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A Word In Due Season
1st Week of March 2010

03/01/10
A PLACE CALLED PRAYER

Scripture: Matthew 14:23 "Jesus went up into a mountain apart to pray."

This scripture is sandwiched in between two mighty miracles. In the first miracle, Jesus fed over 5000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Within just a few hours, He preformed another miracle by walking on the water. Could we say as the people did in Matthew 13:54, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" Jesus answers this question in John 5:19-20 when He says, "The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing ... For the Father loves the Son and will show Him what He is doing."

Even though Jesus was God the Son, when He came to Earth He was the "Word made flesh" (John 1:14). He emptied Himself and took on the form of a mere man and could only do what the Spirit of God anointed Him to do (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus did not take advantage of His divine nature, but instead He completely abandoned Himself into the hands of God. He depended on God the Father to show Him what to do and to anoint Him to do it. Acts 10:38 says, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with Him."

Jesus' wisdom and power came about as a result of the anointing of God, and the anointing came as a result of His communion with God the Father. Jesus continually searched for a time and place to be alone with God. It was in those intimate places that God showed Jesus what He was to do and infused His being with the presence of the Holy Spirit who then empowered Jesus to complete the work. Jesus miraculously fed the multitudes, but then sent His disciples and the multitude away so that He could find a place to pray before He walked upon the water. Jesus renewed His strength through His relationship with God the Father and did not try to function in yesterday's power. And because He spent time with God, God was with Him.

Too often we find ourselves too busy to spend time with God. We begin to experience a great lack in our study of God's word and prayer time and then find ourselves trying to rely on yesterday's revelation and yesterday's anointing. We must recall the secret that Jesus held. He found wisdom and power in the solitary place called prayer. His main interest was His communion with the Father. God's anointing is only going to come to us through this same place of intimacy with Him. When we pass through the veil into God's presence, we will gain an assurance that He is with us and we will find the power of His anointing that will cause us to be able to fulfill His call. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/02/10
NEW COMMANDMENT

Scripture: John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you."

Most of us try not to break the Ten Commandments that are listed in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. We do not serve other gods, make graven images, take God's name in vain, or dishonor the Lord's Day. We also don't dishonor our parents, kill, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet things that belong to our neighbors. In keeping the first four of these commandments, we fulfill Jesus' command which says to "love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind." And by doing the last six of the Ten Commandments, we show that we "love our neighbor as ourselves" (Luke 10:27).

Now in John's gospel, Jesus goes on to tell us that He is giving us a "new commandment". Jesus says that we are not only to love our neighbor as ourselves, but that we are to move on to a higher level and love them as He loves us. Jesus loved us in a greater degree than we could ever love ourselves. He loved us so much that He laid down His life for us on a cruel cross while we were still in sin. Without having any promise that we would receive Him, He simply sacrificed Himself in faith.

God also showed His amazing love towards us by sending His only begotten Son to suffer and bear the shame of our sins. I John 4:11 tells us that if God so loved us, we also should love one another. He gave His greatest possession. If God loved us so much that He was willing to make this tremendous sacrifice, we should be able to love one another in the same way. If God was willing to watch His Son, Jesus, be beaten, crowned with thorns, have nails driven into His hands, and be hung on a cross, we should be able to bear up under the load of love that our relationships demand. Love does demand sacrifice and when our sacrifice of love becomes too demanding, we must remember that it was Jesus who spoke the command of love into our lives and that He termed it a command and not an option. Regardless of the circumstances or the challenges, we have no choice but to obey His commandment and be self-sacrificing as He and God the Father were to us. We must love each other as They loved us. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/03/10
WISE COMPANIONS

Scripture: Proverbs 13:20 "He that walks with wise men shall be wise."

What we gather into ourselves determines who we are. Our physical bodies are formed by what we eat and how much we exercise, and our spirits and souls are molded and shaped by the knowledge we obtain, the things we experiences, and our communion with God. Solomon, a man gifted with wisdom, said that if we desire to be wise, we must walk with wise men. He continued to say "a companion of fools shall be destroyed." He understood the principle that worked in human nature; that is, we eventually become like those who surround us. We've all seen people who have handled their lives in wisdom and discretion, but later fell into a sad state as they began to associate with the wrong crowd. Even King Solomon, who wrote this proverb, fell when he married heathen wives and began to worship their gods. It can happen to anyone. James 4:4 tells us that we cannot make friends with the world. If we do, we become enemies to God, because the flesh will work against the Spirit, and foolishness will work against wisdom.

