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Scripture: Genesis 39:9 "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God."

Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, and as he served Potiphar, he gained great favor. His master, Potiphar, noticed that the Lord was with Joseph and that the Lord caused everything that Joseph did to prosper so Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his entire house and everything that he had. Potiphar held nothing back from Joseph except his own wife. Joseph was a handsome young man and Potiphar's wife began to entice him to sleep with her, but Joseph blatantly refused. There was no discussion about the matter, for his heart was predetermined not to sin against God.

How often do we slip into a place of sin because we have not made a predetermined decision not to take that path? It is amazing, but when you draw a line of demarcation in your spirit concerning certain matters, the devil doesn't even tempt you in those areas. He knows that you have set certain boundaries and limits and that you are clearly separated from engaging in those activities. He knows that you have decided that you are not going to steal, kill, commit adultery, lie, cheat, or give into addictions so he doesn't place these temptations in front of you, but tries to find another area where you may be vulnerable.

We always have canned drinks in the refrigerator, but seldom have bottled drinks. The other day my oldest son left a bottle of Coke in the refrigerator so that he could drink it later. I pointed it out to my younger son and told him that it belonged to his older brother and instructed him not to drink it. Upon hearing these instructions, he promptly declared, "Well don't blame me if I accidentally drink it." I was amused because I wondered how could he drink it accidentally when he was plainly told that it belonged to someone else and was asked not to drink it. By the way, he is no child. He is over thirty years old.

Yet, this is how it is when we allow ourselves to sin. Even though we are mature in the Lord, we think that because the temptation is there, it is not our fault if we give in. Adam and Eve may have felt like saying, "Well don't blame us if we accidentally eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Yet the availability to sin does not dispel the responsibility that we have for our own actions. In times of temptation, we must remember Joseph and understand that the only way to win the battle of temptation is to make a predetermined decision in our heart not to sin. We must bring ourselves to our senses by saying, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" +++

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04/02/09
ACCEPTANCE

Scripture: Ephesians 1:6 "He has made us accepted in the beloved."

Jesus is not only the Savior of the sinner, but He is also the Healer of the brokenhearted, the bruised, and the cast down. He brings freedom for all who are caught in Satan's designs and grants victory to those who are held captive in his snares. Regardless of your faults and failures, Jesus still loves you and accepts you just as you are. Scriptures declare that He is no respecter of persons, for He has no favorites and treats everyone the same way. Wherever you are today in life's walk, Jesus is waiting to save you, heal your rejected spirit, and restore your joy and purpose.

Acceptance is one of the most basic needs that people have so Jesus has included all people in His invitation into the Kingdom. Rejection is a very lonely and heart breaking experience but Jesus understands your feelings of rejection and has compassion for you because He experienced rejection. Isaiah 53:3 tells us that He was despised, rejected, and forsaken by men. The majority of men could not see His worth, nor did they esteem or accept Him as the Messiah sent by God. In fact, they turned their faces from Him. Yet, regardless of men's refusal to accept Jesus, His life and purpose remained in the hands of God and He ultimately fulfilled that purpose, which was personally designed for Him. Satan formed a weapon against Jesus, but it did not prosper. Jesus was the stone that was rejected and thrown aside, but through His death, burial, and resurrection, He established the Church and became its Chief Cornerstone.

Jesus' goal is to make you a part of His building and fit you into His kingdom (Ephesians 2:21-22). He accepts you just as you are and desires that you be a habitation for the Spirit of the Lord. He remains the Chief Cornerstone of this building and He holds it together by His power. You may think that you are different from the other stones and rejection may have tried to move in and disillusion your spirit, but don't be discouraged, your hope is in the Lord. God knows exactly what He is doing with you and He is fitting you and all of your experiences into His perfect plan. Each stone is important to God and you must believe that there is no weapon that is formed against you that can prosper. Remember that Jesus has been where you are and He understands your deep pain and lack of self-esteem. Allow Him to release you from the spirit of rejection so that He can restore your joy and purpose. Believe His word for you truly are accepted in the beloved. +++

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04/03/09
GOD IS NOT ASHAMED

Scripture: Hebrews 11:16 "For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God."

God's people, who are listed in this chapter, pleased Him in such a manner that He was not ashamed to be called their God. They pleased God by receiving His promise and being fully persuaded that He had told them the truth. And because they believed God, they obeyed His every command to bring about the fulfillment of the promise. When God spoke to Noah, Noah spent 120 years building an ark on dry ground, even though the earth had never before experienced rain. His faith and act of obedience saved his family and future generations. When God spoke to Abraham, he loaded up his entire family and went out looking for the city that God had promised him. When Abraham started out, he didn't even know where he was going nor did he trouble his mind about the destination. He just obeyed the call and followed God one day at a time. Others were tested in their faith.  Among them was Moses, who passed through the Red Sea on dry ground, and Joshua, who saw the walls of Jericho come down with a shout. All these men experienced great things at the hand of God, but the formula remained the same in every situation. They trusted in God, believed His promise, and then acted upon His word.

Noah could have become discouraged any time during the 120 years as people mocked the monstrosity that he was building. He could have chosen to leave the project of the ark unfinished in order to keep his self esteem and pride intact. Abraham could have returned to his homeland when he encountered wars and famine, but he kept looking for that promised city whose builder and maker was God. He traveled from place to place counting himself as a stranger and a pilgrim in the world. Moses and Joshua could have allowed fear to reign in their lives, but both men went forth in faith. All of these men pleased God because they believed Him and chose to act on His word.

