
memories and allow them to hold us in bondage. We leave unspiritual
doors open in our lives and visit addictions. Eventually temptations
become so strong that we go through those doors. This variance
keeps us from becoming the vessel that God has designed us to be.
His intentions are thwarted, yet He is not discouraged but continues to work
with us and eventually makes us into another vessel.
You may have situations in your life that cannot be altered or corrected.
The sins of your past may haunt you and you may think that there is no hope
for your destiny to be fulfilled because of your past experiences. You
must remember that God's love has no end and surpasses our understanding.
He has faith in us even though we feel that we are miserable failures.
He looks at us with hope in His heart and has a vision of a vessel that
is without imperfections. He speaks life and light into our spirits and
is determined to personally work out all of the defects in our lives.
As clay in His hands, we must trust the Potter. It is time to let go of
evil condemnation and take hold of the Lord's conviction. We
must make Jesus the Lord of our life, obey His laws, live in His
covenant, and allow Him to make us over again into another vessel. Only
as we find victory over the past will we be able to have hope for the
future. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/09/05
WINGS AS EAGLES
Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 "They shall mount up with wings as eagles."
Who would not like to take advantage of this promise, for the eagle is
majestic in flight? It is the king of all the birds and is set apart from
all others because of its beauty and dignity. Yet, who of us are willing to
make the sufficient sacrifice that will enable us to obtain this grand
experience of mounting up with wings as eagles? For, this promise is made
only to those who will take the time to wait upon God. Waiting can either
be the idea of lingering in God's presence, serving Him in obedience, or
being submissive to His perfect timing. Either way, "to
wait" demands putting aside all natural desires and instincts and seeking
first the kingdom of God and His perfect will.
The condition of the wings is very important to the eagle. For the eagle
to be able to mount up and soar through the heavens, it must take the time
to prepare its feathers. This is a daily process in which the eagle
isolates itself from every distraction and spends at least an hour each day
preening its feathers. As the eagle preens its feathers, it passes each one
through its beak and exhales air, which cleans and seals the individual
hairs of the feathers together. Through this same process, the outer
feathers are treated with a chemical that is secreted by the preening
gland. This preparation is done at the beginning of the day. Only through
the patience of this process can the eagle's feathers be strengthened enough
to endure the abuse from the winds and weather and its wings be made sturdy
enough to capture its prey.
The eagle doesn't bat its wings as the other birds do. It learns to master
the winds through submission. It doesn't lean on its own strength, but
gives itself totally to the force of the wind that is under it. And even
though the eagle has made every preparation for flight, it never moves in
presumption. It waits patiently for the wind, for it recognizes that the
wind is its power. As with the eagle, our strength also rests in the power
of the winds of the Spirit and our times must be left in God's hands. All
we can do is wait in His presence and prepare our wings for the day by
examining and spiritually cleansing our lives. As we do, God will seal His
strength into our very being and make us ready to endure the challenge of
the battles and abuses that are set before us. As we wait on Him, He will
make known His purposes and give clear directions. Because we have been
strengthened in His presence, we won't grow weary or faint batting our wings
in fury, but we will catch the winds of the Spirit and mount up with wings
as the eagles. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/10/05
HE HEALS THE BROKEN HEARTED
Scripture: Psalms 147:3 "He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their
wounds."
There is an old saying that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words
will never hurt me." I have to say that the writer of those words must have
had a different kind of heart than most of us possess. For words truly are
capable of bruising the tender soul with deeper wounds than the assault that
comes against the flesh with sticks and stones. Our flesh heals much easier
and quicker than our spirits, for once the flesh is healed, the injury
is usually forgotten and left in the past. We don't recall the thorns in
our flesh, the bruises on our body, or other physical injuries that we have
sustained. We treat them and nurture them back to health and go on with
life. They teach us to be careful, but once they are healed, we never cry
again because of their pain.
Yet the heart and soul of man is different. Within the heart it seems that
there is an everlasting fountain of grief and sadness for those who have
been wounded in their spirits. In one moment, one word or situation can
bring the past injuries into the present and re-create the pain of
the things that we thought we had buried within our spirits. The feeling is
just as fresh and the hurt is just as deep as it was in the past. It is
amazing how this can happen so suddenly. Without warning and unannounced,
these wounds are resurrected and take us by surprise. Our heart aches and
our tears flow and no one seems to understand our grief. King David
experienced this and spoke out concerning his own broken heart saying, "I
looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but
I found none" (Psalms 69:20).
Your physical body cannot function well with a heart that is not working
right. When your physical heart is not well, your whole body suffers. Your
breath is short, your strength fades, and other parts of your body fail.
The same is true with your spiritual heart, for when your spirit is injured,
your entire being suffers the loss. There is only one person who is able
to come to your rescue, heal your spirit, and mend your broken heart. That
person is the Lord, Himself. He is not only there for those whose bodies
are wracked with pain but has promised to be near to those whose hearts are
broken (Psalms 34:18). Look to Him, for He is the only who can see your
real pain and deal with the true issues. The Lord understands the
tenderness of your soul and knows how your heart aches. He takes pity and
will comfort you in your pain, for He loves you with an everlasting love.