Gaining Godly wisdom is a choice in life. You have to make an effort to be transformed into the image of Christ and be renewed in your mind with His wisdom. It is a daily process of looking at yourself through the Word of God just as you would examine yourself in a mirror. As you see truth, you determine the changes that you need to make so that you will measure up to His image and not conform to the world (II Corinthians 3:18). You must make the decision to walk with the wise and not the foolish. It is a steady and gradual process. Even Jesus, Himself, grew and increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52). He was not born full of wisdom and His wisdom was not given to Him as a sudden endowment from God. Wisdom came as He searched the scriptures, sat with the wise men of God in the temple, and as He walked with a wise God.

Walking with the wise allows you to hear their speech, see their actions, and witness their examples. As you do, wisdom will manifest itself in your life and you will begin to think as the wise think, talk as they talk, and act like they act. If you truly want to be wise, you must make a conscious choice to walk with wise men, and above all, you must walk with the God of wisdom. +++

Scripture: Matthew 25:29 "For to everyone that hath, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance."

A man divided several talents between his servants according to their individual ability before he went on a journey. When he returned, he found that the servant to whom he entrusted five talents had put his talents to work and had gained five more talents. Likewise, the servant who received two talents gain two more. However, the servant who had received only one talent fearfully hid it in the ground. Because of his fear and laziness, his talent did not produce an increase and he had nothing to offer to his master. The lord of these men was pleased by the two servants who had put their talents to work, but he was so displeased by the fearful and slothful servant who had hid his talent in the ground that he took his talent from him and gave to the faithful servant. This wise servant now had eleven talents because he had shown himself diligent in managing the five talents that had been originally given to him.

Did you ever wonder why the people who have, seem to be able to get more, or why the people who lack never seem to be able to gain and move forward? Jesus shares the reason in this story. It is a simple principle of putting what little you have to work so that God can bless it. He has promised to bless and multiply whatever you sow or whatever your put to work. But if you do nothing or sow nothing, then when your nothing is blessed or multiplied by God, it still remains as nothing.

It is easy to identify with the fearful servant because it is difficult to sow when you have little, but we must remember that everything belongs to God, and Jesus declared that He was able to reap where He had not sown. The Lord knows if you are able to handle five talents, two talents, or just one talent and He will never ask you to go beyond your ability. He doesn't expect you to give what you do not have or to exercise a talent that you are not gifted with, but He does expect you to take the little that you have and put it to use. It will take faith to reach forth and sow the gift that God has given you, but miracles only happen on the other side of the comfort zone. If you only have a few dollars, it is hard to let go and sow it into the life of someone else. It intimidating to play an instrument in public if you know only one song. Yet, you cannot be like the man with one talent and hide your gift. Small ability does not negate responsibility. Multiplication doesn't come by hiding, but by sharing. Even the trees of the field have to bear fruit and give forth of themselves to be able to multiply. Trust God for increase and ask Him to help you move out of your comfort zone. When you stretch yourself in this fashion, you will be surprised as God begins to multiply your talents. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/05/10
CHARACTER

Scripture: Luke 6:44 "Every tree is known by its own fruit."

From the very beginning of time, God established a law of nature by commanding the trees to regenerate and bring forth after their own kind. This same principle works in the spiritual realm as well. Jesus, speaking of men's lives, declared that a good tree would bring forth good fruit and that a corrupt tree would bring forth bad fruit. He said that every tree would be known by its own fruit and that fruit would be produced by what was within the inner being. We are never known by someone else's fruit simply because we know them or associate with them. Jesus said that a good man, out of the good treasure of his own heart, will bring forth good and an evil man will bring forth evil. Goodness and evil cannot be hidden within our soul. It will eventually bear fruit and manifest itself outwardly.

When our family drove through the state of Florida several years ago, we saw hundreds of small trees in the distance. At first, we could not determine what these small trees were because they did not look like any of the trees from our region. This sight was new to us but as we got closer we began to see the fruit on the trees and were able to determine that we were looking at groves of orange trees. It was a beautiful sight, but the trees were only known to us because we saw the fruit that they produced. This is what Jesus was explaining to us, for the same is true with our lives. Jesus didn't say that we would know the fruit by looking at the tree, but instead that we would know the tree by looking at the fruit that it produced. The fruit is the determining factor that names the tree. It is a simple deduction. If there are apples, it is an apple tree.

