A Word In Due Season
1st Week of October 2007

10/01/07
CONTINUE TO MINISTER

Scripture:  Mark 6:6  "And Jesus marveled because of their unbelief.  And He went round about the villages, teaching."

Jesus had traveled the countryside, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed from evil spirits, and performing other miracles for the multitudes.  His fame had spread throughout the entire region.  When Jesus returned to His own country, He went to the synagogue and began to teach the people.  The people who heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and wondered where He had received it.  They had also heard about all of the miracles that He had preformed and marveled at the mighty works that He had done.  Yet, they were offended at Jesus because they knew that He was the natural son of Joseph who was a carpenter and his wife, Mary.  Their limited faith would not allow them to believe that He was the Son of God.  Because they did not honor Jesus or have faith in Him, He could not do any mighty works in their midst.  He was only able to heal a few sick people by laying His hands on them (Mark 6:5).

To me, being able to heal a few sick people is still a mighty miracle that is beyond human ability.  Yet, Jesus could have done so much more in their midst if they had just given Him honor and believed in Him.  Jesus marveled at the people's unbelief but He understood that a prophet was without honor in his own country, amongst his own kin, and in his own house (Verse 4).  Jesus did not allow this setback to stop His mission, but continue to go throughout the villages and teach.  He could have become discouraged and thought that His season to minister was over.  He could have believed that God, the Father, had lifted the anointing from His life and that He no longer had power to do miracles.  Many things could have raced through His mind in this disappointing hour, but Jesus didn't give in to those thoughts or allow the people's lack of faith to control His own destiny.  He just kept doing the will of the Father.

I believe that the Holy Spirit shared this story with us as an example to keep us from being discouraged.  If the lack of faith on people's part could affect Jesus' ministry, it can surely affect ours.  There will be seasons in all of our lives when we are limited by the faith of others.  We can share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with others, but we can't force faith into their hearts.  We can witness to them about healing, but we can't make them believe.  We can show them the way to deliverance from their addictions, but we can't lay down bad habits for them.  We can teach them how to believe God for their provisions, but we can't receive their blessings for them.  We are just as limited as Jesus was when He ministered.  The people that we minister to must exert their own faith in order to receive.  They may not want to receive our words of hope, for like the crowds who listened to Jesus, they recognize us as just a family member or common acquaintance.

We must not get discouraged when we have done all that we could do, and said all that we could say, and there has been no positive response, for we are not responsibility for the spiritual heartbeat of others.  We are only responsible to God.  When everything seems to have failed and we see unbelief all around us, we must do as Jesus did and that is to continue to minister as God has called us to do. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/02/07
SEARCH ME

Scripture:  Psalms 139:23-24  "Search, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts ... Point out anything in me that makes You sad."

Recently, as I passed my rose garden, I noticed its neglect.  The grass had crept into the garden area and weeds had grown at the base of the bushes.  A wild vine had twined its way throughout the bushes, and the bushes themselves were suffering with dried broken branches.  They were desperately struggling against the negative forces that were stealing their water and nourishment, which in turn was deterring their growth and destroying their beauty.  Yet, regardless of all the negative distractions, the bushes still had a few roses that were radiant with color and some buds that promised new blooms.  The bushes were making every effort to keep things going, but they would soon smother and die if left untended, for they had no way of helping themselves or enhancing their hidden beauty.  They desperately needed some extra care from their gardener.

This scene pictures our lives at times.  Little by little, we allow the enemy of our souls to invade our lives.  At first, we may not recognize that we have a few problems.  We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are okay because our lives seem to be productive and prosperous.  We are unable to see the weeds, grass, vines, and broken branches of our lives because we focus on the few roses that are still blooming.  We fail to seek the Lord and ask Him to search our hearts and point out anything in us that makes Him sad.  However, if our lives remain untouched by the Master's hand, those things that make Him sad will soon steal our spiritual nourishment.  They will destroy the beauty of our testimony before the world just like the neglected rose garden.

God is the overseer and gardener of our lives.  We can never escape His eternal presence.  He is omniscient and knows everything about us, even the thoughts of our mind and the words of our lips before they are spoken (Psalms 139:2, 4, 7).  God not only knows us, He understands us.  We are given the awesome opportunity to commune with this wonderful God who loves us more than anyone else ever could.  He is the only One who is able to properly tend the garden of our soul.  As we commune with Him, let us ask Him to remove the grass, weeds, vines, and broken branches from our lives.  As we yield ourselves to Him, He will search us and His Holy Spirit will convict us and purge us of those things that make Him sad. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/03/07
 HEARING AS THE LEARNED

Scripture:  Isaiah 50:4  "Morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned."

This simply means that God helps our hearts to understand what our ears are hearing.  Words in themselves mean nothing to us unless we have understanding about the subject at hand.  For example, when someone gives me an in-depth instruction concerning the computer, they may as well be speaking in a foreign language.  I can hear the words they are saying, but can't follow the meaning because I have limited understanding about the subject.  I have no foundation to build upon so my ears do not hear as a learned person.  In fact, with every new thing that I learn, I have to write each step of the process on paper and then follow those instructions in detail.  I am sure that it is frustrating to the one who is trying to teach me because until recently I didn't even know the difference between the terms "tool bar" and "desk top."

This same also is true with hearing the Word of God.  God's thoughts and words do not come to us all at one time.  They come as precept upon precept, line upon line, and here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10).  Wisdom and understanding increase as we hear God's Word.  It is a simple equation; the more we hear, the more we understand.  God gives us new and deeper revelation with each reading and study of His Word, for God's thoughts and words are eternal and have no end.  It is through consistently hearing the Word of God that faith is birthed in our hearts (Romans 10:17).  But faith doesn't stop there.  It grows exceedingly larger within our hearts as we continue to hear the Word (II Thessalonians 1:3).  As we move from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word, we grow even more (Hebrews 5:14).  Our spiritual ears become more sensitive because we not only hear the Word, we experience the truth of the Word.  When we experience the Word, our senses are exercised and we learn to discern both good and evil.          