If you are walking by faith in uncertain places today, listen for God's voice. His testimony over you will be the same as His words over His other servants. You will hear Him say, "You have pleased me very much.  You truly believe that I exist and that I will reward you when you earnestly and diligently seek Me. You have wholly followed after Me and have not allowed discouragement to deter you from My call. You have not turned back to the things of the world when the opportunity presented itself although it would have been much easier. I am pleased because you had faith to obey My voice even though you didn't understand everything. You have continued in faith, while others mocked.  I am very pleased because you have judged Me to be faithful to My word, and I want you to know that I am not ashamed to be called your God." +++

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04/06/09
ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANY COST

Scripture: Matthew 26:8 "When the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?"

Jesus was sitting down for a meal with his disciples when a woman approached Him carrying an alabaster box that contained very precious ointment. This small box of ointment was worth approximately a year's salary. When she began to pour this precious ointment upon Jesus' head, it caused much turmoil amongst His own disciples, for they could not see the purpose of this act and felt that it was very wasteful. They thought that the ointment could have been put to better use if it had been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus commended the woman's actions, however, by saying, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work upon Me ... She did this for My burial."

Can you imagine being able to save up a year's salary? For most of us, it would take many years for us to do that because after we pay our bills and necessities each month, we have very little left over. For me, it would be a great temptation to dip into those funds every time a special need came up. Yet somehow this woman was able to save the ointment for this occasion even though she may not have understood at the time why she was even saving it. She probably never dreamed that God had a special purpose or that He was going to use her gift to honor His Son. It is said, "What we receive too cheaply, we esteem too lightly." To her, Jesus was worth every drop of this expensive ointment, so she didn't count the cost. And while others esteemed her actions as waste, she esteemed her sacrifice as an honor to the Son of God.

There was a man from India who came to America in hopes of a better life. His dream came true and after many years he had gained a prosperous and wonderful life. Yet, God called him to give up everything and return to his poverty stricken homeland to minister. After a season of struggling with the desires of his own soul, he obeyed God's command. He made a commitment to God, "Anywhere, Anytime, Any Cost." We must understand that God's purposes are not designed to fit our lives but our lives are meant to fit His purposes. We may not understand the things that are happening in our lives but we can be sure that the things we going through are producing precious ointment within our souls. We may not have an alabaster box but we do have a heart and it should be filled with a desire to do God's will. If we give our all to the Lord, every sacrifice that we make will be used in its season for His glory. Others may question our sacrifice and have indignation because they see it is as a waste, but we must remain true to God's purpose and be ready when He is ready. Our commitment should always be "Anywhere, Anytime, Any Cost!" +++

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04/07/09
TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT IT

Scripture: John 1:36 "And looking upon Jesus as He walked, John said, Behold the Lamb of God."

When John the Baptist saw Jesus passing by, he had several options in the way that he saw and described who Jesus was. John could have told the people that Jesus was his second cousin. He also could have told them that Jesus was just another local man from the village that they lived in or that He was a carpenter by trade. Instead, John boldly declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. John knew the scriptures and recognized that Jesus was the Messiah who was destined to bring life and light to a darkened world. He joined his faith with the shepherds who believed the salutation of the angels and he saw Jesus as the King of Kings. Like the wise men who traveled from afar, He recognized Jesus as the Holy One who would redeem man from the curse of the law. And like Peter, He saw Jesus as the Christ and believed that He was the Son of the Living God.

There are two ways to look at everything that comes into our lives. The scope of our hope and attitude towards life depends upon what we decide to see. Life presents us with many situations and how we view them is our own personal choice. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gave a list of several choices. He said that we could choose to see life instead of death, light instead of darkness, and blessings instead of curses. We could see the value of being on the Lord's side or see the pleasures that last for a moment on the other side. We could choose to see Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins as John did or see Him as another historical figure or one of the prophets.

The same is true in the other issues of life. We can look at life and see our lack or we can see the things that we have and be thankful for them. We can look at others and choose to see their faults or we can attempt to discern their needs and seek for a way to help them. We can see people that are lonely and give them our unconditional love or we can look at them through judgmental eyes and do nothing about their need. We can look at our past hurts and choose to be bitter or we can be forgiving. All of these choices are ours. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he was looking for more than a cousin, a man, or a carpenter. He had a greater vision that he wanted fulfilled. Time is short and we must do the same. There are two ways to look at everything so we must adjust our vision and see Jesus and the world in a more productive way. The way we view things will determine the outcome of our progress in life and also the depth of relationships that we will be able to establish and maintain. +++

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04/08/09
TOTAL PERSUASION

Scripture: II Timothy 1:12 "For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."

To know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings had been one of the Apostle Paul's greatest desires. Now Paul speaks very tenderly to Timothy, his young son in the faith, concerning this issue. Paul obviously had obtained the knowledge that he had desired, for he declares that he not only knows the One Whom he believed in, but has staked all of his faith in Him. Paul also acquired an assurance in his spirit that the Lord would keep everything that Paul had committed to Him until the Day of Judgment. He believed that none of his accomplishments or the faith that he had found in Christ would be lost.