Our reputation is based upon what others see us do and the words they hear us say. It is a public evaluation of the fruit that we produce. Our character is our moral qualities within that distinguishes us from others and is the source of the fruit that we produce. We determine how our character is formed and our character determines what kind of fruit we manifest. If we steal something when no one is looking and we don't get caught, our reputation might not be ruined but we are still a thief. If we lie and no one discovers our indiscretion, the opinion that others have of us may stay in tact, but we are still a liar within our heart. Character is the hidden chambers of the heart that no one else can see. It is who we are in the dark and it is how we act when no one is looking. Character is a heart thing and determines our walk so we must continually guard ourselves, for out of our hearts come the issues of life. We are who we are within so we must be careful and determined not to trade the components of our integrity or jeopardize our Christian witness. We must remember the words of Jesus. The tree within us, which is our character, will be exposed and will be known by its own fruit. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of March 2010

03/08/10
GOD TEACHES AND DIRECTS

Scripture: Isaiah 48:17 NIV "This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

As we travel our various roads of life, there are separate destinies that await us. Yet often in quest of God's purposes and plans, it seems difficult to 'get on' and 'stay on' the right course because there are so many distractions to lead us away in the wrong direction. Our paths may be diverted by failures and disappointments or sometimes even good things that are not necessarily the right things for our life. It would be great to be like the Israelites who were led by a cloud each day and guided by a fire at night. Or can you imagine being directed by the Star of Bethlehem, which led the wise men to their intended destination? With precise signs and wonders like these leading us, it would surely be hard for us to miss God's perfect plan for our life.

God, however, has not ordained these types of supernatural happenings for our daily life. He has given us the witness of His Holy Spirit and His still small voice to guide and direct us. As simple as this plan of communication may sound, however, His presence and His voice is just as phenomenal as signs and wonders. How awesome it is to feel God's presence leading us along the right path. It is just as exciting as the cloud by day or the fire by night, for when God makes His presence known, it is an overwhelming and eternal experience. And too, when God singles us out and speaks distinctly within our spirits, there is no sign or wonder that can compare.

Every time God touches us in a personal and special way, we are changed. His desires become our desires and His choices become our choices. The more we see Him move in our circumstances, the more we realize that His ways truly are better than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. All of His plans for us are for our good and not evil and they are designed to give us a future and a hope. He is our Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah said that the Lord not only teaches or lets you know the right way, but that He also directs you in the way you should go. God is interested in that which is the very best for you. Trust His leadership, for He knows what is ahead and is much wiser than you. As you trust Him, you will find that He always gives you the best when you allow Him to do the choosing. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/09/10
REST FOR AWHILE

Scripture: Mark 6:31 (Amplified) "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest for awhile."

The disciples were so busy that they had no time to rest. In fact, they couldn't even sit and eat a meal in leisure without being interrupted by the people who continually followed them. The masses drew upon their time and energies and left them totally spent. Finally, Jesus called them away to a solitary place just to rest.

Our own lifestyles have become similar to this scenario. We have become exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally because our schedules allow very little time for us to rest and regenerate. Often, if we are not careful and determined, we even fail to make time to pray and study God's word. Yet, our strength to maintain life's demands and cope with stress depends upon getting physical rest and having fellowship and communion with the Lord. Isaiah 40:29-31 tells us that as we wait upon the Lord and linger in His presence, God will increase our strength, causing it to multiply and making it abound. As we rest in His presence and renew ourselves spiritually, God renews our physical strength and causes us to be able to walk and run without getting weary or faint. Isaiah said even the young men would fall with exhaustion, but those who wait upon the Lord would be like eagles, full of strength, soaring above every situation.

Jesus also told us what to do if we become weary, over burdened, and stressed out. He said, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30). Supernatural strength is imparted when we come into the presence of the Lord. He said, "Take my yoke upon you." In other words, "Surrender everything you are to Me. If you will allow Me to pull the load, you will find relief from pressures and be refreshed in your spirit. Get to know Me, for I am very gentle of spirit. If I give you a burden to bear, it will be easy and light, for I will never put more on you than you can bear. Cast all your cares on Me, for I care for you. Come away with Me to a solitary place for a while and rest in My presence. As you become still, you will come to know that I am God (Psalms 46:10) and peace will enter your soul. As My presence surrounds you, you will find refreshing and blessed quietness for I will cause you to rest." +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/10/10
HIS SPIRIT WILL RAISE A BANNER

Scripture: Isaiah 59:19 "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

This is a rich promise for those who are in a place of struggle with the enemy. It declares that regardless of how hard the enemy attacks, God is going to be there to raise up a standard, or banner, to let the enemy know that God is on the side of His people. It is like the flag of the United States that is raised in a place of battle when its forces have conquered and taken command of the territory. When the Lord lifts up a flag in the spirit, the enemy has to recognize that God has conquered and is in control. The devil has to give up his ground and bow to the presence of the Almighty God.