Morning by morning, God said that He would open our ears to hear.  I learn new things about the same scriptures every day and I understand more now than I did when I was a child because I can now hear as the learned.  Isaiah also said, "The Lord God gives us the tongue of the learned."  God wants us to share what we have learned, but that privilege only comes when our ears are able to hear as the learned.  The milk of the Word is good, but we must desire the meat of the Word.  I encourage you to search for the deeper meaning of God's Word without leaving the simplicity of the gospel.  God's Word is not meant to be complicated, but it is a mystery, which is waiting to be discovered.  Flesh and blood cannot reveal the mystery of God's Word to you.  The Holy Spirit, who is your teacher, will guide you into all truth.  Read a portion of God's Word everyday and remember that His revelations come as precept upon precept, or little by little.  As you consistently study the Word, you will eventually notice that God has awakened your ears to hear as the learned. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/04/07
WELL DONE

Scripture: Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

In this story, the lord of the servant did not demean his servant because he had been given so little. Instead, the lord commended his servant for being faithful over the 'few things" that had been entrusted into his care. It is easy to relate to this story when we look at those about us who have been given great gifts. We may feel very humble and count ourselves as very insignificant when compared to them. Yet, God has created us in His image, and because He is faithful, He expects us to be faithful whether we have been endowed with little or with much. God never asks us to go beyond the abilities that He has placed in our lives or to do less than what He has entrusted us to do. Few talents and small abilities do not negate our responsibility to be faithful in His kingdom. We are accountable for every word and deed that we do or that we do not do.

However, the devil doesn't want you to be faithful in God's kingdom so he stays very busy trying to convince you that you can't do what God has asks you to do. He makes you fearful and encourages you to hide the gifts that God has given you. He tells you that no one will listen to you, but just a few seemingly insignificant words of witness spoken from your lips at the right time could save a soul that is headed for an eternal Hell. Your words of comfort and encouragment could be the message that draws someone out of the valley of discourament to the mountaintop of joy. So, you must learn to be faithful over the few words that God has given you to say. Little will be much when God anoints it with His Holy Spirit.

When the devil is successfully able to keep you from doing God's will in your personal life, he succeeds in hindering the entire kingdom of God. He intrudes upon your territory just like he did with Israel. Every battle Israel fought was over boundaries. The enemy continually challenged God's word concerning the Promised Land. If you are finding yourself in a busy but unfruitful place, reposition yourself and enforce your boundaries. Seek to develop every talent and gift and determine to be in the flow with the heart of God by committing to obey His word at any cost. At the end of life's journey, wouldn't you rather hear God say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant" than for Him to ask, "The thing I gave you to do, did you do it?" +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/05/07
FAVOR AND PROSPERITY

Scripture: Genesis 39:3 "And the Lord was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man."

Life was not always fair to Joseph and many times he had to go back to square one and start over again. Yet regardless of where Joseph found himself, those about him recognized that the Lord was with him, and he always found grace and favor in their sight. Joseph prospered even though he faced many negative circumstances on his journey from the pit to the palace. He probably experienced discouragement, but he never gave up or quit because he had tremendous faith in God. There was a quiet sense of destiny in Joseph's heart because God had given him great dreams. However, God had to test the motives of his heart before allowing those dreams to come to pass. He trained Joseph for this very special place by putting him into various and adverse situations. God then observed Joseph's responses to those conflicts. Psalms 105:19 tells us that until the time that God's word came to pass in Joseph's life, the word of the Lord tried him.

When Joseph went through these trials and testings, he chose to let these hard places push him towards God, not away from God. He refused to allow bitterness, anger, and resentment to rule his life. Instead, Joseph maintained a good attitude, lived a lifestyle of forgiveness, and worked hard. He understood the process, or the exchange of life. The exchange of life means that what you put into life is what you will get out of it. Even though he was imprisoned and tested for about sixteen years, Joseph wasted nothing. He worked hard and made the most of each moment, and even in prison, favor and prosperity came to him.

You too can translate your dreams into reality, although they may seem vague right now. You may feel that time and opportunity has passed you by. Like Joseph, you may have been treated unfairly. You may have been rejected by your family and may have been emotionally imprisoned without cause. Now, you must choose whether to stay in this pit or proceed towards the palace. You are the only one who can make the exchange of life for yourself. You must believe that this is your time for favor and prosperity. Whichever path you choose, you will reap what you sow. To reach the destiny that God has for you, you must continue to sow in faith. Through it all, you must trust God to cause all things to work together for good. Like Joseph, you must do all that your hands find to do and do it as unto the Lord. In time, God will cause His word to come to pass in your life and you will reap favor and prosperity. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of October 2007

10/08/07
AN ON TIME GOD

Scripture:  Galatians 4:4  "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son."
 
God has a master timetable for all of us and we need to consider this fact as He sovereignly works in our lives.  We may think that He is not working fast enough, but only God knows the master plan.  God knows everything from the beginning to the end, but He patiently waits until the fullness of time before He completes His plan.  He did not even send Jesus to this Earth until all things were ready for His ministry.  God is not on the same timetable that we are on.  We see the present state of the matter but God sees everything from an eternal perspective.  When we think about ten years of our life, we consider it as a long length of time.  When God sees ten years, He compares it with eternity, and it is as nothing.  His word even tells that our entire life is as a vapor of smoke or a moment in time compared to Heaven's eternity. 
 
