A
Word In Due Season
1st Week of May 2008
05/01/08
BEFORE THE DAY
Scripture: Mark 1:35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before
day, Jesus went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there He
prayed."
Giving God the first part of the day is equal to giving the tithe of your
income. In some miraculous way, and in both situations, God takes what you
give to Him, blesses it, and returns it to you. What you have left in terms
of money or minutes is supernaturally stretched by His mighty power. God
rebukes the devourer for your sake and your abundance cannot be explained.
Jesus, Himself, arose a great while before the day began and went to a
solitary place to pray. He showed us that being alone with God and that
giving Him the first portion of the day was important. If the Son of God
felt that it was important to seek the Father before He started His day,
shouldn't we? There is a secret in this special time of communion, for it is
in the quiet hours of the early morning that we gain strength for our entire
day. We start our physical day with nourishment and should do no less in
nurturing our spirit.
David was a man after God's own heart. And like Jesus, David also knew the
secret of having communion with God before the day began. In Psalms 143:8,
He spoke very clear words to God. David said, "Cause me to hear Your loving
kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You." In these few lines
David made a very definite request. He wanted to hear about God's unfailing
love for him every morning and he wanted God to show him where to walk that
day. These words could also become a daily prayer for you before you start
your day. Find a solitary place as Jesus did and spend a few moments with
the Lord. As you wait on God, He will renew your strength. You will mount up
with wings as the eagles and you will find yourself running without growing
weary. In the quietness of His presence, He will fill you with His Spirit
and give you clear directions for the day. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/02/08
WALKING BY FAITH
Scripture: II Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Our journey with God goes beyond what we can see with our eyes. It is a walk of
faith, not of sight. It's a journey that begins with a simple recognition and
belief that God is God and that He is always present with us even though we
can't see Him. As we walk with this unseen God, we begin to develop a trust that
understands that He is not only God but is also a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 says that when we walk in this kind of faith,
it pleases God. Tremendous things have happened when men walked in this kind of
faith. Enoch was translated and never saw death. Noah built an ark at God's
command and saved his family from the flood. Abraham left his country in search
of a city that was made by God and his ninety-year-old wife, Sarah, received
strength to conceive and give birth to Isaac. Moses acted on God's word and saw
God roll back the sea and do many other mighty miracles. Records of faith's
rewards are endless.
Walking is a process. It is not just taking one step and then sitting down. It
is taking one step and standing on that one foot until you put your other foot
down. It is repeating this same routine until walking brings you to the place
that you need to be. Sometimes walking is monotonous and tiring. While other
times, in the darkness or unknown territories, it can be unsteady and unsure.
It's extremely hard if you try to pull back in the midst of the process of going
forward. It throws your whole balance off. So it is with your spiritual walk of
faith. Walking by faith is a continual lifestyle, for Romans 1:17 says, "The
just shall live by faith." It is a daily process, moving forward one step at a
time. You have one foot firmly on the ground and the other foot in the air not
sure where it's going to land. You just keep following God and going forward.
Your faith declares that you believe God and your actions demonstrate that you
really do trust the words that He has spoken to you.
Faith is substance to your own soul and functions best when there is no visible
evidence, for faith itself is the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). The
depth of your faith depends upon the depth of your knowledge. It is conceived as
you hear God's word and increases as your knowledge increases. Yet faith is
birthed only by experience. There is no way to experience faith, except by going
through places where you have to use it. Faith is action and is dead without
works. Its goals are only accomplished as you act upon the things that you
believe. Learning to walk by faith is not quick or easy. It is much like the
process that a child goes through when he is learning to walk. You may fall a
couple of times and you may experience a few bruises and setbacks as you
endeavor to walk. But as you continue to believe God and walk by faith and not
by what you see, your steps will become stronger and more determined. God will
reward your faith and bring His words to pass in your life. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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A
Word In Due Season
2nd Week of May 2008
05/05/08
BALANCING THE CLOUDS
Scripture: Job 37:16 "Do you not know the balancing of the clouds, the
wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge?
Job's friend encouraged him to consider the wonders of God, yet Job probably
understood God better that his friend. Job declared that God was perfect in
knowledge and certainly knew more about Job's situation than Job himself
did. Although things looked dark in Job's life, he knew that God was in
control and that He was balancing the clouds in his life. Job was confident
that Satan could do no more to him than what God allowed.
God also knows more about your situation than you do. Isaiah 55:9 says, "His
ways are higher than your ways, and His thoughts are higher than your
thoughts." God never loses control regardless of how bad the situation may
look or how dark the clouds may get. In the midst of your cares and
concerns, you have this assurance that you are still in His hands and that
He is still on the throne. He will never put more on you than what you can
bear. You may hear the thunder roll and see the lightening flash, but you
have nothing to fear. Even in the time of temptation, God provides a way of
escape. He balances everything out for you so that you are never tempted
beyond your ability to endure.
In II Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul speaks of all the adversities that he had
to face; labors, shipwreck, prison, hunger, pain, beatings, perils, and
weariness, just to mention a few. He then declared that he not only had to
deal with all of those situations and turmoils that came against him, he
also had to face the care and concerns of all the churches. There were
clouds of adversity all around Paul, not only with the heathen but also the
followers of Christ. Paul also spoke of a thorn in his flesh that he thought
was too great for him to bear (II Corinthians 12:7-9). He prayed about this
issue three times, but God answered him with these words, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness." God
was balancing the clouds in Paul's life, for He knew what Paul could endure.
God was faithful not to test Paul beyond his strength.