Paul's deep and abounding knowledge of the Lord had come because of the intimate time that Paul had personally spent when he was caught up in His divine presence. And his total persuasion that the Lord would be faithful to him had not come easy, but it had been developed during the many hardships that he had endured and the persecutions that he had experienced. Paul's life and ministry had produced many difficulties, yet in his walk with the Lord, he had come to this place of total persuasion. He knew Jesus whom he believed in and knew that He would be faithful until the end. When Paul wrote these words, he was alone in a cold dungeon and knew that he was near death. According to tradition, soon after this intensely personal letter to Timothy, Paul was beheaded.

Paul had come to know in the Spirit God's only begotten Son, Jesus, who had died on the cross for his sins. This was God's ultimate sacrifice for all of us, for which we should always be thankful. If we cannot think of anything else to praise God for, we can always praise Him for Jesus who made a difference in our lives. When we choose to believe in Jesus and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, He spares us from a personal eternity in Hell. The next phase of our relationship with Christ after salvation should be the same as Paul's commitment, which was to know the One in Whom we have believed. Yet this total trust and persuasion in Him can only be birthed by His presence and the knowledge of His covenant with us. We must search for this personal and intimate relationship with Jesus like Paul did, for it will sustain us even when we are at death's door. And like Paul, we too will be able to declare without any reservations, "For, I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." +++

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04/09/09
CREATED FOR PURPOSE

Jesus came to the earth with a definite purpose to fulfill, and that purpose was to undo and destroy the works of the devil. As the Son of the Living God, Jesus had one thought on His mind when He was here on Earth and that was His journey to the cross. He came to fulfill the prophecies of old that spoke of the agony and shame that He would suffer to redeem men from their sins. Yet there was joy within His heart as He traveled the road to His destiny. The Apostle Paul declared that Jesus was able to endure the cross because of the joy that was set before Him. The joy that He experienced was not the cross itself but the accomplishments of the cross, for Jesus knew that His sacrifice was going to set men eternally free from Satan's captivity.

Jesus won the battle against the forces of evil through His death on the cross and because of His victory, the Heavenly Father held nothing back from Him. After Jesus' resurrection, He declared, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth" (Matthew 28:18). Jesus then released that same power to those who would go and preach His gospel in His Name. He did not leave us on the earth with empty hands and nothing to do. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He created purpose for our lives, spoke words of vision into our souls, and breathed His Holy Spirit into us. He gave us power to be His witnesses and promised that He would be there in our midst and also confirm His word with signs and wonders. He totally equipped us to do the work that He did so that we could also destroy the works of the devil.

We are not called to the cross of Calvary like Jesus, but God has created us with purpose. You must come to know that what is happening in your personal life is very important to Him. He is in your midst, making an effort to use you right where you are. Your purpose may not seem very great to you as you take care of your grandchildren in the later years of your life or care for a handicapped or elderly person. You may be suffering 'burn out' or feel stuck in a mundane position with no promotion on the horizon, but you must search for the purpose of the season. It is awesome when you discover the reason why you are who you are and realize that God has placed you where you are for a reason. It brings light to the darkest season and causes your life to come alive with revelation. Knowing your purpose will change your life and getting a glimpse of your destiny will help you be able to chart your actions so that you can stay on course. Your thoughts, attitudes, goals, and priorities will become what He desires. When you believe that God is using you where you are, you will begin to schedule His plans into your life with joy and you will find that He will be your partner in the labor. When you are yoked to Him, He will help you accomplish His divine plan for His eternal purpose. +++

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14 (Living Bible) "Jesus, the Son of God, is our great High Priest who has gone to Heaven itself to help us; therefore let us never stop trusting Him."

Jesus was with the Father in Heaven, but He left His throne in glory to come down to Earth even though He knew the cruel destiny that He faced. He was the King of Kings, yet He submitted to being born in a lowly stable. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes instead royal robes, and even though He was the Lord of Lords, He was humbly laid in a manger. His birth brought good tiding of great joy to the hearts of men, yet He, Himself, suffered mental anguish in the garden of Gethsemane. He was the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley, and the Bright Morning Star, yet became uncomely as cruel men ripped His beard from His face and spat upon him. Instead of being placed on an earthly throne, He was nailed to a rugged cross. Instead of receiving honor, He suffered the shame of the crucifixion. He died for all men, yet He was rejected, scorned, ridiculed, laughed at, and mocked by those same men that He gave His life for.

Jesus is the Spirit of Truth, yet men distrusted Him and accused Him of being a liar, a fraud, and a false prophet. His cousin, John the Baptist, doubted and questioned if Jesus was truly the Messiah, and even Jesus' own mother and brothers thought He was mad. He said that He would never leave us or forsake, yet He was forsaken by His own Heavenly Father. He is our Comforter, yet He experienced suffering and sorrow as no other. He is the Bread of Life, but He experienced hunger and even Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. He was rich but He became poor for our sakes. He promised to build us a mansion in Heaven when He didn't even have a place to lay His head here on Earth. Jesus is love and loved the unlovely, yet He, Himself, was unloved by many. He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, yet He was humiliated and slandered. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, yet His most trusted friends lost faith in Him and forsook Him in His darkest hour. Jesus came to give men eternal life, but men took His life from Him. He is the Lamb of God without blemish, yet He became the sacrificial lamb for our sins.

