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01/02/08
FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:12 "The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon the land, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year."

Just as God gave a promise to His people that He would care for the land that He had given them, to watch over it and to water it with rain from heaven, He makes promises to us concerning our lives. This wonderful God that we serve promises to finish the things that He starts in our lives. This is the nature of His character, for He is the "Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Revelation 22:13 also tells us that He is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." He commits Himself to be there from the start to the finish. Paul told us that he, himself, was confident of this very thing, that He who had begun a good work in us would perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Right up to the time that Jesus returns, we can be sure that God will never give up on us. Instead, He will continue working on us and developing perfection in us (Philippians 1:6).

This is quite contrary to our habits. As the old year ends and a new one begins, we make our New Year's resolutions. We are bound and determined to make changes in our lives and we are very excited about the new turn that we are going to take. We plan to discipline ourselves in various ways such as exercise, diet, devotionals, or spending more time with the family. But soon into the new year, our plans start falling apart. We can't seem to get it together or to finish what we so adamantly started. What is our answer?

I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast your cares upon Jesus for He cares for you." Just as God cared for His people and their land in the past, He also cares for you. He wants you to succeed in your every effort that is noble in His eyes. He wants you to prosper and be in good health. He knows that exercise, diet, and relationships are important. The Lord truly cares for every aspect of your personal life and He wants to help you keep your resolutions. Psalms 37:5 says, "Commit your ways unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." As you think about those things that you want to change in the New Year, commit them to God and ask Him to help you. Release the struggle and allow Him to take the care of it upon Himself, for He really does care for you. As you lean upon Him, He will impart His strength and virtue into your life. You will not only be able to begin, but you will also be able to finish those things that you committed to do from the very beginning of the year to the end of the year. +++

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01/03/08
MAKING PRAYER THE PRIORITY

Scripture: I Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

The Apostle Paul was a very busy person. He went on missionary journeys, evangelized the nations, wrote nearly three fourths of the New Testament, and even made tents to supplement his income. Yet, he was never too busy to pray. He made prayer a priority in his life, and because he was aware of the necessity of prayer in his own life, he instructed us to do the same.

Prayer is not just a few words that are spoken to our Father as we ask Him to bless our meals, our day, and our night seasons. It is a continual communion with God where we acknowledge His presence with us and our utter dependence upon Him. God not only waits for us to put things aside, enter our closet places, and bow our knees before Him, but He also waits for us to simply speak to Him informally. Paul told us to pray without ceasing. Even though we are busy with the demands of life, we can still stay focused on God and whisper a prayer along the way. As our spirits praise and seek God throughout the busyness of the day, we will hear His still small voice speaking to us in return. This is communion. We not only speak, but we listen. We not only ask for the things that we desire but we hear His words in our ears and act with obedience to fulfill His desires.

Yet, many times we get busy and our prayers become only petitions for our immediate needs. Someone made the comment that we treat God like "Burger King" instead of "The King." We pray, "I'll take - two healings, one forgiveness, and a large order of blessings." We don't even check the bag before we drive off or leave His presence. Later, we find out that we didn't get all of the things that we ordered from God and we wonder what happened. The words of our prayers were there but our connection with God was lost in the busyness of life.

Jesus had great confidence when He spoke to the Father in prayer. He told the Father, "I know that you hear me always" and Jesus then raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:42). That was a power packed prayer. However, the power was not established in these few words, but through Jesus' continual prayer life and communion with the Father. Scriptures declare that Jesus arose early before dawn to meet God in prayer and also prayed all night. He stayed in communication with the Father and made no decisions on His own. Prayer was a priority with Jesus and communion with God was His way of life. Let us seek to follow the Lord's example, and like Paul's instructions, pray without ceasing. +++

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01/04/08
DEDICATED TO GOD'S WILL

I recently read that to make an inner contact with others, you must "look them in the eye and point your heart towards their heart." This is also true in our contact with God. Although we cannot see Him physically, our spiritual eyes must be turned towards Him and our hearts must be in tuned with His heart. True connection with God will only be experienced when we make a conscious effort to look into His eyes and to seek to know His deepest desires. Only as we yield ourselves to Him can He write the chapters of our lives and fulfill His own will and purpose that He has destined for us. Doing God's Will is not always so easy. For some who want to go, He says, "Stay" and for those who want to stay, He says, "Go". Sometimes it becomes tedious to stay in the field where you have been placed. It may be difficult to bloom where you have been planted and hard to brighten the corner where you are. The old clichés sound good, but as far as you are concerned, they don't seem to fit because you don't see any progress.