Regardless of how many clouds of adversity you may be facing, keep in mind
that God is in control of your life. He is perfect in knowledge and is
balancing all the clouds that surround you. No matter how dark the sky gets
or how great the storm becomes, His grace will always be sufficient for you.
+++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
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05/06/08
MASTERPIECE
Scripture: Philippians 1:6 (Amplified) "He who began a good work in you will
continue until the day of Jesus Christ - right up to the time of His return -
developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in
you."
God is not finished with us yet. Right up to the day that Jesus returns, God
will still be working to complete us. It's amazing that in just one day He
created man in His own image and then with one breath caused life to come into
his being. Yet, God loves to perfect things so He will spend the entire lifespan
of that one man developing him into the nature of God Himself.
Our lives are in the hands of a master artist, and He is painting a grand
masterpiece. From the beginning, God envisioned His work of art. He may have
started with bright and beautiful colors, but as He paints, He must use dark
colors for contrast and shadows to affect the mood. These are the hard times and
the sad places that touch each of our lives when death, disappointment, and
misunderstandings occur. It's the times that we don't understand as our heart
breaks and our tears flow. Yet, these dark places are the ones that give depth
to our soul and meaning to the entire picture of our life.
There are also discouraging times in our life when it seems that nothing is
happening. There is no progress being made and no obvious promotion. We may even
go through a spiritual desert. But like any good artist who covers the canvas
for a season, God is allowing His masterpiece to rest and dry before going on to
the next phase, lest the colors run together and distort the image that He is
tying to acquire. If we are not careful during these times when our patience is
being tested, we will grab the brush ourselves, spill the paint, and make a mess
that only God can clean up. Yet, even though we become impatient and make a mess
with our life, we can still trust God. He began this good work in us and He will
always be faithful to forgive us. Our interference may have delayed His work,
but He will continue to work with us and He will complete us.
Hebrews 12:2 says, "He is the author and finisher of your faith." Whatever God
has started in you, He will finish. He is going to work on you right up until
the time Jesus returns so don't take His brush from Him. He has "good thoughts
and plans to give you hope in your final outcome" (Jeremiah 29:11). Submit to
the Master as He works with you and allow Him to complete His masterpiece. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/07/08
BE OF GOOD CHEER
John 16:33 "In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world."
Sometimes we think that because we are born again Christians we should live in a
bubble of protection and be able to live a life of ease. But Jesus says, "This
is not so." He said there would always be tribulations and difficulties in this
world. A lady once asked a minister to pray for her that she would have no
problems and that the devil would not be able to attack her in any way. The
minister then began to pray for her, asking God to take her to Heaven
immediately. The lady stopped him and said, "I don't want to die, I just want to
be free of problems." The minister then explained that the only way to be
totally free from tribulations would to be to enter the gates of Heaven, for it
is only there that all of our trails are ended and our tears are wiped away.
Even though we are destined to experience difficulties in this world, Jesus told
us to be cheerful and to understand that He is in control. He has overcome all
of the forces of evil. It is a finished work. He speaks these encouraging words
to us in advance to prepare us and give us strength so that we may be able to
maintain our inner peace. When conflicts come, we can be assured that Jesus has
a plan and we can rest in the fact that all things are going to work out for our
good.
Acts 14:22 tells us that just a few days after Paul had been stoned and left for
dead, he exhorted the people to continue in faith, saying that we must through
much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. Paul's encouraging words to endure
tribulations were not empty words spoken by a man who had not experienced
difficulty. If I had been stoned and left for dead, I would probably tell you to
run and hide when you were faced with the same adversity. But Paul told us to
"glory in tribulations" because by the time they are finished we will have
gained several qualities (Romans 5:3-5). Tribulations will work patience.
Patience will work experience or prove our character. Experience will develop
hope, and hope will cause the love of God to be shed abroad in our hearts. The
Message Bible says it another way. When the tribulation is finished, "We're
never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary -- we can't round up enough
containers to hold everything that God generously pours into our lives through
the Holy Spirit!" So when tribulations come, and they will, be cheerful knowing
that Jesus has overcome. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/08/08
LABOR TO ENTER INTO REST
Scripture: Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest..."
This verse encourages the believers to find the place in their walk with God
that allows them to cease from anxiety and to enter a place of rest. Verse nine
says that this place of rest would be like the Sabbath that God experienced when
He finished His creation and all of His work. He labored six days so that He
could rest on the seventh. This rest is to be a place where there are no more
struggles with faith and no more struggles with religious works, for we come to
understand that God's promises are sure and His work of grace is complete.
To labor so that you enter into rest sounds contradictory. It simply means
making a conscious effort to believe and to set our will against doubt, just as
we always have against sin. Time and again, we find it necessary to resist the
temptation to sin and we must do the same with doubt and unbelief. We must do
away with murmuring and complaining, knowing that if we allow it to linger, it
will eventually blossom into unbelief. Even in the natural, you labor to enter
into rest. You lock the doors, get dressed for the night, brush your teeth,
fluff the pillows, make the room dark so there are no distractions, snuggle into
the covers, and get yourself comfortable so that you can rest. You diligently
labor and make an effort to resist interruptions in your routine. Yet if you lay
down to rest and discover that you have forgotten one of these details, you will
often find yourself getting back up to check the doors, close the blinds
tighter, or take care of some other distraction. It becomes a labor to rest.
God left us with many promises and said that we could trust Him and rest in His
word. He promised salvation, healing, provision of needs, peace, joy, comfort,
and hope for the future. Many times these wonderful blessings are not
experienced simply because of our unbelief, for they must be received by faith.