Think about the cross and what Jesus has done for you. Can you imagine that He freely gave all that He had to give in order to gain you for His eternal possession? He experienced every infirmity so that He could understand and be touched by everything that you would ever face. Jesus is the Son of God and your High Priest. He now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, speaking words to help you. Never stop trusting Him because He loves you so much. He gave His all for you, what more could He do? +++

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04/13/09
BEHOLD THE RESURRECTED LORD

Scripture: Philippians 3:10 "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection."

Jesus was the Lamb that was slain; the sacrifice that was without spot or blemish and with His life, He paid for our sins. Now we must behold Him as our resurrected Lord, for the resurrection of Jesus is crucial to our faith. I Corinthians 15:14 says, "If Christ is not risen from the dead ... our faith is vain." There were three men who were crucified that day on Calvary, but only one of them had the power of resurrection working in His life. That man was Jesus, the Son of the Living God.

Paul's purpose and goal was to know Jesus in a deep and personal way. The Amplified Bible says, "To know the wonders of His person ... and to know the power out flowing from His resurrection." Paul wanted to be intimately acquainted with Jesus. There are many levels on which to know someone. For instance, we can all say that we know the great American evangelist, Billy Graham. We know what he looks like and can recognize the sound of his voice, but that is only because we have seen and heard him on the television. We don't really know him intimately. You can travel down the chain of Billy Graham's relationships and see intimacy growing stronger as the relationship gets closer to those who spend the most one-on-one time with him. From his crusade audience, to his staff, to his casual friends, to his close friends, to his family, to his children, and then finally to his wife, intimacy is developed with personal relationship.

Paul was determined to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. He wanted to know the wonders of the person of Christ and the power that had raised Him from the dead. Paul didn't simply want to hear about Jesus and the resurrection, he wanted to experience Him and His awesome power. Paul was willing to give up everything to know Jesus. He said, "I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). To Paul, being able to achieve this state of intimacy with Jesus was overwhelming and precious. This was his greatest desire and highest goal. We must also strive to know Jesus intimately and to experience the wonders of His person. We too must search to know Him not only as the Lamb of God that took away our sins but also as our Resurrected Lord, for without Christ's resurrection, His sacrifice and our faith is in vain. +++

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04/14/09
SACRIFICE OF A BROKEN SPIRIT

Scripture: Psalms 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ..."

David made mention of a broken spirit in his prayer of confession to God. David came to God with great repentance in his heart after the prophet Nathan had confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. David was shamed, riddle with guilt, and broken hearted as he poured out his sorrow for the sins that he had committed. He pleaded earnestly for God's mercy and forgiveness and asked God to cleanse him and restore him with the joy of His salvation. David said, "Take not your Holy Spirit from me." In this state of brokenness, he came to realize that this was the true sacrifice that God desired. David acknowledged that burnt offerings and blood sacrifices meant nothing to God and were of little importance if his own heart was not touched and changed.

David allowed the brokenness of his heart to bring him into a new strength and he discovered a truth as he faced his situation. This truth is that we are never to fear brokenness, for God makes a special promise to those who pass through this dark emotional valley. In this humble state, God gives a special grace and endows a new strength. David said, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalms 34:18). He also declared that "the afflictions of the righteous are many, but that God delivers them out of them all." Notice that he said, "them all." God doesn't deliver us out of some of our problems, but He delivers us out of 'them all."

Like David, we can take comfort in these words and even rejoice when we are down, knowing that God has promised to do two things for us. First when our hearts are broken, He promised to be near us. He will be there to comfort us with His awesome presence and strengthen us through His bountiful love. And second, when we are in the midst of afflictions, He will deliver us out of all of them. We can depend upon God in every circumstance, for He will never fail. As we come to the end of ourselves, it will no longer be our strength, but God's strength that will prevail. God is not so much interested in what we can give or how great our sacrifices are. He is simply looking for a broken heart to mend and a contrite spirit that He can heal. +++

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04/15/09
GOD'S WAY IS PERFECT

Scripture: Psalms 18:30 (NIV) "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless."

We live in a real world which is not perfect in any way. At times things seem to be in order and at other times there is great chaos. There are floods, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and personal problems that come in our direction, but our goal is to remain peaceful in all situations. We may not understand all that is happening around us, but what we do need to understand is that God is perfect in every way and that He is watching over us. What is happening in our own personal lives at the moment is not just an event but a process. It is a stepping-stone to help us get to the next place that God has ordained for us. God is doing something far greater in our lives than we can ever imagine, for the Lord's ways are much higher than our ways and His thoughts are greater than our thoughts.

We may stand, weeping, beside an open grave, which has been prepared for our loved one. We may watch as our leaders and heroes fail us. Our friends and family may reject and abandon us when we need them the most. The truth is that things will not always turn out as we have planned. Yet, as we face the disappointments and the challenges that are set before us, we must remember that God's promises are always flawless. When He speaks, He makes no mistakes and He never fails. There are no idle words that come from His mouth, for each word and every promise will come to pass just as He has declared. Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass will wither, the flower will fade, but the word of the Lord will stand forever."

God is steadfast and we must trust Him at all times. We are His children and He has our best interest in His heart. Adversity does not signal that you are off course, for when you are walking towards God and in His will, you are facing the devil who is walking in the opposite direction. So don't allow yourself to become discouraged by every speed bump in the road that slows you down. Just keep moving in faith. If you are unable to see the path before you because the problems are too great, just take one step at a time. Continue on the journey that God has set before you and remember that His ways are perfect and His word is flawless. He will not fail you. +++

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04/16/09
TRUE WORSHIP

Scripture: John 4:23 "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth."