I recently planted a luscious green plant in the sun. It looked beautiful for a few days in its new spot, but soon withered because it was created for the shade. Some of us are made for the blazing experiences of the sun while others can only endure the shade. Only God knows what is best for our lives and He simply wants us to move when the cloud moves and stay when the cloud stays. Yet, how often do we strive with our maker? We are like the grass that refuses to grow in the yard and yet seeks out a place in the flowerbed. Remember that God knows us much better than we know ourselves and He knows exactly where we fit. We must lay our plans at His feet and allow Him to direct our lives. Only as we dedicate ourselves to God's will, will we truly flourish and find our destined place in His kingdom. +++

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01/07/08
TRUSTING GOD IN THE HARD PLACES

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-2 "The Lord spoke to Moses saying, "Speak to the Israelites to turn back and camp between Migdol and the sea."

This direct word from God seemed to lead the Israelites right into a trap, for when they obeyed God's instructions they found themselves in a very hard place. They had the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptians at their back. The Israelites had no hope of deliverance, and in their dilemma they forgot the power of the Almighty God that they served. When they saw their enemy marching towards them, they became afraid and cried out to Moses saying, "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

Sometimes we react in a similar manner. We get very excited about a word from God and we venture out on that word. For a short time, God may do amazing things in our lives but eventually the trials and tests come, and like the Israelites, we find ourselves between the enemy and a sea of difficulty. There seems to be no way out of our situation. When impossible circumstances present themselves, fear attacks and we begin to complain. We wonder if we really did hear from God and if we are supposed to be in this place. We even think about returning to the safe place although it means bondage of one kind or another.

What the Israelites failed to understand and what we fail to understand is that if God leads us into an impossible situation, He has a plan to get us out. He doesn't lead you so far and then forsake you, for He promised to be with you always. It is in the hard places, as you stand between the enemy and the sea, that you discover the power of God and come to know the integrity of His word. All you must do is focus on the sufficiency of God, Himself. Remember that you serve a God that can part the Red Sea. He will then use that same dry ground that you walk through to drown your enemy and set you completely free. When you have a problem that has no solutions and questions that have no answers, you are on the edge of a miracle, for you serve a God that specializes in hard places. Trust Him. +++

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01/08/08
CONSCIENCE TOWARDS GOD

Scripture: Genesis 2:17 (Living Bible) "God gave man this warning, "You may eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the Tree of Conscience - for its fruit will open your eyes to make you aware of right and wrong, good and bad."

Our conscience is that part of our inner being that distinguishes between right and wrong, urges us to do the right thing, then judges us if we fail to follow its prompting. Our conscience can be at different levels depending upon our relationship with God. For instance, the New Testament speaks of a 'good conscience' (I Timothy 1:5), a 'pure conscience' (I Timothy 3:9), a 'seared conscience' (I Timothy 4:2), an 'evil conscience' (Hebrews 10:22), and a 'conscience towards God' (I Peter 2:19).

We are all born with this inner knowing called our conscience. It is like a traffic light that tells us that we need to stop, be cautious, or proceed forward. When we are reborn, it takes another dimension. It bears witness with the Holy Spirit (Romans 9:1). When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He told them not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. When they disobeyed, they took upon themselves and all of mankind the responsibility of discerning between good and evil, right and wrong. Like Adam and Eve, we also fail to heed this voice and find ourselves in a real dilemma, for when we disregard our conscience over a period of time, it becomes seared. It is as though our spirits have been branded with a hot iron. We find ourselves no longer sensitive to certain issues or to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is the same principle of drinking a hot drink until there is no more feeling on the tongue. The first experience is painful, but gradually the heat can't even be felt.

How does the conscience get to this state? Nature teaches us that everything that is left to itself comes to destruction. It deteriorates on its own. The garden that is left untended is overgrown with weeds. The child that is never disciplined becomes rough and troublesome. The body that is not forced to exercise and take proper nourishment weakens. Likewise, the conscience, or the inner being, that is not renewed with the Word of God eventually conforms to the world's standards. Romans 12:2 warns us, "Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We must allow God's word to transform us into His image. As we do, our conscience will be turned towards God and we will follow after that which is good, acceptable, and in the perfect will of God. +++

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01/09/08
CONTROLLING OUR SPEECH

Scripture: James 3:2 (Amplified) "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if any one does not offend in speech - never says the wrong things - he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."