When we pray, we want to see our answers immediately, but just like God waited to send His own Son to redeem mankind, He gives us our answers in the fullness of His time.  My husband was a structural steel designer/draftsman, and designed the steel for oil refineries and commercial buildings.  At times, work would become slow.  In a particular season of lack, one of my husband's commercial clients decided that he would build the same mall that my husband had previously designed for another location in the city.  At the time, work and finances were so scarce that we fasted and prayed concerning this particular project.  We felt in our hearts that the contract belonged to us.  My husband made a bid for the job, but instead of using him, his client used my husband's previous designs and drawings to build the exact mall in the new location.  Our hopes were dashed and our faith was challenged.  We were in such desperate need and wondered why God didn't answer our prayers.  Little did we know, that God answered our prayers but that the manifestation of His answer would not come until ten years later and at a more crucial time.
 
They built the mall as planned, but the mall did not succeed in that location.  Ten years later, they decided to turn the mall into a medical center.  At the time, my husband was bed ridden with cancer.  He had no way of providing for the family and I could not work because I was his twenty-four hour caregiver.  His client asked him to oversee the job.  My husband hired another man to make the revisions and he allowed me to make all of the corrections on the drawings.  With little effort and a few hours of our time, God allowed us to make ten thousand dollars, which helped us make it through my husband's season of illness.  Ten years before when we had prayed and nothing seemed to have happened, we thought God had failed us.  But in the fullness of time, we recognized that God did answer our prayer.  He just did it in His own season and at His own time.  When His time was ready, He gave us the contract and God's timing turned out to be better than our own timing.  There is a saying, "God is an on time God; He is seldom early, but He is never late!"  You must never give up on your prayers.  Be assured that God will answer them in His own way and in the fullness of His own time. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/09/07
ANOTHER CHANCE

Scripture: Genesis 4:25 "God has appointed me another seed."

Adam and Eve had two sons named Cain and Abel. Both of these sons gave an offering to the Lord, but the Lord was only pleased with Abel's offering. He totally rejected Cain's offering and because of this, anger and jealousy raged in the heart of Cain. When the opportunity presented itself, Cain killed his brother, Abel. His deed left a grieving mother but she found comfort when she gave birth to another son. To Eve, the birth of Seth meant restoration of what had been destroyed by a selfish and evil act. Seth's birth brought hope and renewed vision to a very wounded soul. Eve could now look beyond the loss that she had suffered and envision a brighter future. She saw this blessed event as God granting her another opportunity.

Today is the first day of the rest of our life. We stand on the edge of our future. We have more control than we realize, for our destiny is governed by our choices and actions. There is a seed of hope within each of us that is waiting to come alive. We can either mourn the past and its many disappointments or celebrate the days to come. We can look at life and declare that there's nothing to hope for or we can place our faith in God and declare that He is appointing us another chance.

God has promised to restore the years that have been devoured and wasted (Joel 2:25 & Isaiah 58:12). Things are never so bad in our lives that God cannot restore them, for He is God and He is our awesome Creator. Losses are never so great that He cannot redeem. No sickness is so grave that He cannot heal, and even death, itself, cannot resist His resurrection power. The Lord is able to repair anything and everything that is broken in our lives. All we have to do is give Him all of the pieces of our broken lives and shattered dreams and He will perfect those things that concern us. As we patiently wait for Him, He will appoint to us another season, another chance, and a new beginning. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/10/07
GOD'S HIGHER THOUGHTS AND WAYS

Scripture: Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Long ago, the knowledge of this scripture went beyond being mere words to me and became a reality in my heart. I finally figured out that God was much wiser than I was and that His ways were much higher than my own. I realized that God had accomplished something that I could not begin to do. He was the One who formed me in my mother's womb and breathed life into my being when I had no ability to begin life or find breath. He knew me before I was ever born and knows when my days will come to an end, which is a mystery to me. He knows more about me than I could ever know about myself, for He has even numbered the hairs that are upon my head. He knows my true thoughts, but I can easily be self deceived, for it is said that we are all wrong about something, we just don't know what that something is.

My way is to dwell upon taking care of my own needs, but God's higher way is for me to forget about myself and consider what I can do for someone else. My thoughts of love are to love and be loved by my family and friends who are close to me, but God's thoughts of love are divine and much higher. His love caused Him to give His most priceless gift, the life of His Son, for the entire world. My thoughts are restless, but God's higher thoughts are for me to rest in His presence, knowing that all things will work together for my good. My way is to rush ahead and try to solve the problem, but God's higher way is for me to wait patiently for His direction in the matter. He may say, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" or He may say, "Pursue the enemy." My thoughts tend to harbor and entertain doubt, but God's higher thoughts dwell on faith. My ways are to murmur and complain, but God's higher ways are to rejoice in adversity. My thoughts and ways are anxious, but His higher thoughts and ways are calm and peaceful.

I encourage you to abandon yourself to God in such a way that you lay aside your own thoughts and ways so that you can yield yourself unreservedly to His wisdom and His will. You may not understand everything that is going on in your life, but if you want to experience God's higher way, you must "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and not lean upon your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). God wants to personally direct your life. When you allow Him this privilege, you will experience His higher ways and reap the benefits of His higher thoughts. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/11/07
POWER OF THE SPIRIT

Scripture: Luke 4:14 "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit ... "

The battle you face today is not an uncommon battle. It has been faced many times before, but if you can learn to rely on the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, the victory will be yours. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Ghost for the expressed purpose of testing the word of God that was inside of Him. With all three conflicts, He responded with a scripture and three simple words, "It is written." He did not try to reason with the enemy, nor prove Himself right. He relied on the truth of God, and the truth prevailed. The thirteenth verse says that the devil ended his temptation and departed for a season.

You don't have to be super spiritual or smart to confront the devil. All you have to do is "submit yourself to God" then "resist the devil and he will flee" (James 4:7). When you resist the devil with a portion of God's Word, you shine light on his deception, and the truth of God dispels all of his lies. Notice, however, that the devil only left Jesus for a season. The devil doesn't give up easily or stay away for very long. We are in constant warfare with him. Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the enemy. Then having done all that we can do, stand. The Greek translation of these words is "having done all, stand and get ready for the next battle."