Where there is faith, there is always a heart full of rest, for even though
faith cannot be seen, it is substance. Faith links us to God and His eternal
faithfulness. When we are able to receive His righteousness, which is by faith,
we will be able to rest from our own feeble righteousness. When we can trust in
Christ and the finished work of Calvary, we can rest from depending upon our own
good works. When we can put all of our trust in God and His grace, we will be
able to cast our cares upon Him and find rest and help in the time of our need.
When we reach this place in our faith and are able to put everything into God's
hands, we can say, "Now that I've got that finished, I can rest." +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/09/08
VIRTUOUS WOMAN
Scripture: Proverbs 31:10 & 28 "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is
far above rubies ... Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband
praises her."
Women and mothers are very special. Each day of their lives is one of sacrifice
and giving, and their greatest reward is to know that they have made a
difference in the lives of their family, whom they love and cherish. There is no
greater reward for a woman than to have her children bless her or her husband
praise her. Likewise, there is no greater need or satisfaction than for a child
to have a mother who is a blessing to them or for a husband to have a virtuous
wife whom he can trust and truthfully praise. Solomon declared that the worth of
this type of woman is far above monetary value. She can't be purchased with the
simple price of rubies, and her role and influence cannot be passed over as
unimportant. She directs the future as she "trains up her children in the way
that they should go, so that they do not depart from the right path" (Proverbs
22:6)
In II Timothy 1:5, we see an example of the importance of mothers and
grandmothers who taught and lived their faith in front of their children. The
great Apostle Paul taught and mentored young Timothy in the things of the Lord,
yet, Paul gave much of the credit for Timothy's faith to Timothy's mother, Lois,
and his grandmother, Eunice. Paul said that he remembered Timothy's sincere and
unqualified faith. He noticed that Timothy had been taught to lean entirely upon
God and had displayed an absolute trust and confidence in God's power, wisdom,
and goodness. Paul had also seen this same type of simple but profound trust in
God in the hearts of Timothy's mother and grandmother, who were women of virtue.
It was easy to recognize that their influence had affected Timothy in a big way
and that the pure faith which they possessed had been transferred to him in the
same degree and measure. Lois and Eunice had been diligent to train Timothy in
the things of God and in the way that he should go. The evidence of their faith
lingered in the heart of Timothy and the results could definitely be seen.
There will be days in our lives that will be uneventful and maybe even seem
boring, but we should never forget how just important our roles are as mothers,
grandmothers, and wives. We have great influence so we should always strive to
become virtuous women of purpose. Proverbs 31:10-31 declares that a virtuous
woman has strength, ability, efficiency, wealth, valor, faith, and is excellent
in every way. Her price is far above rubies and she cannot be purchased. Yet,
her love, faithfulness, and service to her home and family come free. We should
ask God daily to help us develop these characteristics. When these qualities
show forth in each day of our lives, our children will rise up and call us
blessed and our husbands will praise us. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
A
Word In Due Season
2nd Week of May 2008
05/12/08
MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM
Scripture: Matthew 13:11 "It is given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven."
Would you like to understand the mysteries of God's kingdom? Jesus said that they are waiting to be revealed to you. His secrets are like any other mystery in that the more truth that you discover, the more truth you will be able to understand. The more wisdom you obtain, the greater capacity for wisdom you create within your own heart. It would be great if God opened our hearts and minds and just filled us up with His word, but the Lord will not cast His pearls before the swine because He doesn't want His words to be trampled upon. The revelation of His word will only come to those who truly cherish and respect it. The Lord requires that we search for Him with all of our hearts and look for the clues that solve the mystery of who He is. Likewise, His rewards come to us only as we seek to understand how we can experience the benefits of His kingdom. As He sees a heart that longs for Him and for His mysteries to be reveal, He shares "precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10).
When Jesus spoke of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, He spoke in parables. He compared the natural seed to His word and the Earth to our heart. He warned of the various situations that would try to put the seed or His Word to death before it could produced fruit in our lives. He said that our hearts can be so hard that the Word can not enter. The soil of our heart must be cultivated by the Holy Spirit in order for the seed to enter and understanding to come. Then He spoke about the lack of a root system to sustain the revelation of the Word. The seed can not just rest, it must expand itself, develop roots, and search out ways to gain nourishment. Jesus also said that the thorns or the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches would cause the Word to be unfruitful in our lives.
Jesus made it clear in this parable that when the Word of God is sown in our hearts, it immediately creates a spiritual battle because Satan is waiting in the wings to destroy the Word. He attempted to do this with Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Him. God then spoke and said, "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Immediately after this validation of who Jesus was, Jesus was driven into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Mathew 3:1-17, 4:1). The devil challenged the Word in every area, but he was not successful because the heart of Jesus could not be tempted. Jesus had received God's Word in His heart and nothing could destroy it.
Jesus said that it is given to you to know the mysteries of His Kingdom. Jesus made this privilege a very personal matter. This is a wonderful promise, but effort must be made on your part. You must be willing to search His Word so that you can recognize and receive His knowledge. You must protect the seeds of revelation that are sown in the direction of your own heart. The seed that you receive on the mountain top of joy will be tested in the valley of despair. The song that God gives you in the morning will be challenged by the cares of the world throughout the day. The devil will seek to dispel every seed of faith that you receive from the Word. Doubt and fear will challenge you and the winds of adversity will try to extinguish the light that God has imparted to you.
Like any mystery, one clue does not solve the puzzle. A mystery is built on many hidden messages. That is the reason that you must personally do battle and hold on to the revelation that comes with the seed so that God can add to it. As you continually protect and meditate on the small seed that God has sown in your heart, He will pour out treasures from Heaven and open up His other mysteries to you. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/13/08
JESUS WEPT
Scripture: John 11:35 "Jesus wept."