The tongue is a very small part of our body, yet it is one of the most powerful members. James said that the tongue is like the small rudder on a ship that causes the entire ship to go whichever direction the pilot turns it. When the rudder of the ship is turned just a little too far to the left or to the right, it causes the ship to get totally off course. Our tongue has this same ability as it speaks into our own lives or the lives of others. Our words can be instruments in keeping others on the right course or pushing them in the wrong direction.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "There is life and death in the power of the tongue." Our negative words are able to tear down and minister death. For this reason we are not to vent our frustrations at the expense of someone else's feelings. A small harsh word may seem as nothing at the time, but it becomes a small seed that is sown into the garden of another's heart. This small seed of disapproval is capable of taking root and growing into a mighty tree of rejection, which will create strongholds in the minds of others. However, when we speak positive words, we encourage and minister life. We minister grace to the hearer by planting good seeds that will shape and mold the lives of others in a positive way. David asked God to help him with his words. He 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). He understood the power of words and how difficult it was to keep his words pure and pleasing to God.

Since words are so mysteriously powerful, we must think about them before sowing them into the life of another. In as much as possible, we should examine them as we would a seed that we are preparing to plant and determine if they are seeds from the Holy Spirit. Are they ministering love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control? If not, we must submit them to God and ask Him to help us exercise control. As we strive not to offend, we will become the one whom James spoke of, one that is "a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature." +++

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01/10/08
THE GREATER SHADOW

The other day I took a walk in the late afternoon. The sun was beginning to set behind me so my shadow stretched out about fifteen feet before me. As I walked, I caught up with another couple who were walking in front of me. They knew that I was coming close behind them because they could see my shadow on the pavement between them. Yet, it seemed that they took little notice of my shadow because even though my shadow had invaded their territory, it had no life or power within it to alter their lives in any way. It could not hear the conversation between the two of them or verbally communicate with them. And even though my shadow was in their path, it could not cause them to stumble. My shadow could only announce that someone was very near.

This was not the case when the Apostle Peter's shadow passed by on the streets of Jerusalem. The people had great hope in Peter's shadow to the extent that the sick people gathered in the streets just to experience his shadow passing over them. Yet, please understand that it was not Peter's shadow that brought healing and miracles. Instead, it was the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was upon Him as a person. Peter had been with Jesus and because of that intimate communion with Him, supernatural power continued to linger in Peter's life. It was Peter's relationship with the Lord that caused the gifts of healing and deliverance to overflow from his life into the lives of those who believed and had faith to receive.

If you have a desperate need today, you cannot lay upon the streets of Jerusalem in hopes that Peter's shadow will pass over you and cause healing to come to your body or cause your other needs to be met. Those days are over, but there is a greater shadow that is offered to you. It is an everlasting shadow that is found in the presence of the Lord. Psalms 91:1 tells us that if we dwell in the secret place of the Most High that we will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The secret place that you need to search for is simply the Lord's presence, for His presence is your greatest security. It is under His shadow that you will experience His love and care in a unique way, and as you hide yourself in His presence He will be your refuge and will keep you safe from all harm. +++

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01/11/08
IN GOD'S HANDS

This scripture sounds so inviting and it gives us a sense of security, for what better place to be than in the hands of a loving God? We desire to be in this special place so we yield ourselves to God. Yet, too soon we learn the first part of this verse where God says, "Cannot I do with you as this potter?" This means that God is sovereign and He is in control of our lives just as the potter is in control of the clay that is on the potter's wheel. We are in the hands of a creative genius and He can do just as He pleases with our lives. God doesn't look at our problems but sees our potential and makes it His business to form us into the vessel that He wants us to become. At times, this may become a very hard process for us because there are no perfect lumps of clay. Each one of us has to be dealt with in a special way and sometimes this is not easy. God has to carefully remove the hard places and the bubbles to make us into stronger vessels. We often struggle with this process and like the potter who works with the clay, it becomes necessary for the Lord to allow us to be totally crushed so that He can start the process anew.

God is not only our creator, He is creative and imaginative in all of His work. When we are created, the mark of God is upon us for we are made in His image. Yet He delights in the differences of each individual. Every vessel that He creates is unique in appearance and purpose. He personally works with each vessel and is able to turn sinners into saints and mortals into eternal beings. God takes extreme pride in His work and each time that He creates, there is a resounding echo of the words that He spoke in Genesis over His creation, "God saw that it was good."