Several years ago, I faced floodwaters that were coming towards my home. As I prayed about the situation, God gave me this scripture, that when the flood came in, He would raise up a standard against the enemy. I became very excited because for some reason, I thought that I was not going to experience the flood. But twenty inches of water entered my home and brought much destruction. In the aftermath of the storm, I questioned God about His word to me. But He reminded me that He never said that the flood would not come in, but that when it did come in, He would raise up a standard. I had misinterpreted His word to me. However, He did fulfill His word to me and He did raise up a standard against the enemy. At the end of the ordeal, I came out better because of the financial grants and help that He provided for me.

It is easy to misinterpret what is involved in the Christian walk and think that because we have given our life to God, we are exempt from all trouble and strife. In reality, the battle gets worse because we are now working against the devil and not with him. As we face daily battles with the enemy, his main objective is to kill, steal, and destroy. He deceives us into thinking that he has conquered us and tries to convince us that we are in his power and control. He places doubts in our minds and tells us that there is no way out of our situations.

But thank God that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord raises up a banner. God lets the enemy know that He is in control by raising a flag that declares, "This far and no further." God raises a banner in the midst of all of our temptations and calls it "A Way of Escape" (I Corinthians 10:13). He warns us that in the world we will face tribulations, but He tells us to be of good cheer and raises up a banner with the words "I Have Overcome the World" (John 16:33). In Psalms 34:19, He tells us that the righteous will suffer many afflictions, but God raises up a standard in front of the enemy that says "The Lord Delivers." Even in the valley of the shadows of death, His Spirit raises a banner and promises "No Fear of Evil" (Psalm 23:4). God never promised there would be no problems, but He did promise solutions! God is there for you so trust in Him to raise up a banner in your situation. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/11/10
PRAY AGAIN

Scripture: James 5:18 "And he prayed again."

Elijah prayed earnestly and asked God to send rain. Six times, nothing happened, but on the seventh time, the heavens opened and the rain began to pour. Elijah could have given up on the sixth time that he prayed, but he didn't because he was determined to pray until an answer came. What if Elijah had stopped praying after his first prayer because he felt that true faith doesn't pray a second time? What if he questioned himself after the second prayer by wondering if he was righteous enough to go before God? What would have happened after the third prayer if he thought his request may be considered selfish in the eyes of God? After the fourth prayer, what would have happened if he had stopped praying because he felt ridiculous praying about the elements of nature? Surely, he had doubts after the fifth time that he bowed himself before God with the same petition, for the scriptures record that he was a man of like passions just like you and me. When he prayed the sixth time, he may have wondered if God was even listening at all. Yet Elijah didn't give up, and when he went boldly before God's throne of grace on the seventh time, he received his answer.

Powerful and effective prayer doesn't just happen. Sometimes you must stand at length before God's throne before you see any results. You must ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, and knock and keep on knocking until God answers. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah several times and Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord all night before he received his blessing. He wrestled so long and so hard with God that his hip was thrown out of place and he walked with a limp for the rest of life. Jesus, Himself, prayed for a blind man twice before the blind man's sight was totally restored, and Jesus also went to God three times for Himself and asked that the cup of suffering be removed from Him.

The tenacity of prayer and faith is illustrated in the definition given by three boys. The first boy said, "It is taking hold of Christ"; the second said, "It is keeping hold of Christ"; and the third said, "It is not letting go!" We are not to simply skirt around on the outside of God's presence, but instead take time to venture deep into the Spirit. We must reach beyond our simple petition and go boldly before God's throne of grace in our time of need. We should not let go but approach God as many times as we need, without any reservations. We must always remain submitted to the Father's will, but never take no for an answer until God says no. Until the answer comes, we must pray and pray again. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/12/10
EMBRACE YOUR DESTINY

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13 "... having seen them (God's promises) afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth ..."