Trust in Him, put your heart in His hands, and allow Him to heal and bind up
your wounds. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/11/05
FINDING LIFE
Scripture: Matthew 16:25 " ... whosoever will lose his life for My sake
shall find it."
Many people search for contentment day after day, but never find it. They
are always waiting for something grand to happen in their lives. Their
attention is drawn to the material, for they think that possessions, status,
and fame will be the thing that will satisfy their souls. They climb the
ladder every day, but never reach the top. They run the race, but never get
to the finish line. They travel the road, but never arrive at their
destination. They seek diligently, but never find the true treasures. They
have life, but they never live it to full.
Jesus shared with us a special way to experience the fullness of life. He
said those who would lose their life for His sake would find it. Jesus also
told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It is only as
we lay aside our own natural desires that we are able to focus on the
spiritual. When we begin to view things from the perspective of the cross,
we see that our life has a bigger purpose than just for ourselves. As God
shows us the true purpose for our life, the revelation motivates and
energizes us. Our priorities are no longer swayed by the distractions that
surround us. Our integrity is no longer challenged by the temptations that
seek to destroy us and enticing detours are no longer able to divert us.
Like Paul, we are able to press towards the mark of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). And like Jesus, we are able to endure
the cross and run the race with patience because of the prize that is set
before us (Hebrews 12:1).
If you really want to live, take Jesus at His words. Trust Him, lay your
life at the foot of the cross, and allow God to show you what He has planned
for you. He has good plans for you, which include a future and a hope
(Jeremiah 29:11). His ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts are
higher than your thoughts. The life God has planned for you is greater than
any plan that you could ever come up with. As you lose yourself in Him and
sacrifice the lower life, you will find the higher purpose and gain the
greater life. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/12/05
BEHAVE VALIANTLY
Scripture: I Chronicles 19:13 "Let us behave ourselves valiantly."
King David sent Joab to fight against Ammon and Syria. When Joab saw that the
battle was set against him, he very quickly divided his army between his brother
and himself, and reasoned with his brother to behave valiantly and to work
together with him against the enemy. Joab told his brother, "If the Syrians are
too strong for me, then you come help me. And if Ammon is too strong for you,
then I will help you." When these two forces joined together, they became
stronger and they were able to win the battle and cause their enemies to flee
before them.
Just as Joab and his brother fought valiantly for each other, you and I need to
be allies in the spirit and fight for one another, for none of us are able to
stand alone in our battle against the enemy. The devil makes himself strong and
"roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8). Our
job is to be continually vigilant, watching for his attacks. When we see that
the enemy has become too strong for our brothers in Christ, we need to come to
their rescue, pray for them, counsel with them, and either supply or find help
for them in their time of need. We should also be ready to receive their help
when they come to our aid, for we all have the same Father and the same enemy.
Paul told us in Galatians 6:1-2 to bear one another's burdens. We have a
responsibility to stand and fight for each other, not against each other. Even
when our brother is taken in a fault, we are to restore him in a spirit of
humility and meekness lest we be tempted in the same manner. When we restore
our brother, we fulfill the law of Christ, which is to love our brothers as
Christ loved the church. However, too often we shun and criticize our spiritual
brothers when they are under attack and like the lyrics of the song, "we shoot
our wounded."
In Matthew 18:19, Jesus said, "If two of you agree on earth as touching any
thing that you ask, it shall be done for you of my Father which is in Heaven."
He promised to be in our midst even if there were just two or three gathered in
His Name. What a powerful promise that is. Deuteronomy 32:30 says. "One will
chase a thousand, and two will put ten thousand to flight." This scripture
declares that our strength and power in the spirit doesn't just double when we
get into unity with other believers, but it actually grows to the tenth power.
Determine to take God at His word and act valiantly. When you see your
brother's need run to his side and help rescue him from the enemy. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of August 2005
08/15/05
GROWING FAITH
Scripture: II Thessalonians 1:3 "... Your faith grows exceedingly."
Paul speaks of faith that grows, and in this instance he speaks of faith that
was growing exceptionally well. We all want to be declared people of great
faith, but developing great faith takes work and nurturing. Our faith can grow
slow or exceedingly fast, but like the things of nature; it depends upon certain
elements for growth. Faith grows according to where you are planted. Psalms
92:13-14 declares, "Those planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish ...
they shall bring forth fruit." Attending the house of God causes you to grow in
faith, for when you gather with other believers, the word of God and the
testimonies of your brothers and sisters in Christ encourage you and cause you
to grow in 'like faith' (Hebrews 10:25).