These two words give us a picture of the love and compassion of our wonderful
Lord as He stood at the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead for four days. Jesus,
the Son of God, wept. The Word of God who was made flesh wept for His friend
whose earthly body now had no life. The Light of the World wept in the darkness
that surrounded the situation. The Bread of Life shed tears for those who stood
around the tomb declaring that they wished that Jesus had come earlier so that
Lazarus could have been healed. Jesus was the resurrection and the life and this
Life of God groaned within Himself as He experienced the sorrow that sickness
and death brought. Jesus was deeply moved emotionally, yet at the end of the
matter, He spoke resurrection life, light, and healing into the dead body of
Lazarus. Jesus then called Lazarus forth from the tomb and commanded that he be
loosed from the bondage of the grave clothes.
Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead He spoke to the Father and said,
"Father, I thank You that You have heard me and I know that You hear me always."
This same Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for you
and for me. He is there continually. His Word, His Life, and His Light are
waiting to raise you from the sorrow and grief that you are enduring. There is
no storm in your life that Jesus can not speak peace to and cause it to cease.
There are no waves that He can not calm with one word from His lips. There is no
water that is so deep that He can not walk upon it in order to rescue you. There
is no meal so scarce that He can't multiply it. There is no valley so long and
so deep that He can not shepherd you through it. There is no desert so dry that
He can not be a well that springs up within you to quench your thirst.
Jesus is there all the time and in every situation to meet every need that you
have. He is waiting to raise you from the death of your situation into new life.
He wants to dispel the darkness with His light and stands ready to command that
you be loosed from things that hold you in bondage. There is nothing too great
for Him, not even death that has laid in a tomb for four days. His Spirit of
Life exceeds all. His love is boundless. His mercy is new every morning.
Remember that God hears Jesus always and that Jesus is interceding for you. He
is touched with the feelings of all of your infirmities so go to the Lord in
prayer and agree with Him on your own behalf. Then listen and obey as you hear
His voice call you forth into new life. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
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05/14/08
ACTIONS ARE LOUDER THAN WORDS
Scripture: Matthew 21:31 "Which of the two did the will of the Father?"
There is a story about three frogs who were sitting on a log over a pond,
discussing whether or not to jump into the pond. Finally one frog said, "I've
decided to jump." According to this statement, how many frogs were left sitting
on the log? The answer is three! Even though the one frog made the decision and
verbal commitment to jump, he never followed through with any action. He
continued to sit on the log with the other frogs, never accomplishing his goal.
In Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells a similar story about a man who had two sons.
He asked the first son to work in his vineyard, who refused by saying, "I will
not." Later, that son repented and went to the vineyard and worked for his
father. Likewise, the father asked the second son to work in his vineyard. The
second son answered and said, "I will go, sir," but he never followed through
with his commitment. Jesus then questioned the disciples about which son had
done the will of the father. The answer is obvious. The son who acted upon the
request of the father is the one who actually did his will.
It's not what you say you are going to do - it's what you do that counts with
God. The decision to act gets you only half way there. God is interested in the
final results. James 2:17 tells us that if faith doesn't have corresponding
works and acts of obedience to back it up, it is destitute of power and dead.
Anyone can make a verbal commitment to do God's will, but that statement is dead
without actual performance.
In John 6:38 Jesus said," I came down from Heaven not to do My own will, but the
will of Him that sent Me." Even though Jesus prayed in agony three times and
asked the Father to allow the cup of suffering to pass from Him, He still
submitted Himself to God's will. He said, "Never the less, Thy will be done." He
made a decision and a verbal commitment to respond to God's will and then
followed through with actions. He could have called ten thousand angels to come
to His rescue at any time. Instead, He followed His Father's will to the end by
giving His life on the cross, thus completing God's redemptive plan. Jesus'
actions spoke louder than His words. Think about His commitment and sacrifice
and then ask yourself if your actions are as loud as your words. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/15/08
ABLE MINISTERS
Scripture: II Corinthians 3:5-6 "God, Who also has made us able
ministers of the New Testament."
When God calls upon us to do anything, He equips us for that service. We
are not qualified, nor sufficient in our own abilities, so He makes us
to be able ministers. Jesus' disciples had walked with Him for three
years, heard Him teach, and saw Him perform many mighty miracles. You
would think that the personal mentoring that they received from Jesus
would be enough to launch them into the ministry. Yet, Jesus instructed
them to wait until they were filled with the Holy Spirit before
continuing in the ministry (Acts 1:4-8). Likewise, we also need the
supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to be able to complete the
ministry assignments that God has called us to do.
I Corinthians 1:26-27 tells us that God doesn't choose us because we are
wise, mighty, or noble. In fact, He chooses the foolish and the weak so
that it will confound the wise and strong. He chooses those who are
dependant upon the Holy Spirit, and who understand that without Him,
they will fail. In I Kings chapter three, God made Solomon an able
minister as king over Israel by giving Him wisdom and an understanding
heart. Before God moved on the scene, Solomon, as a grown man, stated,
"I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." He
admitted his weakness to God, and God equipped him with the wisdom that
he needed to be able to perform his duties as king. Jeremiah the prophet
also felt too small for God's great call. He spoke to God and said, "I
cannot speak: for I am child." But God told him not to fear. He, then,
put His own words in Jeremiah's mouth and set him as a prophet over the
nations (Jeremiah 1:10).
For God to work in your life, you must come to terms with your own
weakness. You need to understand that God is not calling you because He
thinks you are able. He looks beyond your insufficiencies and sees the
potential of His Spirit working in your life. You must realize that your
sufficiency is not in yourself, but in Him. With God, all things are
possible. He is not limited by anything except your doubt and unbelief.