This chapter of Hebrews lists some of the incredible saints who walked in faith and a brief comment about their great accomplishments. They were persuaded of and embraced God's promises. They even confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims, not allowing their affections to be tied to this Earth. Yet, if you go back and read their stories, you will find that even though they acted in faith, they still had their own personal conflicts and flaws and experienced their own individual valleys and mountains. There was Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joseph, to list a few. None of these were perfect even though they journeyed intimately with a perfect God. There was even a harlot named Rahab listed among these great men of faith.

God's word always forces us to deal with the dimensions of truth and the truth is that God is moved by faith. When we look in the mirror, we see the reflection of ourselves; our lack of education, our lack of ability, and our limited resources. God really doesn't care about our lack. He looks at the same image and sees great potential. Instead of seeing our lack of education, He sees His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom flowing through us. He sees His strength as being greater than our disabilities. He sees no problem with our limited resources because He is Jehovah Jireh and is able to provide everything needed. He looks at our image and discerns a spirit that is longing for His will and purposes and a vessel that He can possibly work through. He sees our soul that is waiting for His measure of grace to be poured upon it so that we can do the things that He is calling us to do.

Each journey of faith begins with the first step. Noah began gathering the wood for the ark and securing the first boards together. Abraham packed up his family and left his country. Isaac sowed his precious seed in the ground in the time of famine. Moses lifted his rod and performed signs and wonders in the courts of Pharaoh, and Joseph stayed faithful in unjust circumstances. Like these men, God waits for us to take our first step of faith regardless of how foolish it may seem. What is He saying to you? When He speaks, you must take your eyes off of where you are right now and get the vision of where you need to be. You must accept the challenge to go further with God than you have ever gone before even though there may be conflict and valleys along the way. You must be aware that the devil's warfare is based upon your potential and that he fights accordingly. However, there is no problem that God can't solve and no dream that He cannot fulfill. When God gives you a promise and shows you your destiny, you must embrace it with total faith and take your first steps towards that journey's end. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of March 2010

03/15/10
DEEPER DIMENSION

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13 "You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart."

We are standing on the threshold of change. The Lord is moving in a more powerful way than ever before and an entirely new dimension is opening before us. His word is made available to us daily through many different mediums so that we are able grow in His wisdom and understand His will. His spirit is calling us into a place of deeper intimacy with Him so that we can know His heart. When we understand God's will and yield our lives to His heart's desire, our prayers will reach into eternity and bring His infinite power to Earth. Our lives will show forth His glory and our witness will bring honor to Him and Him alone.

Yet as with anything that is worth having, there is a price that must be paid in order to enter this place of intimacy and experience the deeper dimension of God's glory and grace. Jeremiah said that we would only find God when we search for Him with all of our heart. God is not playing hard to get, but He will not be found until a diligent search is made. He is looking for total commitment and He will not show Himself to us until He sees that our heart is desperate for Him. We will not experience God if we approach Him with prayers that are inspired by our own foolish desires and notions. If we intend to find God at all, His kingdom must be our main interest. He must become more important to us than our next breath, the food that we eat, or the water that we drink. Our entire lives must communication to God that He is life to our being and that we love Him for who He is, not for what He gives.

Fathers and mothers always rejoice to see their children learn and they celebrate each new level of growth. So it is with God, our Father. He rejoices over us as we experience spiritual growth and is very pleased when the borders of our territory are enlarged. Yet, it is evident that we cannot travel alone or open the doors by ourselves. We need the Lord to direct our path and help us step over the threshold so that we might experience this new place that He has prepared for us. God, Himself, is the greater and deeper dimension that we seek, and beside Him, there is no other. He invites us to come and experience His awesome presence. He even gives us the formula of how to experience this place of intimacy, but there is a price to be paid before we enter this deeper dimension of His glory. It will take true faith on our part to find God, effort to seek for Him, and personal sacrifice as we search for Him with all of our heart. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/16/10
FEW WORDS

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Let your words be few."

These are the words of King Solomon and we should pay close attention to them because he was declared to be the wisest man who ever lived. He was actually speaking about our prayers to God, but he wasn't telling us not to talk to God very long. Solomon clarified his words by saying, "Don't be rash with your mouth or let your heart be hasty to utter a word or make a vow before God." He also reminded us that God is in Heaven and we are on Earth. God knows much more about what is going on in our lives than we could ever presume to know so we should keep our ears open for God's voice and our hearts attentive to His spirit. When we stop and listen to God, we will discover that He has more to say about our situation than we do. In fact sometimes we are so busy chattering to God about our problem, that He can't get a word in edgewise to covey His solution to us. We are to be still and to know that He is God.