Faith must also be nourished for it to grow. Faith's nourishment is the word of
God (Romans 10:17). God's word is like food to your spirit, and the more you
receive, the greater your faith becomes. Without the Word of God, your faith
will be stunted. I Peter 2:2 says, "Desire the sincere milk of the Word that
you may grow." You don't see one inch of physical growth as you feed your
children, but suddenly, one day, the results are there. In a few short years,
your tiny six pound baby is larger than you are. It was a continual process
that brought about amazing results. You may not see yourself growing as you
study and receive God's word, but the miracle is happening none the less, and
the results will surprise and amaze you one day.
Faith needs to be protected. Abraham didn't consider his own body, which was
about one hundred years old and did not stagger at the promise of God through
unbelief, but was strong in faith (Romans 4:19-20). He protected his faith and
didn't allow any circumstances to steal the promises of God from him. Likewise,
we have to guard our own faith. We can't give into our own thoughts or the
discouragement that may come from others. In Numbers 32:9, Moses sent twelve
spies into the land. Ten of those twelve spies came back with an evil report
that discouraged the hearts of the children of Israel and kept them from
entering the Promised Land.
Faith also depends on whether it is exercised. Exceptional growth had come
about in the church's faith as they endured persecutions and tribulations. They
had been steadfast through suffering, abounding in love one towards another (II
Thess. 1:3-4). Their faith and patience continually grew until it was healthy
and fruitful, and manifested the righteousness of God. There is no way to
strengthen faith except by going through places where you are forced to use it.
Each time you exercise faith to accomplish a victory, you become stronger.
Jesus talked about faith in another way. He compared our faith to a mustard
seed and said, "Though the mustard seed is the smallest seed of all the herbs,
when it is grown, it becomes a tree." The decision is ours. Think about this
awesome fact. We can either allow our faith to remain as a small undeveloped
seed, or we can allow God to grow it exceedingly. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/16/05
PAUSE AND THINK ON HIS WORD
Scripture: Psalms 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with
benefits; even the God of our salvation. Selah."
The word "Selah" at the end of this verse of scripture is used seventy-one
times in the Psalms. It means to "pause, and calmly think about that." In
other words, when we read God's word we should stop and think about what He
is saying to us as an individual, for these words are personal messages from
our personal God. Many times we forget that these are the very same words
that God breathed into the hearts of the men who recorded them and that the
truth of these words has lived for centuries. They have proven themselves
true. Each and every word of God is a powerful living organism that will
create life within us when we allow it to rule our hearts. We must not
allow God's words to become routine but must pause and take time to
reflect upon them and realize that His words are spirit and life.
In Mark chapter four, Jesus compared the Word of God to a tiny seed and
explained that the heart of man was like the soil. Seeds have life within
themselves, but Jesus said that the growth of the seed depended upon the
condition of the heart. He said, "Take heed how you hear." You must
read the scriptures with the intent to hear God's still small voice, or in
the words of the psalmist, "Selah" or pause and calmly think on God's Word.
Each time you read God's Word, meditate on it. Roll His words around in
your heart until revelation comes and the word begins to take root and
grow. The tiny seed of His Word will eventually become like a tree in your
life. As you hear His Word, faith will arise in your heart. Psalms 1:2-3
says that as you meditate on His word day and night, you will be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water. Your leaves will not wither, you will bring
forth fruit, and all that you do will prosper.
II Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and
is profitable ..." God inspired each and every scripture and intends
that you profit from them. When you listen to what God is saying
through the scriptures, you should expect to find the answers that you
need for your current situation and you should also come to understand
what His will is for your life. God is your salvation and He wants to
load you up daily with His blessings. He wants you to search His word
for your answers and then pause and calmly think about what He is saying
to you personally. Selah! +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/17/05
BEAUTIFUL FEET
Scripture: Romans 10:15 "How beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good
things!"
I spent hours one evening at a "Pretty Feet" party, and it was a
wonderful experience. I enjoyed my special friends and also met
some new acquaintances. We had a good time sharing stories and eating
delicious snacks while we soaked our feet in soothing warm water. We
then applied various lotions to our feet that were supplied free of charge
from the lady that was doing the demonstration. And of course, we were
enticed to purchase the products that we had sampled because we enjoyed
the feeling of "Pretty Feet" and saw the need to take better
care of them.
Taking care of our physical feet is important but the Apostle Paul spoke of
spiritual "Pretty Feet" declaring that the feet of
those who spread the gospel and bring good tidings were beautiful.
He also mentioned the feet when he listed the spiritual armor in Ephesians
6:15 and instructed us not to go into any kind of spiritual battle
without having the shoes of the gospel of peace on our feet. Notice
that he included both feet. He recognized the importance of walking in
total peace in every situation, for you cannot minister peace to others if you
do not have peace yourself. Have you ever tried to bring peace into
a situation when you, yourself, were in a panic and those you were
attempting to calm down told you that you were the one who was making them
nervous?