God looked down the corridors of time, formed you, and filled you with
His Spirit for such a time as this. He is equipping you daily by His
Spirit to minister to people who need your prayers and words of
encouragement. Don't be afraid to step into the unknown. If God called
you, He will equip you with His words, His wisdom, and His power. He
will make you to be an able minister. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
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05/16/08
GOOD SUCCESS
Scripture: Joshua 1:8 " ... then you will make your way prosperous and then you
will have good success."
Success is defined as the gaining of something desired, planned, or attempted.
Yet, there is a difference in "success" and "good success" as spoken of in this
scripture. Many times our plans come to pass and we are successful in our
attempts, but when it's all finished we find that the thing that we desired and
accomplished was less than God's best for our life. There's nothing worse than
succeeding at a bad choice. The first part of this scripture explains how to
have prosperity and also good success. It says, "Meditate in God's word day and
night and then do it." It is then that you will prosper and have good success.
Prosperity and success is not necessarily wealth and fame but possessing the
place that God ordained for you that brings joy in your spirit and rest for your
soul. Good success is simply a number of good decisions made over a period of
time. It is surrendering to God and following His Spirit one step at a time.
Joseph was considered to be prosperous in Genesis 39:2-3. Yet he was sold to
merchants by his brothers, taken from his homeland, and had to serve Pharaoh as
a purchased slave in Egypt. Regardless of his circumstances, the scriptures
declared that Joseph was prosperous. He was prosperous because the Lord was with
him and the Lord made everything that Joseph did to prosper. Often, there were
circumstances that Joseph could not control or do anything about, but behind the
scenes God was working a plan in his life, equipping him and preparing him for a
mighty ministry. To reach his destiny, Joseph had to rest in God's sovereign
plan and totally lean on God's grace.
Many times God's leading will be contrary to your own mind. There will be
circumstances you can't control or explain because He is working in a sovereign
way in your life. But if you trust God and meditate on His word, He will confirm
every step and give you perfect peace. As you act on God's word, He will make a
way where there seems to be no way and lead you through the wilderness. In the
end, you will possess His best and have true prosperity and good success. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
A
Word In Due Season
3rd Week of May 2008
05/19/08
BE HOLY
Scripture: I Peter 1:16 "Be holy, for I am holy."
Be holy. Two simple words that make us accountable to God for our thoughts,
attitudes, and deeds. Yet regardless of how hard we may work at it, how could we
ever live up to the holiness of God? There is not a day that goes by that we do
not have to draw upon the grace and mercy of God, who is ever faithful to
forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Without God, we would be
hopeless in our quest for holiness.
Even the Apostle Paul struggled. He declared that the good things that he wanted
to do, he didn't do, and the evil things that he didn't want to do, he did
(Romans 7:19). He also said, "I have not attained, but I press toward the mark."
He may not have been holy in every thought and action, but his eyes were focused
on the Lord and his heart was headed in that direction. This is same path of
holiness that you and I are required to be on. God will grant us grace, but not
as a license to sin. He expects us to discipline our thinking and be obedient
children. We may not always do everything right but our eyes must be looking
into His eyes and our heart facing His heart. Our wills must be in line with His
will and our spirit must be holy even though our flesh is weak.
Many times our lives are like a ship that is on a journey across a vast ocean.
The storms come and we get thrown off course by the winds of adversity and our
faith may be challenged as we encounter all sorts of difficulties. Yet, we must
understand that even though we may stray off course to the left or to the right,
we are still on the journey. Our eyes are on the compass and our trust is in a
small arrow that points out the direction. Regardless of what happens along the
way, we are still making our way across the ocean. We can follow the path
through the depths of the water the best we know how and believe that we will
eventually reach our destination. So it is with holiness. We must understand
that even though we may not be there yet, we are on our way. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
05/20/08
A BREATH AWAY
Scripture: Genesis 2:7 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became
a living soul."
God formed man from the dust of the ground and endowed him with
everything that he needed to be able to live and function as a normal
being on this earth. Yet, it was only when God breathed His supernatural
breath into man that man actually became a living soul. The simple
breath of God is full of life and power and when He breathes upon
anything, it is eternally changed. Even the dry bones came alive in
Ezekiel's vision as the winds of God breathed upon them (Ezekiel 37).
Nothing is impossible with God. When He passes by His glory comes and
follows after Him, and when He speaks everything within the sound of His
voice obeys. That includes the Earth, the Heavens, and the entire
universe. At His word, darkness becomes light, the seas roll back like a
scroll, and the storms cease. With His word, He sends manna from Heaven
to feed the millions and causes water to come from a rock to quench
their thirst. When the breath of His words go forth, the dead rise, the
lame walk, the blind see, and the deaf hear. His mere presence protects
those who trust in Him. He stops the mouths of the lions and disallows
the fire to consume those in the fiery furnace. No weapon formed against
His mighty words can prosper because the breath of God has no
limitation.
As you think about these thoughts, ask God to breathe upon your
situations that seem dead or hopeless. His breath will give your
circumstances new life and hope. He has promised to perfect those things
that concern you, regardless of what they are. He has said that you
could cast every care upon Him. Casting your care upon Him means that
you have to let go of it and allow it to leave your hand. He has
promised to receive your burden and take care of your needs. He will
breathe provision into your financial situation, hope into your
relationships, health into your body, and life into your spirit. Trust
Him to resurrect and restore all things that concern you. He is the
creator and almighty God. He can be depended upon and He is only a
breath away. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
05/21/08
BUTTER AND HONEY
Scripture: Isaiah 7:15 "Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know
to refuse evil, and choose good."