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Scripture: I Corinthians 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

The Apostle Paul did not preach a message with enticing words of man's wisdom but a message that was a demonstration of the power of God. His message required faith. Natural wisdom often discourages us by telling us that faith doesn't work. We must understand that faith is not contrary to reason but exceeds reason. We are not required to explain God or the words that He has spoken, we must only believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith is a gift and a fruit of the Spirit and it doesn't come simply because of our needs or desires. It is supernatural and Paul said that it comes only by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:7). In Matthew 9:29 Jesus spoke to two blind men who were seeking healing and said, "According to your faith, be it unto you." These men had been following Jesus and their faith had been stirred as they heard the reports and testimonies of what Jesus was doing throughout the land. Jesus' famed had spread because He had done many mighty miracles, and had even raised a young girl from the dead. Faith in Jesus had come into the blind men's hearts because of what they had heard and Jesus responded to their heart full of faith, not their desperate situation. He was looking for those who would believe. Jesus passed many people who did not receive a miracle because there was no faith in their hearts. In one city, the scriptures declare that He could not do any mighty miracles because of their unbelief.

Jesus speaks the same words today, "According to your faith, be it unto you." You can only receive what you believe for and you can only believe for the things that you hear from God, for His words are spirit and life. What are you trying to believe God for? Your faith will not stand in the wisdom of men, for reasoning will speak out against the foolishness of your faith. You must find your faith building answer in God's word, for your faith will stand only in the power of God. His words are creative and full of power. As God speaks into your heart, your faith will rise and that faith will become substance to your hopes. Then according to your faith, it will be done unto you. +++

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01/15/08
THE ACCESS NAME

Scripture: Romans 5:2 "By Whom (Jesus) we have access by faith."

Jesus told us exactly how to talk to the Father and how to receive answers. One of the principles of prayer that He gave us is so simple but often missed. In John 16:23 Jesus said, "You shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you." Jesus gave us His Name and that Name allows us access to God the Father. There is no other name.

In today's modern world, we understand access codes and what they will allow us to do or not do. As we attempt to use the computer, access our bank accounts and credit cards, or draw funds from the ATM machines, we realize the importance of being totally accurate. One incorrect digit or dot will hinder our access to what rightfully belongs to us. Using the Name of Jesus to access the Father is comparable to these codes. We must approach God accurately and on the basis of who Jesus is and what He has done. Jesus told us that we would experience problems if we did not make our petitions in the correct way. There's great comfort in talking to Jesus, fellowshipping with Him, singing about Him, and enjoying communion with the Holy Spirit. But Jesus made it very plain that we should ask nothing of Him, but that we were to ask the Father in His Name. The Father is the one who grants our petitions, and we need to gain access to His throne of grace in order to get our needs met. Our prayers and requests need to be spoken directly to God the Father in the Name of Jesus.

Peter and John soon put these words to the test in the third chapter of Acts when the lame man was healed in the Name of Jesus. Peter told the crowd of people who looked on in amazement and wonder, "Why look on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" Peter said, "It was Jesus' Name and through faith in His Name that caused this man to walk." Like Peter and John, Jesus gives us His Name and expects us to access our Father in faith. When we go to the Father in Jesus' Name, God listens and responds. He will faithfully grant our petitions when our petitions represent who Jesus is and what His will is for our lives. +++

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01/16/08
RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY

Scripture: Romans 14:17 "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Paul describes the kingdom of God in these few powerful words; righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  These words of definition are terms of extreme excellence. Jesus told us in Luke 17:21 that this "kingdom of God is within us." What an enormous thought that the righteousness, peace, and joy of God is dwelling within us. When we have been born again by God's Spirit, we are a branch that is connected to the vine, Jesus, and the same life of God that flows through Jesus flows through us. Yet, there are times that this flow is hindered because we get out of the will of God and are no longer walking by faith in the paths of His righteousness. When this happens, the peace and joy cease to flow in our lives. David experienced this when he sinned against God. As he prayed for forgiveness, he also felt a need to pray for the joy of God's salvation to be restored in his life (Psalm 51).

Jesus warned us that this kingdom of God would suffer violence (Matthew 11:12). We can be sure that the righteousness, peace, and joy that resides within us will be challenged and we will suffer adversity because the word says that the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. His purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy the kingdom of God that is within us. He doesn't want our testimony to be one of righteousness, peace, and joy. But God has made us to be overcomers in this life.  He has given us the authority to resist the devil and told us that no weapon that has been formed against us can prosper.  We are protected through His Name, His Word, and His Blood. However, although we are more than conquerors where the devil is concerned, we still have to fight the good fight of faith and maintain God's kingdom in our hearts.