Jesus came to this earth to do great battle against the devil and to destroy
the works of evil, yet in this mighty battle, He ministered peace
everywhere He walked and was called the Prince of Peace. Even at
His birth the angels recognized His true mission and sang out the
declaration, "Peace on Earth and good will to men." Jesus brought
light and gave life by dispelling darkness and overcoming death. He
spoke peace and calmed the raging storms. Jesus exchanged the
spirit of peace for the torment that was in the mind of the man who was filled
with demons and He also imparted peace into the hearts of the other believers who
followed Him. Jesus walked in the shoes of this gospel of peace all the
way to the cross of Calvary and made these shoes available to us as we
believe. He said, "My peace I give you" (John 14:27). It
is not the same kind of peace that the world gives, but a peace that passes
all understanding and keeps you from being afraid in a troubled
world.
You can recognize beautiful feet, which are clad with peace, for they do
not walk hesitantly or with a spiritual limp. They walk with a
determined purpose to fulfill the will of God for their lives and are
continually pressing towards the mark of the high calling of God.
Beautiful feet are the ones that walk up to you and always have a
good report regardless of how dark the situation may seem. They do not
bring evil reports or bear tales of gossip and are never swift to run to
evil. Beautiful feet stand by you in adversity and do not kick you when
you are down. Beautiful feet are there to support you and stand by your
side when it is hard for you to stand alone. They are quick to run
to your aid with provisions when they see that you have a need.
Beautiful feet stand in agreement with you and don't shuffle around in
condemnation when you go to the Father in prayer. They dance to the
rhythm of the same song and are never found to be out of step. They
encourage you to walk with them down the paths of righteousness and don't
try to lead you astray. They never leave you, but walk beside you
through valleys and stick with you even in the shadows of death.
Beautiful feet are clad with peace and bring a word in due season to your soul
that is fitting for the moment. Beautiful feet are very desirable, but
require attention. Let us take time to sit in the presence of Jesus and
allow Him to wash our feet with His word until they become beautifully
shod with the gospel of peace. Then, as we possess His peace, let us set
about to share His glad tidings of good things. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/18/05
FRUITS OF REPENTANCE
Scripture: Luke 3:8 "Bring forth fruits worthy of
repentance."
John the Baptist preached repentance to the crowds of people who
followed him and who wanted to be baptized without changing their ways.
John did not mince his words or make it easy for them. His message was
bold and tough. He actually called them a generation of vipers and
accused them of only trying to flee the wrath of God. He told them if
they had truly turned to God and were sorry for their sins and misconduct,
they would turn from their wicked ways and their lives would produce fruits of
repentance.
Repentance is not just being sorry for bad behavior, for you can be sorry
and never repent. You can be sorry that you did something because it
made you feel guilty or you can be sorry that you are going to have to
pay the consequences. You can be sorry that you hurt other people or
sorry that you disappointed God by transgressing against His laws.
Sorrow will bring you to repentance but it only requires confession for you to
receive forgiveness. Repentance requires action. Repentance means
that you are so filled with remorse and regret for your conduct that you are
willing to make a change. You make a quality decision to turn from your
sin and misconduct and go in the opposite direction. You don't look back
as you leave the sin behind, but you begin to prove by the way that you
live that you have repented. Your repentance was not with words alone,
for others can see that you are not the same. Your have been
changed within and your outward actions have followed suit.
These changes in your life are the fruits that are produced because of the
repentance that is in your heart. Only a good tree can bring forth
good fruit.
There is a fresh call to repentance. It is a still small voice
letting us know that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God. Yet in its quietness, we can still hear God offering us the
opportunity to repent and change from our wicked ways. Everyday we sin
and make mistakes, yet God is very gracious and full of mercy. He is
always near and will help us when we call out to Him in despair. He is
for us and not against us, and is faithful to show us a better path. He
wants us to be overcomers in this life and to be able to present to Him our
fruits of repentance. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/19/05
ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE
Scripture: Hebrews 13:9 "Be not carried away with divers and
strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established
with grace."
There are many religions and many doctrines that we will hear about while we
are traveling the pathway to eternity. Some of them will be good and
true, but others will be wrapped up in deceit. God never intended for
religion to be difficult, but unfortunately there is a devil that
works subtly behind the scenes to corrupt the simplicity that is in Christ (II
Corinthians 11:3). He successfully beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden
and works just as hard to get us to believe his lies. The writer of
Hebrews warns us not to be carried away or follow after the strange doctrines
that the devil creates, for there is no room for error in our convictions.
Instead we must understand truth and be established in what we believe.
It is amazing that people can read the same scriptures and come up with so
many different conclusions. For example when Jesus healed the blind
man in John 9:6-11 several things occurred. Jesus spat on the
ground, made clay with the spittle, anointed the eyes of the blind man with
the clay, and then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man
was healed and received his sight, but which of these things if any brought
about his healing? One religion would say that it was the spit from the
mouth of Jesus. While another would declare that healing came from the
clay that was mixed with the spittle. Another group would hold to the doctrine
that healing came when Jesus, Himself, touched and anointed the eyes of
the blind man with the clay. The last group would declare that it was
none of the above, but that healing came from the water that the blind
man washed in at the pool of Siloam. At the end, true doctrine
might step in and say that this healing was based on faith, obedience, and the sovereign
actions of Almighty God. But each group would declare their
own doctrine and make an attempt to convince others to believe and follow
them.