Satan attacks us internally through our minds and emotions and externally through circumstances, relationships, and health. His sole purpose is to undermine God's will for our lives as he comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10). But Jesus came so that we could have an abundant life. He defeated the devil, returned in the power of the Spirit, and empowered us to do the same. He gave us the keys to the kingdom of Heaven and told us that we could bind on Earth whatever was bound in Heaven and loose on Earth that which was loosed in Heaven. God's Word determines what is bound in Heaven and determines what is loosed in Heaven (Matthew 16:19). If you want to be victorious in your time of testing, make sure you are using the Word of God, for His word is the only sword that will destroy the enemy. You will never return from your time of testing in the power of the Spirit until you boldly come into a face-to-face conflict with the devil and overcome him with the written word. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/12/07
WHEN FRIENDS FAIL

Scripture: Psalms 41:9 "Even my best friend has turned against me - a man I completely trusted."

It's a hard and hurtful experience when a sweet relationship turns and we are left with pain and rejection. The failed relationship may be with a friend or spouse, brother or sister, or a parent or child. Like David, we grieve when a trust is broken by those that we love. Many times we find ourselves in confusion because we don't understand what happened. When rejection replaces acceptance and warmth turns to coldness, we try to analyze the situation, but our efforts are of no avail. It may be months or sometimes years before our true offense is revealed to us. Meanwhile, precious time and memories are lost for both parties involved. And although reconciliation is made and ties are mended, many times the pain of the past continues to haunt us. Questions and doubts linger in our mind and total trust is never regained.

Many great men of God faced the same feelings of rejection that you may have experienced. King David said, "Even my best friend has turned against me." David had placed complete trust and confidence in this friend. In Psalm 55:12-14, David said that it wasn't an enemy who was insulting and causing him reproach. It was a man who was his equal, his companion, and his familiar friend. It was someone whom David enjoyed being with. They had shared sweet communion together and their counsel to one another had been pleasant. They had even went to the house of God together, but now their close bond had been broken and David was dealing with the loss. David lost his close friend, but also think about the story of Joseph. Joseph's own brothers rejected him and intended to kill him, but God spared his life and instead of killing Joseph, they sold him into slavery. Joseph was taken away from his homeland and beloved father, and for about sixteen years he served the Egyptians. During that time he suffered heartache and the painful memories of the past. Eventually situations forced his brothers to ask him for forgiveness. Jesus also suffered the rejection of His earthly brothers, His disciples, and the multitudes for whom He sacrificed His life. Isaiah 53:3 says that Jesus was "despised and rejected of men."

God has set these and other scriptures in the Word to encourage your heart and to let you know that you are not alone in your plight. God knows all about your hurts and feelings of rejection. He sees your heartache and confusion and is with you during your difficult times. You can go to Him when there's no one else to turn to and talk to Him when everyone else is tired of listening. No one will ever love you like He loves you. When your best friend turns against you and your family fails, He will be there. When you are suffering the pains of the past, He will be there to comfort you. Jesus will never leave you, nor forsake you. He is your friend forever and will "stick closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of October 2007

10/15/07
FENCED-IN

Scripture: Job 19:8 "He has fenced up my way that I cannot pass."

Job was challenged by many trials and temptations. When he explained his situation, he said that it was as though adversity surrounded him on all sides like a fence. Job had lost his wealth, his health, his children, his prestige in the community, the loyalty and honor of his friends, and the devotion of his wife. He had nothing left but his relationship with God and he mentioned there were even doubts about that, for he said that God had overthrown him, set darkness in his path, and stripped him of his glory (Verses 6-9). Job's losses had come suddenly and without warning and there was nothing that he could do about his extreme situation. Satan had been allowed to attack his body and vex his soul and Job knew that he could not pass from his dilemma except at the mercy of God.

There is a time in our walk with God that we face similar circumstances. They may not be as severe as Job's testings but it is a place of frustration because it seems that the season has no value. It is a time of waiting because the gates are closed and the doors will not open. We are not allowed to go in and out by our own choosing. We can't seem to do anything and we can't change anything. It is a season when God limits us to His design and tells us to "Be still." It is difficult to be still when we do not know what is happening. Yet, it is in these moments of isolation that God molds us into the vessel that fit His purposes. He uses this time to remove things from our lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, which are not pleasing to Him and are a hindrance to His work. For the moment, these losses bring confusion and grief, but when the process is completed, there is great joy.

A fence has two purposes. It keeps things within its borders while at the same time it keeps intrusions out. Both of these purposes are meant for your protection. Like Job, you may feel, at times, that God has overthrown you and set darkness in your path because, from your viewpoint, everything seems to be confusing and unclear. Yet when God is in control, you don't have to know what is happening; you just need to know the One who is making it happen. You must understand that if God is not allowing you to escape the fenced-in place and pass through to the other side, there is a valid reason for it. He is working something greater in you than you can imagine or protecting you from something that you don't even know exist. For as long as your shut-in season last, you must rest in faith, knowing that God's fence is there for you and not against you. It is God's sovereign design for this season of your life. So trust in Him with all of your heart. He will keep you safe and allow you to pass through the gate at His timing. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/16/07
EXPERIENCE

Scripture: Genesis 30:27 "I have learned by experience ..."

Laban's son-in-law, Jacob, had served him for many years and Laban had become prosperous because of the blessings of God that were upon Jacob's life. Jacob didn't have to call Laban's attention to this fact, for Laban recognized it himself. Laban told Jacob, "I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake."