When I grew up, I was poor but didn't know it because my family had as
much and maybe a little more than most families in my town. We had a
house that my dad had built and daily food, but I was much older before
I realized that we didn't have the best of foods. When lunchtime came,
we were given a choice between a mayonnaise or mustard sandwich. We
didn't know that there was supposed to be meat, tomatoes, and lettuce
with it. We thanked God, blessed the food, and enjoyed what we had. If
you offered me only bread with mayonnaise or mustard today, I would look
in wonder at the meager provision because I have tasted and learned that
there is so much more. Yet, had I never experienced a complete sandwich,
I would not have learned that anything was missing. It is the same as
drinking a regular soda or a diet drink. We know the difference because
we have tasted the real thing.
The prophet Isaiah spoke in a spiritual sense about those who have eaten
butter and honey. He said that because they have tasted the real thing,
they have gained discernment and know to refuse evil and choose good. We
often wonder why the people that we associate with choose to live the
way they do, for they seem to enjoy their lifestyles of sinful
pleasures. Yet, we know that their choice does not measure up to the
true joy that is found in serving and worshipping Jesus. Those who
choose evil may find pleasure for a moment, but it will be followed by
pain, discouragement, guilt, and shame.
Jeremiah 15:16 says, "Your words were found, and I ate them, your words
became to me a joy and the delight of my heart." Our spiritual taste
becomes refined as we feast on God's words and fellowship in His
presence. Once we have tasted of the friendship of God and eaten of His
word, we know that there is nothing to compare with His glories. His
love and His word become as the butter to our spirits and the honey to
our soul that Isaiah spoke of and our choices become very simple, for we
are keen to distinguish between good and evil. There is no contest
within our souls in choosing God's will rather than our own desires. We
can easily discern between black and white, darkness and light, or right
and wrong. Even the subtle tactics of the devil become evident to our
spiritual eyes because we have tasted of the goodness of God. There is a
popular slogan today, "You are what you eat." Think about it, for so it
is with spiritual food. You will only know to refuse evil and choose
good when you have chosen the right spiritual diet. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
05/22/08
CONSECRATION AND BLESSINGS TODAY
Scripture: Exodus 32:29 "Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord ...
that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day."
Moses gave a word to Gods' people to let them know that if they wanted
to receive God's blessing, they needed to consecrate themselves to God.
One of the definitions of this word 'consecrate' in the Hebrew, as it is
used in this verse, meant "to be fenced in." Just as in the case with
Moses and the people of God, God's love and blessings do flow out to us
with mercy and grace. Yet, as we mature in God, we learn that He expects
things from us. He desires a life that is freely consecrated to Him.
When we are babes in Christ, we may get away with a few things, but we
soon learn that, "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48).
With maturity comes responsibility, which means that we must fence
ourselves into the demands of God's word if we want His blessings to
rest upon us.
Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today." Each day has its own
challenges. Just about the time that we think we have arrived
spiritually, we find ourselves facing something new and come to realize
that we have just begun our journey towards holiness. Walking with God
and remaining in His precepts is a daily walk and it is only
accomplished one step at a time. Each and every day we are to consecrate
ourselves by putting a fence around our thoughts, imaginations,
emotions, and deeds. We then have to guard the borders of our heart from
the snares of evil. Our sacred purpose must be to render ourselves to
God's service and give Him dominion over every space in our lives. We
must dedicate every chamber of our heart to the Lord and declare it to
be holy ground. God must have an open hand in our lives and everything
must come under His rule. Our measuring rod must be governed with the
question, "Will the Holy Spirit enjoy participating in this particular
activity or will it bring Him shame?" That simple question will divide
the light from the darkness and make God's will clear.
It is only as we come to this place of total commitment and surrender
and then follow through with our actions that we will experience the
true blessings of God. Receiving His blessings doesn't mean that we will
become rich and famous or have all the material things that we desire.
But it does mean that our souls will be satisfied with the goodness of
God and that His favor will rest upon us in an unusual way. Moses said,
"Consecrate yourself today ... so that you can receive God's blessings
today." This word with a promise is yours. Begin by giving yourself to
God, consecrating all that you are and all that you hope to be to Him.
Then, ask God to help you build a fence around that commitment that will
keep you within its borders and also protect you from the outside
hindrances. Then as you consecrate yourself today, get ready to
experience His blessings today. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
05/23/08
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Scripture: Esther 4:14 "... you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this
and for this very occasion."
God did not choose Moses, Joseph, Elijah, or any of the other great men of the
Bible to live in this dark hour of human history. He chose you for this time and
this season. Your life is not a dress rehearsal - it is the real play. God has
set you on the stage of life in a particular place at a particular time to do a
work for Him. He has ordained you and equipped you for the occasion that you now
face with your family, friends, career, and ministry. It's up to you to fulfill
His divine purposes.
In Luke 9:62, Jesus said that if you put your hand to the plow and go forward,
you will be fit for the kingdom of God. In other words, when you focus on going
forward you will be someone that God can use in His kingdom. Jesus didn't give
other options for you to consider. You are to take up your cross and follow Him
daily. It's easy to follow God when you first start out. With fresh energy in
the cool of the morning, plowing doesn't seem so hard. Later in the day,
however, when the sun's rays begin to beam, your muscles begin to ache, and the
sweat begins to pour from your brow, you may start to wonder if the harvest is
worth the effort. When you look back to what could have been while you are
trying to plow God's field, it indicates that you have questions about God's
directions for your life, and your hesitation to obey His commands reflects your
lack of trust in His wisdom.
You must choose not to look back. The most limiting thing in life is a firm
choice. It means that you refuse to allow current circumstances to sway your
faith and manipulate you. Look at the account of the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24.