Strange doctrines are in the world today, but we do not have to fear them
if our hearts are established in grace. When we know the truth, the
truth will set us free. With every word that comes our way, we can
measure it with the Word of God and determine its truth. Jesus assured
us that as His sheep, we would recognize His voice and we would not follow
another. Let us be careful to listen to His voice and be determined that
our heart will be established and not depart from the simplicity of
the gospel of Christ Jesus. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In Due Season
4th Week of
August 2005
08/22/05
SACRIFICE OF A BROKEN SPIRIT
Scripture: Psalms 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit
..."
David made mention of a broken spirit in his prayer of confession to God.
David came to God with great repentance in his heart after the
prophet Nathan had confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. David
was shamed, riddled with guilt, and broken hearted as he poured out his sorrow
for the sins that he had committed. He pleaded earnestly for God's
mercy and forgiveness and asked God to cleanse him and restore him
with the joy of His salvation. David said, "Take not your
Holy Spirit from me." In this state of brokenness, he came to
realize that this was the true sacrifice that God desired. David
acknowledged that burnt offerings and blood sacrifices meant nothing to
God and were of little importance if his own heart was not touched and
changed.
David allowed the brokenness of his heart to bring him into a new
strength and he discovered a truth as he faced his situation. This
truth is that we are never to fear brokenness, for God makes a special
promise to those who pass through this dark emotional valley. In this
humble state, God gives a special grace and endows a new strength. David
said, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves
such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalms 34:18). He also declared
that "the afflictions of the righteous are many, but that God
delivers them out of them all." Notice that he said,
"them all." God doesn't deliver us out of some of our
problems, but He delivers us out of 'them all."
Like David, we can take comfort in these words and even rejoice when we are
down, knowing that God has promised to do two things for us.
First when our hearts are broken, He promised to be near us.
He will be there to comfort us with His awesome presence and strengthen
us through His bountiful love. And second, when we are in the midst
of afflictions, He will deliver us out of all of them. We can
depend upon God in every circumstance, for He will never fail. As
we come to the end of ourselves, it will no longer be our strength, but
God's strength that will prevail. God is not so much interested in
what we can give or how great our sacrifices are. He is simply
looking for a broken heart to mend and a contrite spirit that He can
heal. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/23/05
CONTENTS OF YOUR HEART
Scripture: Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."
God imparted great wisdom to King Solomon and he declared that you are the
essence of the contents that are within your heart. It is a matter of fact
that whatever is in your heart, whether good or bad, will eventually come to
the surface and be revealed by the words that you speak. Jesus confirmed
this in Luke 6:45 when He said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart brings forth evil, for out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaks." Not only will the thoughts of your heart be
revealed with words, but those words will create an atmosphere around
you. It is a circle of events. Your heart thinks, your mouth speaks, and
then your life becomes what you have spoken. It is not a mind over matter
thing. It is a principle of God's word, for His word says that there is
life and death in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). So be careful
what you think and be cautious of your words, for that is what you will
become.
James said that our tongue is like the rudder of a ship that controls and
steers the vessel. Consider your course of direction. Where are your words
taking you; towards the hazardous rocky shores or to the smooth deep
waters? Are you constantly confessing defeat because your heart has no hope
of victory? Do the past hurts and distrust that is within your heart cause
you to speak words that bring strife and division, which hinder your
relationships? Is your heart always filled with dissatisfaction and
complaints? God became very tired of hearing the Israelites mummer and
complain. He finally told them that He would bring to pass the words that
they had spoken in His ear and He held true to His decision. Of out the
abundance of their heart, their mouth had spoken evil judgment upon
themselves and eventually they died in the wilderness. David, on the other
hand, confessed victory before his battles and declared that God was with
him. Even when he faced Goliath, the giant, his heart was overwhelmed with
faith and his mouth was filled with positive words. As he ran towards
Goliath with a sling and a few stones, he declared from the abundance of his
heart, "This day God will deliver you into my hands" (I Samuel 17:46). The
contents of his heart harbored a mighty cause for right and he became what
his heart believed, a conqueror over the giant and evil.
What are the contents of your heart? If your words are negative, the
contents of your heart are defeat. If your words share no light with
others, your spirit is filled with darkness. If you can share no words of
joy, your own heart is harboring grief and sorrow. If your words gender
strife and division, you have no peace or contentment within yourself. If
your tongue spews forth words of judgment and attempts to destroy the
accomplishments of others, it is because your heart is full of envy and
jealousy. Your heart is dissatisfied because its own dreams have been
shattered. Examine your ways and your words and if they are lacking, then
examine your thoughts. God wants His presence and His purposes to be the
contents of your heart. If you are thinking anything less than victory, you
need to ask God to help you change your thinking. David prayed, "Let the
words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your
sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer (Psalms 19:14). If you are
considering settling for anything less than God's best for your life, you
need to rearrange and upgrade your expectations, for God declared that He
has a good plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). If fear and doubt are looming
large within your heart, you need to cast those thoughts aside and look to
God with faith. Isaiah 26:3 says, "God will keep you in perfect peace when
your mind is fixed upon Him." Look to God for help. If you study
and listen to His words, He will exchange the contents of your heart
and fill it with His thoughts. Then as you yield to Him, He will create a
right spirit within you and you will bring glory to Him, for as you think in
your heart so shall you be. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/24/05
ANGER WITHOUT SIN
Scripture: Ephesians
4:26 "Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your
wrath."