Worship was originally spelled "worthship" and means to acknowledge the worth of the one being worshipped. Worshipping God has to do with who God the Father is and not just acknowledging and praising Him for what He has done or is doing for us. Knowledge is the mother of devotion and those who are empty of the Word of God cannot worship God in truth because true worship can only come as the revelation of the character of God has been birthed within your spirit. In other words, you cannot love and worship someone you don't know. Faith is also required in true worship, for you must believe that God's presence is there to receive your worship.

We praise God for His awesome works but worship far surpasses the material and physical realm and reaches far into the spirit. Worship recognizes the character of God and understands that God is spirit and because He is spirit, He can only be truly worshiped with the spirit. The rocks are able to cry out in praise to God (Luke 19:40) and the sun, moon, and stars of light are commanded to praise God (Psalms 148:3). Even the morning stars sing together (Job 38:7). Yet, none of these awesome creations of God can worship Him in spirit because God has not breathed His spirit of life into them. Worship is an experience that takes place in the heart. Worship happens when the whole being is yielded to God and the love that is within our heart bows down in reverence to the holiness of God. It is an inward expression of our recognition of God's glory and grace.

John 4:23 continues to tell us that God is seeking for those who would worship Him in spirit and truth. He is actively watching and waiting. The Lord is looking for a bride who loves Him and knows how to pleasure Him with true worship. He doesn't want lip service. He wants a heart that is full of true worship. He looks beyond the loud shouts of praise to find the quiet spirit of love that is on its knees in beautiful and reverential worship. If you dedicate yourself to be one of those who will worship God in spirit and in truth, you will find Him and He will find you. +++

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04/17/09
CONTENTS OF YOUR HEART

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

King Solomon was a man to whom God imparted great wisdom and he declared that we are the essence of the contents that are within our heart. It is a matter of fact that whatever is in our hearts, whether good or bad, will eventually come to the surface and be revealed by the words that we speak. Jesus confirmed this in Luke 6:45 when He said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Not only will the thoughts of our heart be revealed with words, but those words will create an atmosphere around us. It is a circle of events. Our heart thinks, our mouth speaks, and then our lives become what we have spoken. It is not a mind over matter thing. It is a principle of God's word, for His word says that there is life and death in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). So we must be careful what we think and be cautious of the words that we speak, for that is what we will become.

James said that our tongue is like the rudder of a ship that controls and steers the vessel. Consider your course of direction. Where are your words taking you; towards the hazardous rocky shores or to the smooth deep waters? Are you constantly confessing defeat because your heart has no hope of victory? Do the past hurts and distrusts that are within your heart cause you to speak words that bring strife and division, which hinder your relationships? Is your heart always filled with dissatisfaction and complaints? God became very tired of hearing the Israelites mummer and complain. He finally told them that He would bring to pass the words that they had spoken in His ear and He held true to His decision. Of out the abundance of their heart, their mouth had spoken evil judgment upon themselves and eventually they died in the wilderness. David, on the other hand, confessed victory before his battles and declared that God was with him. Even when he faced Goliath, the giant, his heart was overwhelmed with faith and his mouth was filled with positive words. As he ran towards Goliath with a sling and a few stones, he declared from the abundance of his heart, "This day God will deliver you into my hands" (I Samuel 17:46). The contents of his heart harbored a mighty cause for right and he became what his heart believed, a conqueror over the giant and evil.

What are the contents of your heart? If your words are negative, the contents of your heart are defeat. If your words share no light with others, your spirit is filled with darkness. If you can share no words of joy, your own heart is harboring grief and sorrow. If your words gender strife and division, you have no peace or contentment within yourself. If your tongue spews forth words of judgment and attempts to destroy the accomplishments of others, it is because your heart is full of envy and jealousy. Your heart is dissatisfied because its own dreams have been shattered. Examine your ways and your words and if they are lacking, then examine your thoughts.

God wants His presence and His purposes to be the contents of your heart. If you are thinking anything less than victory, you need to ask God to help you change your thinking. David prayed, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer (Psalms 19:14). If you are considering settling for anything less than God's best for your life, you need to rearrange and upgrade your expectations, for God declared that He has a good plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). If fear and doubt are looming large within your heart, you need to cast those thoughts aside and look to God with faith. Isaiah 26:3 says, "God will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is fixed upon Him." Look to God for help. If you study and listen to His words, He will exchange the contents of your heart and fill it with His thoughts. Then as you yield to Him, He will create a right spirit within you and you will bring glory to Him, for as you think in your heart so shall you be. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/20/09
LABORERS OF THE HARVEST

Scripture: Proverbs 20:4 (Living Bible) "If you won't plow in the cold, you won't eat at the harvest."

Fruit and grain for our livelihood does not spring forth from the ground without effort. There is much work and faith that goes into bringing about a harvest. The ground has to be plowed and the seed has to be planted at the right season, for nature does not allow for procrastination.

God's spiritual kingdom is also like this. Luke 10:2 says, "God is the Lord of the harvest" and tells us that we are to pray that He would send laborers into His harvest. Both the laborers and the harvest are symbols of the minister and the work that he is called to do. Yet, many times when we are called as laborers into the harvest to witness or minister, we fail to follow God's leading because we are distracted. Like the natural farmer, we see the hazards of the cold. We may feel that we are not spiritually prepared enough to witness, or that the person that we are to witness to is not ready. Perhaps we feel there are other matters that we must take care of first, so we fail to plow the field and plant the seed. Therefore, the promise is lost because of procrastination and the work is left undone because of distractions.