The voice of experience is very powerful. There is a saying; "The man with knowledge is always at the mercy of the man with experience." Unproven knowledge is no match for the voice of experience, for experience speaks with great wisdom and authority. Experience is quick to warn others who have yet to learn what it has learned. Even strangers will listen and heed your words when you speak of your experience. For example, the other day I stopped to get gas for my car, but the particular pump that I chose to use did not work properly. First it would not start, then it pumped slowly, and finally it stopped altogether after pumping only 2 gallons of gas. I informed the attendant who told me that it had not worked properly all day. While I was using another gas pump, several cars stopped at the broken pump. Even though it was none of my business, I felt compelled to tell each one of them about my experience. I did not try to influence them in any way. They were total strangers to me and could have disregarded my words, but instead, they moved to another pump. They listened to the voice of experience.

We have experienced so much of God's kingdom. We have received His eternal grace and mercy on a daily basis. He has healed our bodies and restored our souls. He has provided for our needs and put food on our tables. He has kept us from many dangers and delivered us from evil when we fell into temptation. He has taken our sorrows and given us joy. He has delivered us out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of light. He has exchanged our confusion and given us peace in its place. We need to speak into the lives of others with enthusiasm and tell them that God has done these things for us. Our voices of experience could be the turning point for those who are going the wrong direction. Our life experiences could save them from wasting their own lives, for the changes that we made in our lives could be the same correction they need. Our experiences of victory over sorrow and grief could bring comfort and hope to those whose hearts are broken. Experience is a great teacher. We need to share what we have learned. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/17/07
THE LORD'S GOODNESS

Scripture: Psalms 107:15 "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

God is so good and His works are wonderful, yet we rarely stop to consider all that He does for us. He hides us under the shelter of His wings like a mighty eagle that protects her young. He is our shield in the time of battle and He is our hedge against problems. He walks with us in the midst of the fire and He keeps us safe in the flood. He calms the raging storms and leads us through the dry barren desert. He stands beside us when the lions roar and also helps us to conquer every giant that mocks us. He is our daily provision and our hope for the future. He is our Shepherd who leads us through the dark valley and our intercessor who continually sits at the right hand of God. He is our Savior and our best friend. How could we ask for anything more?

As I read the many prayer request that come through this ministry, I realize how thankful we need to be on a daily basis because God is sparing many of us from some of the heartache and pain that others are facing at the moment. Yet, I remember a season when I was pressed beyond measure on every side just as others are experiencing at this time. In that year, my husband passed away after a long battle with cancer, my brother died, and my home was flooded with over two feet of water from a tropical storm. My heart was broken because of the loss of my loved ones, and in the midst of my grief, I was forced to handle financial situations and make decisions that I had never had to face alone. It was a terrible season of hard work, financial loss, grief, and sorrow. But in every situation, God's grace proved sufficient, and my experiences became a training ground for me to learn how to love and encourage others who would later face the same challenges.

We are reminded of these seasons of heartache and pain, from time to time, and may even wonder how we made it through the various trials. Yet, how often do we give thanks to the Lord that we are not experiencing similar circumstances at the present time? We should give thanks every day of our life, for each day God protects us in some way that we do not realize. He spares us from sickness or some unseen situation that He knows we are unable to handle because He promised that He would never put more upon us than we could bear. He allows only a portion of pain for a given season so as not to overwhelm our spirits. If we could see all that the Lord had spared us from, we would be as passionate as the psalmist. We would agree with his declaration of desire. We would become one of those people who would "praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
www.widsonline.com
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10/18/07
ORDAINED TO BRING FORTH FRUIT

Scripture: John 15:16 "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain."

God has ordained different places and missions for each of us to fulfill. When we are in the place that He has ordained for us, we bring forth fruit and our fruit remains or continues to produce. God blesses our efforts and our works do not return unto Him void but accomplish what He desires. When God sends us forth, He meets every need for our journey, and regardless of the hardships, He provides a joy and a peace that passes all understanding. This explains why ministers work so very hard for so very little, how pastors are able to cope with church politics, and why missionaries forsake all, travel to foreign fields, and live in austere conditions. They are chosen and ordained for such a work and are joyful in it.

It's very important to find the place that God has ordained for you, for you must be planted in the right place to thrive and bring forth fruit. Trying to fit into someone else's chosen place will only bring frustration and lack because God's gifts and His anointing is not there to sustain you. God may choose to plant you in a large field or a small field but He makes no mistakes. Wherever He places you, it will be a good plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Your particular calling includes a future and a hope and that future includes fruit that will remain throughout eternity.

Daniel 11:32 declares that in these last days, "The people who know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." This is a different day and a new season. God has chosen you and brought you to the kingdom for such a time as this and He wants you to fulfill Daniel's prophecy. The Lord wants you to be strong and do mighty exploits in His name, but this will only happen as you totally surrender your life to the Lord and allow Him to plant you in His chosen field. When you yield yourself to His design, the fruit that He has ordained for your life will come forth and it will remain. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/19/07
A TRAIL CALLED ISHMAEL

Scripture: Genesis 17:18 "And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee."

In Genesis, God made a promise to Abraham that his seed would be as the stars of the heavens and that he would become the father of many nations. Abraham believed God, but as time passed he grew impatient and allowed himself to be persuaded by his wife, Sarah, to take action that would bring the prophecy to pass in the natural. Instead of waiting for God to fulfill His promise, Abraham took Sarah's maid, Hagar, and together they had a son whom they named Ishmael. God's word eventually came to pass as He promised and Abraham had another son with his wife Sarah. They named this son Isaac. Yet, Abraham's interference with God's plan and timing brought heartache and despair to all concerned. Ishmael's name meant wild man and he became a source of conflict to Isaac (Genesis 16:12). The descendants of Ishmael (the Arabs) still plague the world today.