Anger is defined as great
displeasure or indignation. We always think of anger as being
evil, but the Apostle Paul made mention that you could actually
be angry and still be without sin. Anger can be a positive
emotion if its motives are pure and it is dealt with in the
right manner. Anger can motivate you to righteous actions and
even drive you into a state of war against evil forces that defy
God. Yet, even with its positive points, we do not have a
license to be angry about every little thing that comes our way,
for the scriptures plainly teach us to be slow to wrath. King
Solomon said, "He that is slow to wrath is of great
understanding" because a hasty spirit exalts folly (Proverbs
14:29). He also said, "He that is slow to anger is better than
the mighty" because he is able to rule his own spirit (Proverbs
16:32).
Paul said, "Don't let the
sun go down on your wrath." We must settle the situation as
quickly as possible by assuming the fault or forgiving the one
who has transgressed against us. It makes no difference, but
whatever we do, we can't continue to hold on to anger. Another
definition of anger is inflammation. Just as you cannot
continue to use a muscle that is inflamed without causing more
serious injury, you cannot continue to allow your emotions to be
inflamed with anger without causing greater injury to
your spirit. In the next verse Paul said, "Neither give place
to the devil." Unresolved anger opens the door to the devil. A
friend told me a story recently that was overwhelming. Her
husband's brother was out of work and came to stay with them for
awhile and their landlady became enraged over the situation.
They were perplexed but remembered that she had told them that
she and her own brother had been at odds for forty-seven years.
Her brother had tried to reconcile with her, but she refused.
The spirit of anger within her would not allow her to let go of
the past. Even though she couldn't remember what the battle was
about, it still raged within her soul and kept her in bondage.
Not only did the spirit of anger destroy the years and the
relationship that she and her brother could have had, but it
also manifested itself against those who had good family
relationships. This is the type of anger that Paul warned
against, for anger of this sort opens the door to unforgiveness
and gives a place to the devil.
We know that Jesus was
without sin and that God is not evil. Yet, Jesus, Himself, felt
the emotions of anger against the religious people who judged
Him for doing good and healing on the Sabbath Day. Mark 3:5
says, "He looked on them with anger." He was grieved for the
hardness of their heart, yet He didn't allow anger to rule. He
went on with His business and healed the man with the withered
hand. The religious folks who were angered over the incident
took counsel how they might destroy Jesus, and their anger drove
them to evil. Even God showed anger. He was angry with Moses
(Deuteronomy 4:21) and with King Solomon (I Kings 11:9),
and David declared that God is angry with the wicked everyday
(Psalms 7:11). Everyday, evil provokes God to anger, yet God
is always ready and quick to forgive. He hates the sin but He
loves the sinner. Let us remember His example. His grace is
sufficient and His mercy endures forever. When we are provoked
to anger, let us not hold it in our hearts but deal with it
gracefully and be ready to forgive and to forget before the sun
goes down and the way is lost in the darkness. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/25/05
BEHOLD THE RESURRECTED LORD
Scripture: Philippians 3:10 "That I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection."
Jesus was the Lamb that was slain; the sacrifice that was without spot or
blemish and with His life, He paid for our sins. Now we must behold Him as
our resurrected Lord, for the resurrection of Jesus is crucial to our faith. I
Corinthians 15:14 says, "If Christ is not risen from the dead ... our faith is
vain." There were three men who were crucified that day on Calvary, but only
one of them had the power of resurrection working in His life. That man was
Jesus, the Son of the Living God.
Paul's purpose and goal was to know Jesus in a deep and personal way. The
Amplified Bible says, "To know the wonders of His person ... and to know the
power out flowing from His resurrection." Paul wanted to be intimately
acquainted with Jesus. There are many levels on which to know someone. For
instance, we can all say that we know the great American evangelist, Billy
Graham. We know what he looks like and can recognize the sound of his voice,
but that is only because we have seen and heard him on the television. We don't
really know him intimately. You can travel down the chain of Billy Graham's
relationships and see intimacy growing stronger as the relationship gets closer
to those who spend the most one-on-one time with him. From his crusade
audience, to his staff, to his casual friends, to his close friends, to his
family, to his children, and then finally to his wife, intimacy is developed
with personal relationship.