In Luke 9:62, Jesus tells us that we are to put our hand to the plow, and not look back. The Living Bible says, "Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God." We are not to allow any distractions to keep us from God's appointed time. When He speaks to us or shows us a need, God is letting us know that the season is right and that His Holy Spirit has already begun a work. If we fail to move at God's biding and in His season, we will fail to see the many blessings that God had prepared for those lives that He had intended to reach through us.

Has God placed it on your heart to do a good deed, say a kind word, or meet a special need? Has He called you into His fields to witness to someone about salvation? Do you have good intentions, but do not follow through because of the distractions of life? Like a natural harvest, God's Kingdom does not allow for procrastination, either. If God is speaking to you, He is working on the other end to prepare the harvest. As the Lord of the harvest, He waits for you to put your hand to the plow and sow the seeds that He has provided. He depends upon you, His laborer. If you do not work God's fields, bless others, or reach out to the lost, there will be no harvest. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/21/09
JUST PASSING THROUGH

Scripture: Psalms 84:6 "Who, passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well."

Baca means a place of weeping, crises, misery, and pain. God never promised that you would be exempted from valleys or your places of Baca. He did say, however, that He would be with you always, even in the midst of your crises, misery, and pain. God is there to give you victory right in the middle of your adverse situations, but you must do your part. As you are passing through the valley of Baca, you must decide to make this place of weeping into a well of life. With God's help, your tears can become a place of refreshing for your soul instead of a place of bitterness. God will not waste one moment of your grief and pain. If you will give it all to Him, He will draw from the well that you create with your tears and wash your eyes, cleanse your heart, and refresh your spirit. If you allow your Baca to become a well, you will go from strength to greater strength (Psalms 84:7).

You can also take solace in the fact that the valley of Baca is designed to be a temporary place. You are only passing through this time of weeping and despair, so in order to just pass through, you can't sit down and give up. You must continue to take one step at a time to conquer the valley. It may seem like the valley is too deep and the way is too hard. But remember, you have a promise from God that He will never put more on you than you are able to bear. When things become too difficult for you, God will make a way of escape. In Psalms 23:4, David spoke of walking "through the valley of shadow of death." He said that he would not fear because he knew that the Lord was with him. This blessed assurance will also see you through your valley and bring you to a place of victory over your circumstances and inner conflicts.

Andrae Crouch wrote a song with these lyrics: "I've had many tears and sorrows. I've had questions for tomorrow. There have been times that I didn't know right from wrong. But in every situation God gave perfect consolation that my trials come to only make me strong. And through it all ... I've learned to trust in Jesus. I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, I've learned to depend upon His word." What mighty words these are. When you find yourself in the valley of Baca, remember that valleys are very fertile. So glean all you can from your valley and embrace its strength. As you are passing through Baca - let your tears create a well. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/22/09
FROM VESSEL TO VESSEL

Scripture: Jeremiah 48:11 "He has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel ... therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed."

This scripture refers to the country of Moab, which had settled down in its prosperity, and because it was not in captivity or facing adversity, it felt no need to trust in God. This season of ease and lack of challenges that Moab was experiencing had caused the hearts of the people to become stale in their faith. Jeremiah compared its state to the process of wine making, declaring that Moab had "settled on its lees." When wine is being made it must be poured from one vessel to another to separates the liquid from the dregs. This process forces the dregs to settle in the bottom of the vessel, which improves the quality of the wine and produces a fresh scent. Wine that is not poured from vessel to vessel acquires the essence of the dregs that have settled at the bottom. It would be similar to drinking coffee with stale grinds in the bottom of the cup.

Through the challenges of life, God works this same process within our spirits. Sometimes we don't understand why good people have to go through bad times. Yet, it's the hard times that teach us how to trust God, and it's the hard times that keep us from becoming like Moab, "settled on our lees," or at ease and undisturbed. It's in the places of no options that our faith is challenged and our hearts learn to believe in God. It is only when we are poured out and emptied that God can fill us with His presence so that He can use us. Through each test and trial, we go through a releasing of our own desires and self. The more difficult the test, the more we release. In reality, we would rather travel the road of least resistance. It is a lot easier to settle on our lees and stay in the blessings or to sit on the pew and receive rather than be poured out on the altar. Often we rebel against being torn away from our desires, but God works with us anyway. He pours us from vessel to vessel and disallows us to settle in our own dregs. He refuses to allow us to become stale. He molds us until we are conformed into His image and then He fills us with His Spirit and causes us to take on His essence.

Jesus experienced this same process as He made Himself of no reputation. He emptied Himself of all that He was and allowed God to pour Him out for mankind. He "took the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man: ... He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:7-8 & 5). He poured Himself out for us and challenges us to do the same for Him. He says "Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus." As we yield to the Lord, He does the pouring and takes us from glory to glory with each new experience. As we leave the dregs behind, our lives begin to yield a freshness and a scent that is pleasing to our Maker and not offensive to the world about us. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/23/09
ENABLED FOR BATTLE

These words were in the midst of a song that King David was composing as he praised God for delivering him from all of his enemies. David not only praised God for his deliverance, but he also acknowledged that God had trained him for battle. We prefer the battles in which God instructs us to "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" or "Hold your peace and let the Lord fight your battle." God's deliverance is sweet when He takes care of our enemies and we are not required to face the challenge. However, when God supplied us with His armor for battle, He not only gave us defensive weapons for protection, such as a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, a shield of faith, and a helmet of salvation, but He also provided us with a weapon for offensive battle. This mighty weapon is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With each challenge, God gives us a fresh word and a new revelation by His Spirit. His Word is a two-edged sword, which equips us for battle and sustains us in every adversity.