Jesus told us to make the kingdom of God a priority in our lives. He said, "Don't worry about what you are going to eat, drink, or wear, but seek first the kingdom of God. As you do, all things that you need will be added to you." We are to seek righteousness, peace, and joy on a daily basis. These things are more important than any material thing that we can gather and store.  Righteousness comes by faith and is a work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 3:22). Perfect peace comes as our mind is stayed on the Lord (Isaiah 26:3). And fullness of joy comes to us as we dwell in His presence (Psalm 16:11), singing praises and worshiping Him. God makes life so simple. As we seek His kingdom, He will build our kingdom and all that we need will be added to us. +++

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01/17/08
LIBERTY FOR THE CAPTIVES

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord has anointed Me to ... proclaim liberty to the captives ..."

Time and time again, we find ourselves in places of bondage. Most of the time these situations evolve rather slowly as we turn our eyes the other way and allow things to pass that we don't agree with. We never dream that those things will lead us into a snare. We may allow others to manage and manipulate us, only to find that we have lost control of our own lives. We give in on issues so that we can be accepted by our peers, but later realize that we are being identified with concepts that are contrary to our thinking and degrading to our character. We may even fall into a state of total addiction because we take one step towards sin or lust, thinking that it won't hurt to give in just this one time. Instead of finding a place of peace and rest, we are overtaken and we find ourselves in captivity to the very things that we stood against and were trying to resist.

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that if you continually surrender yourselves to any one to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey?" It is a simple principle. Yielding to temptation brings about captivity in our lives. Each time we yield to temptation, the devil gains a stronghold in our minds, emotions, and physical bodies. As we continually surrender, we become a slave to him and in bondage to his addictions.

Jesus, however, came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The Spirit of the Lord God anointed Jesus to proclaim liberty to the captives. He alone is able to set us free and keep us free from the bondages of our carnal flesh. Zechariah 4:6 tells us that it is not by our might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. We can't wrestle the devil and his temptations in our own strength. We must depend upon God. When we surrender to God, the battle belongs to the Lord, but the Holy Spirit requires our cooperation in this matter. Paul makes it clear that we have a choice to be servants of sin unto death, or to be servants of obedience unto righteousness. Joshua challenged us to "Choose this day whom we will serve" (Joshua 24:15.) We must make a determination that we will serve the Lord God and obey His voice. At the moment temptation knocks at our heart's door, we must yield ourselves to God and allow the Holy Spirit to answer. Only then can we maintain the freedom that Jesus has purchased for us. +++

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01/18/08
GOD'S THOUGHTS

Scripture: Psalms 139:17-18 "How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them. If I could count them, they are more in number than the sand."

Imagine that you are on a beach that stretches for miles and miles. You make yourself comfortable and then you begin to count the grains of sand that hold back the vast ocean. One by one, you count each grain until you are finished, and then you go to the next beach and start all over. You do this until you have counted all of the grains of sand on the Earth. We know this is an impossible task and so is taking inventory of God's thoughts towards us. David said "if" he could count God's thoughts towards him, they would be more numerous than the sand. God's thoughts towards us are so precious and they are so many that they reach into eternity.

God begins to think about us before we are ever conceived. We are His special design. When we are being formed in the secret place of our mother's womb, He forms our being into the awesome vessel that He desires. He creates within us special abilities so that we will be able to correspond with His mighty plan and purposes. We may look at ourselves and think that we are very little, but the Lord makes no mistakes. Our life has always been in His hands, and He has always been in control. The crown is upon His head and the scepter is in His hands. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We must acknowledge that He is God and that He made us to be the person that He wanted us to be. When we accept God's sovereign plan, we begin to find our place and to understand our purpose.

You will face challenges through the day and you will be thrown some curves in your life. There will be cold dark valleys to pass through and tough mountains to climb. There will be hot dry deserts and raging rivers to cross. There will be decisions to make and disappointments to deal with. In these places, you must always take refuge in the knowledge that God is thinking of you and that His thoughts are for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Just as you watch over your own children when they are unaware, your heavenly Father is watching over you. He never slumbers or sleeps and He will never leave you, nor forsake you. His thoughts towards you are more precious than you could ever imagine, and they are more in number than the grains of sand. +++

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01/21/08
GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

Scripture: I Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith."