He said, "None of these things move me." Paul was called to the Kingdom to share
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wasn't going to allow afflictions,
persecutions, jail sentences, or even death itself to deter him from God's call.
He made a determination not only to finish his course, but to finish it with
joy. His main interest was the will of God, not his own welfare. Paul possessed
an attitude of consecration that caused him to press towards the mark of the
high calling of Christ Jesus. For this reason, he never looked back. Like the
Apostle Paul, God has a plan and purpose for your life. You are called to God's
kingdom for such a time as this to experience the very occasion that you now
face. Will you trust God with all of your heart and put your hand to the plow
and not look back? +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
A
Word In Due Season
4th Week of May 2008
05/26/08
GOD'S MEMORIAL DAY
Scripture: Exodus 12:14 "And this day shall be unto you for a Memorial."
This scripture is in reference to the institution of the Passover, which began
when Moses was leading the people out of Egypt. This event was a shadow or an
illustration of the redemptive work that Jesus was to accomplish for us on the
cross. At this first Passover, Israel was instructed to take a lamb without spot
or blemish, kill it, and apply the blood to the doorpost of their homes. God
told them that when He saw the blood, He would pass over them and not kill the
firstborn of that house. He promised that death would have no dominion over them
if they would simply apply the blood of the slain lamb.
God grants us a Memorial Day such as this. Jesus is our lamb without spot and
blemish. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God,
which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus was slain on the cross
of Calvary for our sins and because of His sacrifice, we have a promise of
eternal life, and death no longer has dominion over us. However, just like the
first Passover, God's work is not complete until we personally apply the blood
of Jesus to our lives by receiving Jesus as our Savior and Lord. God gave such
simple instructions to His people. They were to just take the lamb, kill it, and
apply the blood. Yet, many people in Egypt did not respond to these
instructions. Eternal salvation is just as simple, for God has made a way by
sacrificing His Son. Yet many fail to respond to His great invitation even
though the steps to salvation are as simple as ABC.
A) Acknowledge your sin, for all have sinned. (Romans 3:23)
B) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 16:31)
C) Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your
heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be
saved. (Romans 10:9)
If you have an opportunity this Memorial Day, share this thought with someone.
When you see the red stripes on our great American flag, think about those who
have given their life serving this nation ... And also remember the great
sacrifice that Jesus made for your sins and the crimson blood that He shed for
you. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
05/27/08
SEPARATED FROM DARKNESS
Scripture: Genesis 1:3-4 "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the
darkness."
This scripture declares that in the beginning God did three things; God said,
God saw, and God divided. When God spoke light into existence, it traveled at
186,000 miles per second in an effort to reach the earth and to obey God's
command. When God saw the light, He was pleased, and said it was good. He then
divided and separated the light from the darkness. He did not allow the two to
mingle together and form one shade of gray. I John 1:5 says, "God is light, and
in Him there is no darkness at all."
When God created you, He created you to be in the likeness of His image, and
your image should manifest the light that He is. When you were reborn into His
likeness, He said, "Let there be light." And in that moment, possibly at 186,000
miles per second, like the speed of natural light, His Light illuminated you and
gave life to your soul. In that instant, His Spirit transformed you as He gently
called you "out of darkness and into His marvelous light" (I Peter 2:9). God's
light on the inside of you is a glorious miracle. He doesn't allow your soul to
mingle with the darkness of the world or become a shade of gray. So when you are
filled with His Light, you feel uncomfortable in the midst of spiritual darkness
and those who entertain themselves in the deeds of darkness feel uncomfortable
around your light. They recognize the separation and the Light of God that is
within you becomes a witness to their darkness and a conviction to their soul.
And because darkness can't overcome light or put it out, they separate from you.
Don't be discouraged or feel rejected, for this is God's work. His light
separates you from the world.
Jesus declares that you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
You are as a city that is set on a hill and you are not to allow anything to
quench your light or destroy its purpose, which is to glorify God (Matthew
5:14-16). In every area of your life, yield to God's marvelous work of division
and separation. When He says, "Let there be light," allow His Light to shine
within you and through you so that you can be an instrument of His glory that
will pierce the darkness of the world that is around you. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
05/28/08
ASK - SEEK - KNOCK
Scripture: Luke 11:9 (Amplified) "So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking, and
it shall be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you shall find; knock
and keep on knocking, and the door shall be opened to you."
Life has its moments of uncertainty and we may find ourselves becoming impatient
as we wait for the answers to our many questions. Things can move so slowly at
times that we feel as if we are waiting for a pot of water to come to the
boiling point. Yet we know that no matter how eager we become for doors to open
and things to change, we must wait upon God, for He holds all things in His
hands and we cannot rush His timing. Many times the writers of the scriptures
confirmed this point by using the phrase, "In the fullness of time." In essence
this means that things will only happen on God's schedule and when He sees that
we are ready for change.
As we wait for the answers to our prayers or for some resolution for the
situations in our life that need attention, our only hope is to follow the
instructions that Jesus gave. He told us three simple things to do; ask, seek,
and knock. Many times we fail to ask God for His help and instead we just worry
and wonder about our problems. They consume our minds, but we never call them by
name and simply ask God for His help. Others times, when we do ask, we just ask
one time instead of pursuing God until the answer comes. We are also to seek
diligently for our answer like we would for a lost item until it is found. When
I misplace my keys, I search every inch of my dwelling because I know that they
are there somewhere. I may even turn my purse inside out in my search, but I
never give up until I find them because they are a necessary part of my life.