How many times has God spoken a word to us, but in our haste to receive the promise, we've acted as Abraham did? We have not waited on God, but have chosen to go down a trail called "Ishmael" in an effort to make the word come to pass in the natural. It is a trail that leads only to heartache and confusion. The mistakes that we make, whether in marriage, divorce, or financial situations, set up circumstances that plague us for many years. In our struggle we cry out to God to make our bad choices work out for the good. We plead for prosperity in spite of our mismanagement and ask that our transgressions be overlooked. We try to keep our private dreams alive, which are designed to satisfy our own personal desires and lusts. Like Abraham, we cry out to God and say, "Oh, that our Ishmael may live before You."

Eventually we acknowledge the error of our choices. The consequences may seem irreversible, but God is merciful and He is a God of another chance. He is able to restore all that has been stolen from us. When we repent of our own doing and submit our lives to Him, He looks beyond our faults and begins to work on our behalf. He is like any loving father whose heart is touched by their children's needs. He is a God of miracles and nothing is too hard for Him. He can "restore the years that the locust has eaten and the cankerworm has devoured" (Joel 2:25). When you return to His original plan, He will cause the latter years of your life to be greater and more productive than the former. Wait on God and don't be hasty. Trust in Him with all of your heart and agree with His plan. Seek not that your Ishmael may live, but that God's will be done in your life, here on Earth as it is has been planned in Heaven. Then and only then will you experience God's greatest destiny for your life. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
www.widsonline.com
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of October 2007

10/22/07
WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Scripture:  Galatians 5:25  "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

The Apostle Paul made a distinction between living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit.  Living in the Spirit means that we have received Jesus as our Savior and have made Him the Lord of our life.  We have been born again by the Spirit of God and our bodies have become the temple of His Holy Spirit .  We have a relationship with God and His presence now resides within us.  This experience happens at a particular point in time.  One moment we are living in darkness and the next moment we are translated into the Kingdom of light.  It is an immediate transition from spiritual death to eternal life.  It is a mystery that a Holy God would choose to reside in a sinful man.  Yet, God graciously grants us this invitation and we can only obtain it by faith.

Walking in the Spirit, however, is another matter.  In essence, if we have the Spirit of God within us, Paul said that the evidence should be manifested in our daily walk.  Our walk with the Lord is not just to be an idea in our head or a sentiment in our heart.  Instead, it is our continuous actions or our habitual lifestyle; it is the things we say and do as we pass through life.  Our entire walk should mirror the example of Jesus.  Yet, it is possible to have a new birth experience in our Spirit and at the same time walk in the ways of the flesh, for our self-interest will always be at odds with the spiritual because our carnal nature is at enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

We have hope in this battle of flesh against spirit and spirit against flesh.  We do not have to cater to the appetites and impulses of the flesh.  We have a choice in the matter and our daily walk can be pleasing to God.  The Holy Spirit whom we received when we were born again can empower us to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  Our responsibility is to yield to Holy Spirit and follow wherever He leads.  He is our witness within us to assure us when we are doing right and also convict us when we are going in the wrong direction.  He will take us where we need to be.  When we surrender our will to Him and allow Him to have full control, we will not only have life in the Spirit, but we will be walking in the Spirit. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/23/07
CHOOSING YOUR PATH

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 30:19  "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live."

God has set before you a new season, and this new season has two paths.  One is called life and blessing and the other is called death and cursing.  God said that you must choose which path you will follow.  Choice is not a feeling and it is not always easy.  It is an individual and personal decision that involves an act of the will.  It means making changes by leaving the old and possessing the new.  There are steps involved in making choices and experiencing changes.  You must believe that you are in control, believe that you actually have a choice, and be convinced that you need to make a change.  Finally, you must discipline yourself to replace the wrong with the right.

God said, "Choose life."  He wants you to live and prosper.  II Corinthians 8:9 says, "Jesus became poor that you, through His poverty, might be rich."  God intends for you to be blessed, but you must take charge of that which has been committed to you.  It has been said, "If you don't back up, the devil will back down."  You can take back the territory that he has stolen from you, but your heart must be undivided in this endeavor.  A heart that is full of faith and does not waver will gain its rewards.  The world will step aside to allow you to pass if you know where you are going and they recognize that you are determined to get there. 

There is a world to win, a territory to conquer, and a generation to save.  You must choose to minister to those who are waiting by allowing your life to bring glory to God the Father.  You must choose courage in the face of fear when the enemy seems greater than yourself.  You must choose to have faith in times of great storms and adversities.  You must decide to love when bitterness challenges your soul.  You must choose forgiveness and go beyond the hurts and pains of the past.  You must choose to walk down the path of integrity and not the path of deceitfulness.  As you make these choices of life and blessings, instead of the alternatives that bring death and cursings, God will impart His strength and create a power within you to accomplish His will.  He has set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.  Which one will you choose? +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/24/07
PROGRESSIVE REVELATION

Scripture:  Isaiah 30:21  "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left."

I took my son and daughter-in-law to the airport and as we approached the terminal, my daughter-in-law began to give me instructions.  She said, "Follow the Terminal C signs, get in the middle lane, stay to the left, and proceed towards the tickets - passenger level."  It was comforting to know that someone in the car knew exactly how to get to the right place.  My only responsibility was to be obedient and follow the directions one step at a time as they were spoken and needed.  If I had been told that I needed to stay in the left lane too soon, I would have been in the wrong lane at the wrong time and would have ended up exiting the airport from the opposite direction that I came.  The instructions that I received were very simple and progressive.  They were also very timely and I could not proceed to the second step until I had completed the first step without making an error.

This is a picture of our walk with the Lord.  Too many times we get frustrated because God has not shown us the entire map of His plan for our lives.  Maybe He has put a dream or vision in our heart, but fulfilling it seems like a great mystery.  It is as though we can see it on the other side of the canyon, but it seems there is no bridge to get us there.  Reaching our destiny is progressive and can only be completed as we proceed one step at a time.  Each level will have its own tests, trials, and training that will strengthen us for the next level.  Once, when I was in a dilemma and seeking God for directions about what to do, the Lord shocked me with His answer, "You haven't completed my first instructions yet."  This was a revelation.  All the while, I thought that I was waiting on God but in reality He was waiting on me.