Faith has many challenges. The storms will get rough, the mountains will be too hard to climb, the rivers too deep to cross, the valleys too dark and lonely, and the battle too long and weary. This is the reason the Apostle Paul told Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith." Faith itself is a battle and is only won through great effort. When God speaks a word of faith into your heart, the devil comes immediately to steal that word through offense, persecutions, and the cares of this life (Luke 4:15-19). To receive God's promise, you must hold on to God's word and endure to the end. You must fight the good fight of faith. A good fight is one where you know that you are going to win. You have a secret plan, a hidden weapon, or you hold the high card in your hand and you know that you can draw on that strength when the demand comes.

After Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, he instructed him to, "Lay hold on eternal life." The fight of faith can't even begin until Jesus is professed as Lord and trust is placed in Him and His completed work at Calvary. Having faith in ourselves and who we are, our financial security, our education, and our relationships will fail at some point, for there is no supernatural substance in them. Having the assurance that we belong to God and that we have obtained eternal life through the blood of Jesus is our hidden strength. With this revelation in our hearts, even the gates of Hell can not prevail against us.

As you face today and every day after, remember that there will always be battles. The Apostle Paul had battles and he told Timothy that he too would have battles. Serving Jesus does not exempt you from problems. In fact, many times it qualifies you to go to the front lines of battle. Your faith will be challenged in all areas, but understand that your faith does not have the responsibility to prove the devil wrong. Faith is designed to enforce what God has already accomplished. You hold the keys to God's kingdom. Jesus said, "Whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in Heaven and whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19). You don't have to debate with evil. Instead, just resist it and declare the written words of God as Jesus did. He said, "It is written" and then quoted the Word of God. Let the devil debate with Almighty God and His word. You will discover that the devil will flee at God's Word, for he knows that he is already defeated. God and His Word always prevail. This is the good fight of faith. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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01/22/08
WE NEED EACH OTHER

The Apostle Paul compared the individual church members to a human body and said that God had set every member in the body as it pleased Him. Paul encouraged the church to appreciate one another and to recognize that each one was just as important as the other. The eye is needed so the body can see what the hand is doing and the hand needs the eye so it can perform its duties. The head needs the feet to take it places, but the feet cannot go without the head. The feet, the hand, the eye, and the head do no look anything alike. Neither do they have the same functions or need the same care. Yet, each is important and necessary in its own right. The body is either sorely paralyzed or even dead without these various members functioning together in unity.

This is such a simple analogy but very fitting and easy to understand. The body of Christ needs each other. We cannot say one to the other, "I have no need of you", for we all have need of each other. Not only do we need each other, but we also need to work together in the unity of the Spirit. We are not to be jealous or to strive against one another. Psalms 133:1 tells us that it is good and pleasant for the brethren to dwell in unity, for when we are in unity we accomplish much more. Think about your hands. God created you with two hands and supplied each hand with four fingers and a thumb. Each finger and each thumb is important. Can you imagine how limited you would be if your hand only had a thumb or one finger? If would be very difficult for you to hold and lift things or to do various task. Even in battle, a body with one finger on each hand would find itself in jeopardy. Yet, a hand with all of its fingers and a thumb, clutched into a fist, becomes a mighty weapon.

God wants us working together in this fashion. You may not esteem your place or your gift in the body of Christ as highly as you do someone else's gift or place. Yet each vessel and each gift is important to God's kingdom. He wants us to join together in such unity that we can usher in His presence and combat the forces of Hell together. The Word of God confirms this. Matthew 18:19 says, "If two agree on Earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them." Verse twenty tells us that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in the midst of them. The scriptures also tell us in Ecclesiastes 4:12 that a threefold cord is not easily broken, and Deuteronomy 32:30 tells us that if one can chase a thousand then two can put ten thousand to flight. God has placed you in His body where He wants you. Remember that you need others and that there are others that need you. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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01/23/08
GOD RESPONDS

Jesus told His followers, "Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name." He wanted them to express their need to Him and ask for their provisions. If you are in situations today and wondering why your needs are not met, could Jesus respond with the same words, "So far, you haven't asked for anything in My Name"? We often have thoughts concerning our needs but do not verbalize them into prayer because we may think they are too big or too small. Many blessings are missed simply because we fail to ask. We just wait for God to read our minds and nothing happens. Consider the promises of a response from God in these scriptures:

Scripture: Psalms 108:1 "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory."

David faced many challenges. Yet He declared that regardless of the threats from his adversaries and the battles that he must face, he would maintain a steady and steadfast faith in God. He placed all of his confidence in God and depended upon Him for deliverance, for he knew that God was full of mercy and loving kindness. God was his only hope, for he knew that trusting in help from man would be in vain.