Paul was determined to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. He wanted
to know the wonders of the person of Christ and the power that had raised Him
from the dead. Paul didn't simply want to hear about Jesus and the
resurrection, he wanted to experience Him and His awesome power. Paul was
willing to give up everything to know Jesus. He said, "I count everything as
loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). To Paul, being able to achieve this state of
intimacy with Jesus was overwhelming and precious. This was his greatest desire
and highest goal. We must also strive to know Jesus intimately and to
experience the wonders of His person. We too must search to know Him not only
as the Lamb of God that took away our sins but also as our Resurrected Lord, for
without Christ's resurrection, His sacrifice and our faith is in vain. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/26/05
TRUE WORSHIP
Scripture: John 4:23 "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit
and truth."
Worship was originally spelled "worthship" and means to acknowledge the
worth of the one being worshipped. Worshipping God has to do with who God
the Father is and not just acknowledging and praising Him for what He has
done or is doing for us. Knowledge is the mother of devotion. Those empty
of the word of God cannot worship Him in truth, for true worship can only
come as the revelation of the character of God has been birthed within your
spirit. You cannot love and worship someone you don't know. Faith is also
required in true worship, for you must believe that God's presence is there
to receive your worship.
We praise God for His awesome works but worship far surpasses the material
and physical realm and reaches far into the spirit. Worship recognizes the
character of God and understands that God is spirit and because He is
spirit, He can only be truly worshiped with the spirit. The rocks are able
to cry out in praise to God (Luke 19:40) and the sun, moon, and stars of
light are commanded to praise God (Psalms 148:3). Even the morning stars
sing together (Job 38:7). Yet, none of these awesome creations of God can
worship Him in spirit because God has not breathed His spirit of life into
them. Worship is an experience that takes place in the heart. Worship
happens when the whole being is yielded to God and the love that is within
our heart bows down in reverence to the holiness of God. It is an inward
expression of our recognition of God's glory and grace.
John 4:23 continues to tell us that God is seeking for those who would
worship Him in spirit and truth. He is actively watching and waiting. The
Lord is looking for a bride who loves Him and knows how to pleasure Him with
true worship. He doesn't want lip service. He wants a heart that is full
of true worship. He is looking beyond the loud shouts of praise to find the
quiet spirit of love that is on its knees in beautiful and reverential
worship. If you dedicate yourself to be one of those who will worship God
in spirit and in truth, you will find Him and He will find you. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In Due Season
5th Week of
August 2005
08/29/05
OUR ONLY WAY OUT OF DISTRESS
Scripture: Psalms 107:28 "Then they cry unto the Lord in
their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses."
In Psalms 107 there were four categories of men who were in trouble or in
captivity who found their deliverance through God. First there were travelers
who wandered in the wilderness but found no city to dwell in. They were
hungry, thirsty, and their soul fainted within them, but when they began to
cry out to the Lord concerning their problem, God delivered them from
their distress (Vs. 4-6). Second, there were prisoners who sat in
darkness, suffering the pains of affliction. They were bound in
iron because of their rebellion, but they too were delivered out of their
trouble and the shadow of death when they cried out to God for help (Vs.
10-16). Third, there were those who were sick in their bodies.
When they began to cry out to God for deliverance, He sent His word and
healed them (Vs. 17-22). And finally, there were sailors who went
down to do business in great waters. They were tossed to and fro
like drunken men upon the storm driven sea. Finally at their
wits end, they cried out to the Lord and He brought them out of their
distress. God calmed the storms, quieted the sea, and brought them into
a haven of rest (Vs 23-32).
Each of these men had problems that were too great for them to handle or to
bear. Without God's help, they would surely die, either in the
wilderness, in the prison, on the sick bed, or in the raging storm at sea.
But death is death no matter how it comes and darkness and distress is always
frightening. God was their only hope in their situation so each one of
them prayed for help and God faithfully delivered them out of their problem. They
cried out with their voice and made their petition known and that cry not only reached
the ears of God, it reached His heart and brought Him to their aid.
This psalm teaches us that no matter where we are in life or what the source
of our problem may be, God is there to help. We may have lost our way in
the wilderness of life and our soul may be fainting within because we can't
find happiness in anything we do. It may seem that we can't stop the
hunger or quench the thirst that we feel within our soul. We may be in
bondage because we have transgressed the laws of the land, we may be
facing a serious health issue, or we may be in some sort of business or
financial difficulty. Yet, it doesn't matter with God, for He is
able to deliver us out of all of our distresses regardless of what they are.
He waits to hear our cry so that He can answer. James 4:2
says, "You have not because you ask not." Let us determine
today to make our petitions known and cry out to God in our time of need and recognize
that He is our only way out of distress. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/30/05
PLANTED BY THE WATERS
Scripture: Jeremiah 17:8 ".... as a tree planted by the waters, and that
spreads her roots by the river."
A tree that is planted near the rivers of water does not suffer during the
time of heat or dry up in the seasons of drought. It is well watered and
flourishes all year long. Its leaves remain green throughout each season
because its roots have spread themselves out underneath the surface of the
earth and have found the source of nourishment that the tree needs. A tree
that is green and flourishing in this fashion is a joy and a source of
nourishment to all, for it never ceases to bear fruit or to be a shield for
others who are experiencing the heat of the sun.