The children of Israel were instructed to follow the cloud by day and the fire by night.  These were such simple instructions.  Their only hope of provision and protection and reaching the Promised Land was to trust God and follow His guidance.  The same God that led the Israelites through the wilderness one step at a time also told Isaiah that he would be led the same way.  Isaiah was told that he would hear a voice in his ears that would tell him when to turn to the left or when to turn to the right.  God said His directions would be simple, precise, and accurate.  Just like Moses and Isaiah, we know that we can depend on God's voice.  In John 10:4-5 Jesus said, "My sheep follow me, for they know my voice, and a stranger they will not follow."  Reaching your destination depends on you hearing, recognizing, and following His voice.  His voice will be gentle and quiet and His instructions will be as simple as, "This is the way, walk in it." +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
www.widsonline.com
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10/25/07
TESTED IN THE STORM

Scripture:  Mark 6:48   "... and Jesus would have passed them by."

Jesus told His disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake.  It was such a simple instruction, but while they were in the middle of the lake a great storm arose.  Jesus was still on the land and could see that the disciples were in serious trouble.  They were rowing as hard as they could while they struggled against the wind and the waves.  About three o'clock in the morning, Jesus walked toward them on the water and He would have passed them by if they had not taken notice of Him.  His intent was to test their faith.

In their distress, the disciples cried out for help, but at the same time, they were fearful and wondered if they were seeing a ghost.  Jesus spoke three things to them, "Don't be afraid."  "Take courage!"  "I am here!"  When He got into their boat the wind immediately stopped.  They were amazed at this miracle and His power.  Yet just before they had started across the lake, they had witnessed Jesus feed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish.  The disciples had even participated in the miracle by distributing the food amongst the people and then afterwards gathered up the twelve baskets of leftovers.  Yet, even after seeing Jesus multiply the food, they still did not recognize His supernatural power and were amazed that He could walk on the water.

There are several things to take note of in this story.  First, just as Jesus saw the disciples in serious trouble, He sees your circumstances.  He watches you in the midst of the storm as you row and struggle against the winds and waves of adversity.  He knows that you are too far from the shore to get natural help and that your only way out is a supernatural miracle.  Second, He walks towards you and hopes that you will call out to Him.  He wants to help you when you are sinking in a sea of financial problems.  He desires to get into your boat with you when you health is failing and to be your comfort when you are suffering grief.  He wants to help you solve life's issues and restore your broken relationships.  He wants to rescue you from all danger.  He comes near to you and waits for you to call out to Him, but James 4:2 says, "You have not, because you ask not."

How many miracles have we missed because we fail to notice that Jesus was passing by?  He walked on the water toward us but we were too busy rowing and struggling within ourselves to recognize that we just needed Jesus to get in the boat with us.  His very presence would have calmed our storm, but we didn't reach for His help even though He said that He would always be there for us.  When we are tested in the storms of life, we need to remember His words "Don't be afraid."  "Take courage!"  "I am here!"  Jesus passes our way all the time, let's be ready to call out to Him. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
www.widsonline.com
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10/26/07
ESTABLISHED IN YOUR FAITH

Scripture:  II Chronicles 20:20  "... Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established."

A great multitude came to do battle against Jehoshaphat and his people.  When Jehoshaphat heard that his enemy was coming against him, fear came upon him because he knew that he had no might to stand against these armies.  He had no idea how to fix this situation, so his fear drove him to fast and seek the Lord.  As Jehoshaphat talked with the Lord, he reminded God that God was the ruler of Heaven and all of the kingdoms of the nations.  He told the Lord, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (Verse 12).

Jehoshaphat spoke to the Lord in simple words, and the Lord gave him a simple plan.  God told him not to fear and not to fight.  God was going to fight the battle for him.  All Jehoshaphat and his army had to do was to stand still.  Jehoshaphat challenged the people to believe in the Lord and told them that their faith would establish their victory and give them success.  God gave them His word, "The battle is not yours, but Mine.  You do not need to fight.  Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.  Go out tomorrow against them, for the Lord is with you."  Can you imagine the thoughts that ran through their minds when they heard these words?  "Go out against your enemy tomorrow, but do not fight them.  Just stand still."  God had an enormous plan that He was working.  He told Jehoshaphat not to fight but to appoint singers to go before the army.  They went out singing, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures for ever."  As the singers began to sing and praise the Lord, the Lord set up an ambush against their enemy.  Then in the midst of the confusion, their enemy began to fight amongst themselves and destroyed each other.

In the midst of any kind of battle, it takes great faith to stand still, hold your peace, and sing songs of praise.  Jesus challenged us when He said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who use and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).  He also said, "If they slap you on the cheek, turn the other cheek to them.  And if they take away your coat, give them your cloak also."  These solutions do not seem very fair to our natural mind.  Our tendency is to fight back, but God's ways are always higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  Don't fear when the enemy attacks, but just praise God in the midst of your situation.  When you put your faith in the Lord, God will fight for you and you shall be established. +++
Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

A Word In Due Season
5th Week of October 2007

10/29/07
RESCUED FROM BONDAGE

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 26:7-8  "And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor and our oppression: And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand ... "
 
These words are the testimony of Moses concerning the Egyptian bondage that God's people were in.  They had suffered so many things for such a long length of time and Moses described their circumstances as affliction, labor, and oppression.  They worked hard but not for their own benefit.  They suffered much abuse and their lives were a cheap commodity in the hands of the Egyptians.  When God looked upon them and saw all that they were enduring physically, mentally, and emotionally, His heart was touched and He made a way for their deliverance.  God sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt and anointed him to do mighty signs and wonders in their midst.  It was a mighty exodus and God was glorified in the process.  The fame of that miraculous event is still spoken of today.
 