When David fought the giant, he had to lay aside Saul's heavy armor and take the few things that he knew how to use, which were his sling and a few stones. Saul's armor was a burden to David and would have cost him the battle. So many times our battles are lost because we are trying to use a word that someone else received from the Lord. We must understand that God moves differently in all situations and we must sharpen our own sword with a personal word from the Lord. Look at some of the battles in the scriptures. God told Gideon and his army to hold their lamps, break the pitchers, blow the trumpets, and shout, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon" (Judges 7:20). God told Jehosaphat to appoint singers to go before the army and praise the beauty of holiness. As they did, God ambushed the enemy and caused them to fight against themselves (II Chronicles 20:22). God told Joshua to march around the city of Jericho for seven days and then, on the seventh day, to march around the city seven times and shout. It is recorded that when they shouted, the walls came down (Joshua 6:20). When Moses and Israel were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptians, God told him to raise his staff and divide the sea (Exodus 14:16).

These men's actions were sheer obedience to God's word. What do you imagine would have happened if Gideon had acted on Joshua's word or if Joshua had acted on Gideon's word from God? Most probably the battle would have been lost and the walls would still be standing. Just like these men, God enables you for battle. He teaches your hands to war not with a method, but with His Word. You don't need a formula; you need to hear what God is saying and obey those instructions. When you listen, you will hear God speak to you personally in a still small voice and His Word will be your Sword of the Spirit. +++

The prophet Jeremiah was distraught and lamenting over his life. He felt like God was against Him because of the affliction and darkness that was surrounding his life. He declared that there was a hedge placed about him and that none of his prayers were being answered. It seemed to him that God had made his way crooked and desolate. Jeremiah even wondered if God was secretly lying in wait to attack him like a lion or a bear. There was no peace remaining in his life. In his struggle to make it through this season of despair, he said, "My hope is perished" (Vs. 18).

If a great prophet like Jeremiah had these thoughts and emotions, is it any wonder that we too are tempted to walk into the same trap of doubt and unbelief? When things do not go as they should or the way we want them to in our lives, we must remember that the same devil that was working against Jeremiah nearly 600 hundred years before Christ was born is the same devil that is working against us. Even though it is a different time, the devil's strategies have not changed. He still twists God's words into lies and attempts to distort our perception of God by making us think that God is against us. Yet all the while, God is for us and is sovereignly working His plan in our lives.

Jeremiah did not stay in his despair for very long, for he changed his perception of God. He began to remember the mercy and the compassions of the Lord that he served. He thought about who God really was and decided to quietly wait for God's salvation and deliverance. Like Jeremiah, there are many uncertainties in our life, and things can get very discouraging as we struggle through our circumstances and experience hurt in our relationships. It may be hard to understand what God is doing in our lives when we don't even understand what is happening in our lives. Yet, the events in our lives do not determine who we are. Our responses make that determination. Our future will not be shaped by our current circumstances but by our perception of God in the midst of those circumstances. In the midst of our challenges, we must learn to keep our perception right and know that there is One in whom we can always trust, and His name is Jesus. He is our portion and He is our hope. When we understand this completely, it will unlock the door to our prisons of discouragement and despair and set us free. +++

All of the seasons in nature are planned and set in motion by God. There is no way for man to shorten the winter because of its cold or stop the summer because of its heat. The beautiful spring with its mild weather and gentle rains cannot be prolonged and the crisp clear pleasant days of the fall cannot be lengthened. The seasons remain in the hands of almighty God. Likewise, the seasons in your personal life are divinely designed by God. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God knows the thoughts and plans that He has for you and it includes a future with hope and a destiny of fruitfulness. Even in your senior years God has a plan for you, for Psalms 92:14 says, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age." All you must do is flow in and out of the seasons and remain faithful.

There will be seasons like the fall when everything seems to be very clear and crisp within your spirit. You seem to have exact direction and perfect vision. Hope fills your heart as you anticipate the future, but then just when things are falling into place, the clouds of darkness begin to cover up your seeds of hope and everything turns cold. For some length of time, your dreams remain dormant with seemingly no hope of life or fulfillment. Then, just as suddenly as this disappointing and unproductive season appeared, it passes and you are surprised by the singing of the birds. God begins to resurrect all that surrounds you and He restores your hopes and dreams. He overwhelms you by giving life to the dormant seeds that are harbored deep within your heart. His Spirit refreshes your faith like the spring rain that falls upon the earth and He once again begins to accomplish His purposes in your life. Eventually, the summer appears and there is an abundance of fruit that God is able to produce in your life because of your faithfulness to remain steady.