The prophet Jeremiah compared the man who trusted in the Lord and whose hope
was in the Lord to a tree that is planted by the waters. Trees are firmly
planted and have no intentions of moving about. They are satisfied because
their roots have found water. Likewise, two things are important for a
person who desires to flourish, their spiritual location and their root
systems. Psalms 92:13 says that those who are planted in the house of the
Lord will flourish. To flourish on the outside you must be near the water
and be receiving and be flourishing on the inside. Your faith must be
stable and your hope and trust in the Lord must be unwavering. Your heart
must be fixed on the faithfulness of God's promises. If your spiritual
roots are receiving this nourishment you can be assured that you will be
blessed. You can be living in the middle of a spiritual desert or going
through a very dry season, and your spirit will remain well watered. Your
life will continue to be fruitful because your roots are deep. Others will
be amazed at the strength you will display in the times of trouble because
they cannot see your roots. You can be weathering confusion and frustration
but still remain calm because your roots have discovered the waters of
peace. You can hope in a hopeless situation because you have stayed close
to the waters of life. You have soaked up God's word and dwelt in His
presence before the need ever presented itself. You didn't wait until you
saw your leaves turning yellow or felt your branches drying out.
No tree can stand alone or maintain itself without an efficient root
system. Jeremiah said the tree itself spreads its roots in an effort to
find the water. It is up to you to establish a spiritual root system that
will sustain and support you in the seasons of distress and discouragement.
When you have allowed the Holy Spirit to develop a depth within your spirit,
you will be able to withstand the dry seasons, the heat, and even the times
of persecutions. You may bend a little but you won't blow over with
every storm. You won't break in the seasons of adversity or wither in the
heat. Like Job, you will be able to withstand every test and not fall apart
each time there is a conflict because you are trusting in the Lord God
Almighty, not in your own fortunes, family, health, or friendships. You
will flourish because God alone is the Living Water from which you are
drawing your strength. +++
Copyright
© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
08/31/05
ENLARGE YOUR BORDERS
Scripture: Isaiah 54:3 "For you shall break forth on the right hand and on
the left."
Have your ever felt like your life was barren because your dreams were
unfulfilled or do you wonder when you will experience a major breakthrough
in your circumstances? The prophet Isaiah spoke to the people of Israel
concerning the same issue. He compared their situation to that of putting
up a tent. In essence, he told them that even though they had been barren
up to this point, they were to sing and cry aloud because things were
getting ready to change in their lives. He instructed them to prepare
themselves for growth. They were not only to enlarge the place of their
tent but were to stretch it out and not spare anything. He also told them
to lengthen their cords and strengthen their stakes. In other words, they
were not only to enlarge their space, but to also make it stronger. He then
said after these preparations were made, they were to get ready to
experience growth on the right hand and on the left, for it was going to
break out suddenly.
Many of us find ourselves in barren places such as those that the prophet
was speaking about. It seems that nothing special is happening in our lives
and time is passing away too quickly. We are finding that our dreams and
visions are fading from view and the light in our spirit is becoming dim by
the discouragement that surrounds us. We thought surely by this time in our
life we would be further down the road in accomplishing the things that God
had placed in our hearts so many years ago. Now it seems almost impossible
to reach those goals or complete our destiny that was once in our hearts,
for there are just too many other responsibilities that demand our
attention. But then we get a glimpse of the examples of Abraham and Sarah
and remember that they did not consider their circumstances or the weakness
of their own bodies. They trusted God, believed His promise, and continued
to hope when things seemed hopeless. God rewarded their faith and Isaac was
born to them when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was ninety. What an
amazing result of simple faith. God's promises to us are no less sure than
the promises that He gave to Abraham and Sarah, for He is no respecter of
person. If He has spoken it, it will surely come to pass.
As we think about the unfinished goals in our lives, we need to take
Isaiah's words to heart and realize that nothing is going to happen until we
begin to follow these same instructions that he gave to Israel. Even though
we are barren at the moment, we need to sing aloud with praise and
thanksgiving in faith for what God has done and what He is going to do. We
must look at the future with anticipation as we offer up our petitions to
God. It is imperative that we let go of the things that have discouraged
us and kept us down in the past, for our hearts and minds must be stayed on
the vision that God placed in our hearts for the future. We must begin to
enlarge the borders of our heart by turning our eyes from ourselves and
looking towards the needs of others. As we stretch forth towards a higher
goal and the greater vision that God has ordained for us, the Holy Spirit
will move us forward in a positive direction. Like the Apostle Paul, we
must press towards the mark of the high calling of God for our lives. We
need to make our goals sure by lengthening our cords and strengthening our
stakes spiritually through studying God's word, prayer, and communion with
Him. God will not move until we are prepared and ready, but as we do our
part and focus on His plan for our lives, He will bring life and hope into
our situation and cause us to break out on the right and the left. +++
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© 2005 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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