We face many types of bondage and even though we are not making bricks like the slaves in Egypt, we can identify with Moses' description of affliction, labor, and oppression.  We may suffer the afflictions of addictions or various medical situations.  We may have to endure strenuous labor on a daily basis and yet never have enough to get beyond the realm of financial lack.  We may be plagued with problems in our relationships at home or on the job, which causes us undue oppression.  It may seem that there is one crisis right after another and we can't get ahead in any area of our life.  When we are going through difficulties of this sort, we may think that we are standing alone in our situation and that no one understands or really cares.  Yet, we must remember that even though our words may fall on the deaf ears of those around us that God in Heaven still hears every word that we pray.  When our closest friends are blind to our needs, God sees them clearly.  When no one understands how we feel, God sees the pain in our heart and He hurts with us.  He is our loving Father and when we cry out to Him, He hears our voices and it moves Him to do something about our situation.
 
When we receive prayer request through this ministry, I am extremely touched by the needs.  I pray over each one and answer with a word of encouragement.  I know that I could never lift the heavy burdens, do enough to satisfy the hurts, or say enough to erase the pain.  My words are so inadequate because the Lord Jesus is the only one who is capable of bringing deliverance in people's lives.  Yet, I know that if I am deeply touched by your needs that the Lord is certainly touched when you call out to Him.  He has far more compassions than I do and is not distracted by His own life or needs, as I would be.  He is your high priest and He knows every feeling that you will ever have (Hebrews 4:15).  He suffered pain, rejection, and was tempted in all points that you will be tempted in so that He could understand your needs.  He knows you better than anyone else and is waiting for you to call out to Him in your afflictions, labor, and oppression.  When you call out to Him, He will be there to rescue you with His mighty hand. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/30/07
HIS SHOES OF PEACE

Scripture:  Ephesians 6:15  "And your feet shod with the gospel of peace."

One of the most important choices of our day is to select the appropriate shoes to wear.  We have various selections, from work shoes to dress shoes.  Paul told us to put on the whole armor of God, and in that armor he included the shoes of the gospel of the preparation of peace.  The shoes were just as important as the breastplate, helmet, shield, or any other piece of the armor, for no soldier goes into battle barefooted.  Without proper shoes or boots, a soldier can't march very long or be able to do battle against the enemy.  So it is in the spiritual.  You won't last long in the battles of life without walking with your feet shod with God's supernatural peace.

As the day begins, you must make time to fill your heart with God and His Word, for His Word is the gospel of peace.  As you linger in His presence and mediate upon His Word, He pours Himself into your soul.  He instills strength and gives you faith for the journey of the day that is set before you.  God makes you equal to every task, and through Him you find that you are able to do all things because His strength is abiding in you.  The silent company of His Spirit engulfs your being as you walk peacefully through the turbulence of life's situations.  You become a witness to others as they sense this supernatural manifestation of God's peace in your life.  You are an example of the Kingdom of God on this earth, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

Paul said, "Look carefully how you walk!  Live purposefully, worthily, and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise - sensible, intelligent people" (Ephesians 5:15 Amp).  It is not sensible or wise to live outside the realm of peace, for it will inflict havoc in your body, soul, and spirit just as marching barefoot causes problems.  You must be wise and purposefully put on the shoes of peace that God has provided through His Son, Jesus.  In John 14:27 (Amp) Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My Own peace I now give and bequeath to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be trouble, neither let it be afraid - stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful, intimidated, cowardly, and unsettled."  Each moment of this day, determine that you will walk in God's shoes so that you can experience His supernatural peace that passes all understanding. +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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10/31/07
OPEN MY EYES

Scripture: II Kings 6:17 "Open his eyes, that he may see."

A great army had surrounded the city where the prophet Elisha and his servant were staying. When the servant saw that they were surrounded, He became distressed and sought comfort from Elisha. Elisha told his servant not to fear, declaring that there were more for them than against them, but the servant still couldn't see what the prophet of God saw. Elisha then prayed this simple prayer asking God to open the eyes of the servant. When God opened the servant's eyes and allowed him to see beyond the natural, he saw that the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire, which were there to protect them.

Before my grandchild was born, we experienced a great blessing, for we were allowed to see an amazing video of her. As the doctor scanned the baby with the sonogram, we were able to see many of her features, which included her heart beating and a perfect view of her mouth making definite sucking motions. It was hard to grasp this wonderful blessing. Modern technology had made it possible for our eyes to see beyond our natural capabilities and allowed us to view a miracle. Yet, if we had not been able to see the child with our own eyes, the fact remained that she was there and full of life. This is a life lesson for us in the spiritual. Too often, it seems that evil surrounds us, and like the situation with Elisha and his servant, our vision is limited. We are only able to see the opposition and experience fear because we can't see what is happening in the spirit. Yet, God is surrounding us with His forces. Without God opening our spiritual eyes, we can't see a way of escape any more than we could see the baby in the womb without the help of a sonogram. However, regardless of our limited vision, God is quietly working undercover on our behalf and has a plan and a time to bring all things into fruition.

I pray for you today, as the prophet prayed for his servant, that God would open your eyes supernaturally and allow you to see the heavenly forces that are fighting for you in the battles of life. I pray that you will get a glimpse of the blood of Jesus that was shed for your sins so that you could receive eternal life. I pray that you would come to understand the significance of the stripes that were laid upon Jesus' back, for Isaiah says that "by His stripes you are healed." I pray that God's peace that passes all understanding would flood your spirit as you envision the crown of thorns that was placed upon Jesus' brow, for "He took the chastisement of your peace upon Himself" (Isaiah 53:5). And finally, I pray that your spiritual eyes would be opened to know God's heartbeat and that you would be assured that He is surrounding you with His love. I encourage you to pray the same simple prayer that the prophet prayed, "Open my eyes that I may see." +++

Copyright © 2007 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved   
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