The same is true with God's solutions, we can't give up the search. His
solutions are there in our midst, we just have to find them. The last thing
Jesus told us to do was to knock. We are to stop banging our head against the
wall and simply knock on the door. If the door doesn't open immediately, we are
to continue knocking until it does.
Jesus would not have given us these instructions if He did not want us to use
them to get our needs met. He would not have told us to ask, if He didn't intend
to answer. He would not have instructed us to seek if He knew that the solutions
were not available. He would not have told us to knock if there was nothing
behind the door. I encourage you to be persistent like the lady who unashamedly
troubled the judge until he granted her the petition that she was requesting
(Luke 18:5). Remember that Jesus has compassion and He cares about your
questions, your needs, and your lack. So keep on asking, keep on searching, and
keep on knocking until your answer comes. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
05/29/08
THE HEART OF OUR LOVING FATHER
Scripture: Luke 15:20 " ... while he was still a long distance away, his
Father saw him coming, and was filled with compassion, and ran and embraced him,
and kissed him."
The youngest son of a father asked for his inheritance and then he left home. He
went to a foreign country and there he wasted all of his inheritance on a wild
lifestyle. He finally came to his senses, however, when his resources were gone
and he found himself eating the food that he was supposed to be feeding to the
pigs that he was taking care of. When the reality of his situation finally hit
him, the son decided to return home and ask his father if he could become one of
his hired servants. He never expected the grand welcome that awaited him.
His father, like any natural father, was waiting and diligently watching for his
son's return. He had probably prayed the whole time that his son had been gone
and possibly walked to the bend in the road many times hoping to get a glimpse
of his son. When the father saw his son coming home, compassion filled his heart
and he ran and took his son in his arms and kissed him. The father took the best
robe that he had and put it upon his son. He put shoes on his son's feet and a
ring on his finger. He then killed a fat calf to celebrate his son's return. The
father was not concerned about how long the son had been gone or how low he may
have sunk. His only interest was that his son was now home where he belonged.
This is a beautiful picture of our loving heavenly Father. Our Father God never
forces us to follow His will, but always waits for us to return to it. When
Satan seeks to sift us as wheat as he did Peter, Jesus intercedes and prays for
us that our faith will not fail. Yet, sometimes we fail because even though our
spirit is willing, our flesh is weak. Our prayer becomes like the words of the
prodigal son who said, "Give me." When God gives, we often misuse our
inheritance and abuse the liberty that He allows. We then find ourselves in a
pit of despair. But God never gives up. He waits and watches diligently for us
to return to Him. He listens for our words to change just as the prodigal son's
words changed from "Give me" to "Father, I have sinned." Our Father God sees our
heart from a long way off and knows the moment that it changes. As we approach
God's throne for forgiveness, He runs to meet us and is always faithful to
forgive. His heart is filled with compassion for us and He restores our
relationship as a son. He covers us with His robe of righteousness, puts His
shoes of peace on our feet, and places a ring of authority on our finger. Our
Father embraces us in His loving arms and celebrates our return. +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
05/30/08
TAKING YOUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE
Scripture: II Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons of our warfare are not
carnal or human, but they are mighty through God to the ... pulling down
of strong holds, casting down imaginations, ... and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
We are in warfare. It is not a war of the flesh, but one of the spirit.
Satan is our adversary and his battlefield is our mind. He starts by
planting a simple thought in our minds such as a fear, a doubt, or a
desire. He knows that if he can infiltrate our mind in some negative
way, he can set up a stronghold of deception and hold us captive with
those thoughts. He doesn't come to us as a devil in a red suit, long
tail, and horns, but appears as an angel of light (II Cor. 11:14). And
just like the fruit in the Garden of Eden, he presents us with a thought
that seems reasonable, desirable, and wise. He is very patient and he
works his plan subtly. He diligently strives to keep us from knowing the
real truth, for he knows that the real truth will set us free (John
8:32).
A stronghold is defined as an area that is dominated or occupied by a
special group and fortified like a castle or permanent military outpost.
Satan enters our minds through our thought process, so we must guard our
minds and not allow his thoughts to linger long enough to become a
stronghold. Instead, we should allow our faith to rise and dispel any
evil or negative thoughts. If we neglect this detail, the devil will
take a permanent position like an unwanted houseguest that will not
leave. From that vantage point, he fragments and distorts every thought
so that he can enforce his thoughts upon us and manipulate our minds.
Once his stronghold has been established, Satan then begins to play on
our imaginations. These imaginations have the power to form a mental
picture or concept that is unreal and not based on an adequate
foundation of truth. We begin to imagine all sorts of horrible outcomes
concerning the situation that we are in. The more we allow the devil to
lead us into his trap, the more control he gains over our lives.
God has made a way of escape for us and supplied us with the weapons and
authority to fight this warfare. He has given us His Name, His Word, and
power through His blood to battle this evil enemy. He tells us to attack
the fortress of the enemy and disallow him to keep residence in our
minds. We are to cast down the imaginations and take control over every
thought, bringing it to the obedience of Christ. In other words, we are
to wrap every thought in chains and drag them to the feet of Jesus and
replace those thoughts with the Word of God. If the enemy brings
thoughts that cause turmoil and confusion, we are to take those thoughts
captive and make them obey the words of Jesus. Jesus said, "Don't let
your heart be troubled or anxious." The Word of God is sharper than a
two edged sword and there is a scripture that is able to meet every
challenge that seeks to bring us into captivity. Our weapons are mighty
through God. He gave us the divine power to demolish the strongholds,
imaginations, and thoughts of the devil by taking every thought and
making it fit into the structure that Jesus created by His words. If it
doesn't fit, we are to tear it down and take it captive. We must not
expect Jesus to do it for us, for He told us to do it! +++
Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights
Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================