David reminded God that He had promised to establish David's kingdom. David believed that God had spoken the truth, so he fixed his heart on this promise of God and began to sing and praise God before he ever saw the victory. David knew that his help would not come from man, but that it would come directly from God who would cause him to triumph over his enemies.

"Vain is the help of man." Think about those words that David spoke. Through these words, he teaches us a great principle of life. In the times of trouble and adversity, our natural instinct is to run to our families and friends for help. We want to "fix our heart" on them and lean upon them for deliverance and comfort. Yet we soon realize that our faith and confidence in them is in vain. We become disappointed and disillusioned because those whom we trust the most fail us the greatest. We also discover that their help is vain, for their strength is no match for our enemy. Neither can they render adequate solutions for our problems. And often they are too busy to even listen because of the priorities and concerns of their own lives.

Can you imagine being eighty-five years old and asking God to give you a mountain that is full of giants that you will have to conquer? This is the place that Caleb was at in his life. God had given Moses and the children of Israel a promise, and now forty-five years later, Caleb is claiming his portion of that promise. He said, "I am this day four score and five years old (85 years old). As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me" (Verses 10-11). Caleb was of another spirit and was destined for deliverance because he followed the Lord fully (Numbers 14:24). He believed that what God had promised, God would deliver.

Forty-five years before Caleb made this request, he had tried to encourage God's people to go in and possess the Promised Land, but they had no faith. Instead, they could only see the giants and believe the evil reports. Caleb, however, focused his attention upon God and His words. Even though for forty years Caleb was forced to wander in the wilderness with an unbelieving generation, he did not allow them to discourage him. Caleb said that God, Himself, had kept him alive and that he was just as strong at eighty-five as he had been when he was forty. He wasn't senile or in denial of the circumstances. Caleb told Joshua he knew that the giants were in the land and that the cities were great and fenced in. But, he said, "If the Lord is with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said" (Verse 12). What an amazing testimony of courage and faith.

This story challenges us to think about our own lives and the things that have been left unfinished. We have mountains that we have not conquered. We have allowed the giants of fear, age, and a multitude of other things to hinder our dreams and visions. Not many of us are eighty-five years old like Caleb and yet we have already given up. Occasionally, there will be a spark or a renewal in our spirits, but too soon we set our hopes aside. We allow the enemy to convince us that it will never happen. We must have a change of heart and allow God to impart within us the spirit of faith as Caleb had. Regardless of how many years have passed, we must look at the mountain that God promised to us and then boldly ask Him to give us our mountain. +++

01/28/08
REFUSING TO COMPROMISE

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:2 "Come, let us meet together in ... in the Plain of Ono."

Nehemiah organized God's people for the purpose of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. From the very beginning of this endeavor, their enemies had tried to discourage and hinder their work by mockery, conspiracy, extortion, and slander. Yet, they continued in their efforts and their work on the wall progressed. Now, however, the enemy was attempting to lure them from their work on the walls into the Plain of Ono for a meeting. God's people recognized the enemy's plan as a plan of mischief. In verse three, Nehemiah, their leader, responded to the invitation with the words, "I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?" He refused to enter into a place where he would have the opportunity to listen to any terms of compromise.

As in this story, the enemy will try to lure you from the commitments that you have made to God and will also try to destroy your faith in God's promises. If he can get you to come down from your position on the wall of faith, he may be successful in stopping the great work that you are doing for God. Once you are in his territory, the enemy will try to get you to a place where his voice of compromise can whisper to you in every area. As he gains your attention, he will sow seeds of doubt such as, "You can't be saved. You have done too many evil things." "You can't give your tithes and offerings this week. If you do, how will you pay all of your bills?" "You can't be healed. Everyone dies from that disease." "You can't sing, testify, and serve Jesus. You're not good enough." "You can't be delivered. Addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and sex are just too strong to fight against." "You can't forgive. You've been hurt too bad."

The list goes on as the devil continually tries to discourage you and steal your faith. Your weapon against him is to refuse to reason with him or to listen to his lies. Remember that your example is Jesus. In Matthew chapter four, Jesus faced the devil but refused to compromise. His only responses to the devil's temptations were, "It is written" and Jesus then quoted the Word of God. The devil has no defense against God's word, which is "powerful and sharper than a two edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). Like Nehemiah, God has a great work for you so when the devil attempts to lure you from the wall of faith and invites you to leave your place of commitment, refuse to compromise or come to down to his level. +++

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01/29/08
I AM WITH YOU

Where is God in the midst of crises and confusion? The answer to that question is that He is with us. Where can we find Him when the storms of life are raging? He's right there in the same boat that we are in. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We can trust Him to stay close by our side and lead us through the troublesome times, down the hard paths, and through the valleys that harbor the shadows of death and despair. He will never abandon us in the midst of our situation, but will always honor His promises and be accountable to His eternal word.