God never leaves you or forsakes you in these various seasons of your life. Notice the trees that look so hopeless during the dormant season. Their bark turns an ashen gray and their leaves, which were lush and green, change colors and fall. The tree is left totally exposed with seemingly no life, no beauty, no purpose, and no hope. It has no energy as its sap is drained, but the tree never waves its barren limbs at God and questions Him about its current and bleak situation, for it has experienced this place many times. So, it takes the nourishment through its roots and patiently waits again for God's appointed season. God never fails, and as the barren tree waits, its strength is renewed and a new season of growth comes. It finds itself again flourishing. Just like the tree, you must always remember that God has designs for your life. The season you are in has been divinely ordained and appointed by your Creator. Never be discouraged, but embrace it and patiently wait, for its purpose will be revealed. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/28/09
THE UMPIRE OF PEACE

Scripture: Colossians 3:15 (Amplified) "Let the peace, or soul harmony, from Christ rule or act as umpire continually in your hearts."

An umpire is one who is appointed to rule and is empowered to settle an issue. He is designated as judge and arbitrator to direct and govern disputes. In sports events, both teams depend upon the umpire to follow the rules and to be fair. There are moments of anticipation as both teams wait for the umpire to give the call. Once the umpire's call is given, it is accepted. We may have seen things differently from our position in the stands, but there are no questions and no arguments. The umpire's judgment is deemed final.

Paul tells you to let the spirit of peace do this same work on the inside of you. When there are questions in your mind, you should allow the peace of God to rule and be the umpire. You are to wait for the Holy Spirit to give His call and speak peace to your soul. Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions. When your soul is in harmony, all these areas are in agreement and at peace. Your mind and your emotions can only be at peace when your will is flowing in God's divine will for your life. If there is any turmoil in your soul, you should realize that there is something about the situation that you don't know or understand. Like the umpire, God sees what you can't see. At His vantage point, He can see the whole picture.

When Jesus went away, He left us His peace. He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). His peace is supernatural and passes all understanding. It keeps and guards our minds and hearts through Christ Jesus. God's peace should decide and settle with finality all questions that arise in your mind. You are to "trust Him with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). You must come to a place in your walk with God that you are able to totally surrender your mind, will, and emotions to Him, and allow His peace to be your umpire. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/29/09
TRUST IN HIM

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5 & 8 (Amplified) "Lean on, trust and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. It will be health to your nerves...."

Webster's Dictionary defines trust as "total confidence in the integrity, ability, and good character of another." We hear many faith messages and are taught how to believe and receive the wonderful promises that God has made to us. Faith comes and grows within our hearts by hearing these messages (Hebrews 10:17). You cannot develop faith without hearing the Word of God. Yet there is another area to think about and that is simple trust in the One who spoke the Word. God made the promise and trust in Him comes by developing total confidence in His integrity, His ability, and His character.

As a youth, before I made weekend plans with my friends I would ask my father's permission. If his answer was yes, it produced faith that when the time came, he would supply the financial need. He knew that I did not have a job or provision. His simple word gave me unquestionable faith. I trusted his integrity because I knew that he would not lie to me and I had faith and total confidence in his ability to supply the need. The cost of the movie or whatever was an enormous amount to me, but I knew that my dad was well able to provide the funds, and knew that he would not only meet the need but would give me a little extra. He was a good father with a good character and he wanted me to enjoy myself. If he forgot at the end of the week, I would simply remind him of his promise and he always came through without excuses. There were also other areas of trust that I did not exercise conscious faith in. These were my day-to-day needs of food, shelter, clothing, care, and affection. I just always knew these things would be there because he was my father and he was my provider. I leaned upon him with total confidence. We were not rich. In fact we were poor by the world's standards, but my dad worked hard to supply all of my needs and I never had to fret over these matters. I simply cast all of my cares upon him because I knew that he cared for me.

Often we get ourselves into a "nervous frenzy" and are "on edge" concerning situations that we can do nothing about. These anxious moments should be placed into the hands of our Father God. He loves us and wants us to cast all of our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. (I Peter 5:7). He doesn't want us carrying loads that are too heavy for us to bear. Our Father knows the things we need even before we ask (Matthew 6:). We should lay our understanding aside and totally lean upon Him and trust in Him with all of our heart and mind. As we do, it will calm our souls and bring a peace that passes all understanding, and that spirit of peace will be health to our nerves. +++

Scripture: Matthew 16:25 " ... whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it."

Many people search for contentment day after day, but never find it. They are always waiting for something grand to happen in their lives. Their attention is drawn to the material, for they think that possessions, status, and fame will be the thing that will satisfy their souls. They climb the ladder every day, but never reach the top. They run the race, but never get to the finish line. They travel the road, but never arrive at their destination. They seek diligently, but never find the true treasures. They have life, but they never live it to full.

Jesus shared with us a special way to experience the fullness of life. He said those who would lose their life for His sake would find it. Jesus also told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It is only as we lay aside our own natural desires that we are able to focus on the spiritual. When we begin to view things from the perspective of the cross, we see that our life has a bigger purpose than just for ourselves. As God shows us the true purpose for our life, the revelation motivates and energizes us. Our priorities are no longer swayed by the distractions that surround us. Our integrity is no longer challenged by the temptations that seek to destroy us and enticing detours are no longer able to divert us. Like Paul, we are able to press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). And like Jesus, we are able to endure the cross and run the race with patience because of the prize that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

If you really want to live, take Jesus at His words. Trust Him, lay your life at the foot of the cross, and allow God to show you what He has planned for you. He has good plans for you, which include a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). His ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts. The life God has planned for you is greater than any plan that you could ever come up with. As you lose yourself in Him and sacrifice the lower life, you will find the higher purpose and gain the greater life. +++