God is with us as our hope in a hopeless situation. He is our courage in conflict and our fortress and protection in battle. He is our peace in the midst of the raging storm. In His presence, our anxiety yields to His Spirit of peace and our restlessness gives way to His gift of patience. God turns our grief and mourning into comfort and becomes our wisdom as we cease leaning upon our own understanding. He is the love inside of us that flows out to the unlovely and the joy within our spirit that renews our strength. He is the light within us that shines in a darkened world, and His Spirit that works within us causes us to be the hope of His glory.

How precious are these thoughts, "I am with you always." Let us never forget that the very presence of God dwells within us and that His presence should make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. Those around us should see His light as we walk through the shadows and darkness. In the valleys, they should be able to draw from His wisdom, hope, and courage that is within us. The world should be able to sense His peace and patience within us in the midst of conflict. They should be able to feel His love as it flows through us and experience a moment of His glory. If Jesus is with us then others should be able to see the evidence and sense His presence, for He is too great and awesome to be hidden in our shadow. +++

From the beginning, Jesus defined His ministry to mankind by quoting from the prophet, Isaiah. He stood in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and boldly declared that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him. Jesus said that among the things God had anointed Him to do, He was to heal the hurting and bind up the broken hearted (Luke 4:18).

You may have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You may have also experienced physical healing for your body and received provisions for your needs, but God's grace extends beyond those boundaries. God wants you to have life and have it more abundantly in all areas; body, soul, and spirit. So He sent Jesus to heal your wounded spirit and to set you free from the emotional pain that plagues you. Jesus is touched by every feeling and infirmity that will ever challenge you. He knows about your past and is sensitive to your painful memories. He sees the hurts and disappointments of your present. He also understands your fears and anxieties concerning the future and He wants to help you. Friends, family, children, or professionals can be a great support and may point you in the right direction, but only the anointing of God's Spirit can break the yoke of bondage that holds you captive and bring freedom to your soul.

If you have been wounded emotionally, if your heart is breaking, if you are lonely with no one to turn to, if the memories of the past grip your soul, and you anguish over the poor choices of your life that have been haunting you, then know that Jesus loves you and He is near. This is His promise. He said that He would be near those who were of a broken heart. As you allow Jesus to touch your heart, He will take all of your hurt and turn it around for good. Isaiah 61:3 says, the Lord will give you beauty for the ashes of your life, the oil of joy for your mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Jesus, Himself, will open your prison doors and set you free. He is near and stands ready as the Great Physician to bind up your painful wounds and to heal your broken heart as only He can. The Lord wants you to call upon Him in faith and to embrace the promises of His word. +++

                                                I am ready for anything.
                                                I am equal to anything."

Every change in life brings new levels of responsibility and presents new challenges. Yet, the Apostle Paul was convinced that in all things, Christ would strengthen him. He felt that Christ could make him ready for anything and equal to anything. We can draw strength from Paul's faith filled words. Whatever the case may be, whether it is a new job, a new baby in the home, or a new area of ministry, God is able to give us strength for each and every occasion. Through His life giving power, He miraculously makes us fit.

The fifteenth chapter of John tells us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. As branches, when we abide in Jesus and draw our life from Him, He infuses us with inner strength. When we are filled with His life and energy, we produce fruit. We don't have to be anxious about the fruit or try to force it to happen.  It just happens. The life of Christ flowing through us produces strength and causes fruit to come forth.

Philippians 4:13 is always quoted in the sense that Christ will strengthen us in every great and noble thing that comes our way. However, in verse twelve, Paul speaks of not only knowing how to live when things are going good, but also of knowing how to be abased and live humbly when circumstances are poor and meager. He said, "I have learned in any and all circumstances, the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having sufficiency and to spare or going without and being in want." He learned the secret of the sufficiency of God's grace. When Paul was in need, God told him, "My grace is sufficient for you" (II Cor.12:9). God made it clear that He was all that Paul needed and that when Paul was weak, God would be there to perfect his strength. Christ doesn't strengthen us just for the great and mighty challenges in our lives, but also for those times that we face struggle and defeat. Whatever the challenge, good or bad, Christ gives us strength, makes us ready for anything, and also makes us equal to anything. All that we must do is to make sure that we stay attached to the vine because if we abide in Him, His grace will always, always, always be sufficient. +++