Jesus said similar words about our prayers. He said, "Don't use vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking" (Matthew 6:7). Prayer is not supposed to be a big theatrical production but a personal one-on-one audience with the Lord. Yet many times, in our attempt to get what we want, we either make rash promises to God or we resort to making railing accusations about the things that are happening in our lives that we do not understand. We forget that God is still God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and that He is still on the throne and in control.

Solomon said, "To listen is better than to speak foolish words." Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). Foolish words are not profitable, for by our words we are either justified or condemned. We must not allow our mouths to lead us into sin and condemnation. We need to be quiet unless we know that we are praying according to God's will. When we come to God we need to come without formulas and techniques. We are to simply approach Him like a child approaches their earthly father. When we do this, we will evoke God's presence. Then as we find ourselves alone with God, we will be so awed by His presence that our focus will shift from ourselves to Him. In His presence, we will forget about our own desires and we will want His will to be done in our lives here on Earth as He has ordained in Heaven. When we commune with the Lord, let our words be few so that we can listen and hear what the Lord is saying to us. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/17/10
HE GOES BEFORE YOU

Scripture: John 10:3-4 "... the sheep hear His voice: and He calls His own sheep by name, and He leads them out ... He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him for they know His voice."

You never have to fear the path that is set before you because the Lord Jesus goes before you each step of the way. You never have to tread where His feet have not been or suffer things that are foreign to His knowledge. He leads you out and then He goes before you, discerning every situation. He notes the paths that are too narrow and the rocky steeps that are too dangerous. He will lead you around every pitfall and protect you from every foe. He encounters every obstacle that you will experience along the way so that He can understand your feelings and be touched by your infirmities. His presence makes the crooked way straight and His mighty hand opens every door that needs to be opened and closes every door that needs to stay shut. Jesus will never lead you into a place that is too difficult and you will never find His grace to be insufficient.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He cares for His sheep. He loves you individually and doesn't get you confused with someone else. He calls you by your name. He also allows you to know Him in an intimate way so that you can recognize His voice. He doesn't disguise His voice or speak foreign words to you but makes Himself very plain. All you must do is listen for His still quiet voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). His voice will gently bring repentance and scatter the sounds of condemnation. His words will give direction and drive away the spirits of confusion. He will never lead you astray and the simple knowledge that He is leading the way should give you great hope and confidence in your journey.

His presence will bring peace in the midst of your turmoil. As you follow Him one step at a time, you are not to look sorrowfully at your past, be confused about the present, or fear the future. Tomorrow is unknown but His voice says, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for it will take care of itself." He is God and if He can feed the birds and clothe the flowers of the field, He can take care of you. Jesus goes before you. Just follow Him without doubt and fear, for He is already there in the future that you are about to experience. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/18/10
FROM FAITH TO FAITH

Scripture: Romans 1:17 "From faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

God has an extraordinary and powerful plan to rescue the believers who trust in Him. From faith to faith or from start to finish, God works within us to bring about His awesome plan. His plan is the glorious gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. This gospel of salvation has three facets. His salvation redeems us from past sins. It gives us eternal life in Heaven. And, it also equips us with God's strength to help us live in Heaven's victory while we are still here on Earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. He and His gospel of salvation is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8 ).

The just are to live by faith and that faith will come by hearing the Word of God. Only the Word of God will set us free and bring us total salvation for the past, present, and future. Many are born again and can believe that their salvation experience will take them to Heaven. It is wonderful that they have received faith's assurance for tomorrow's future, yet, these same born again believers can't seem to operate in the faith that allows them to forgive themselves or to believe that God has forgiven them for the sins of their past. Their spirits are saved and they are on their journey towards glory, but their minds are not renewed and their souls linger in the pits of doubt. They carry much baggage of guilt and shame because they cannot let go of the memories of what they have done. There are others who have faith to believe for eternal salvation and are also able to receive forgiveness for the things of their past, but they have no faith to live in today's victory. They flounder around in the sea of unbelief when it comes to trusting God for their present deliverance, protection, preservation, healing, and provision for their needs.

When we gave our hearts to Jesus, He did a total work in our lives. He immediately began a work in us and we can "be confident in this one thing, that He Who began a good work in us will complete it unto the end" (Philippians 1:6). For that reason, when we look at our lives, we should not become discouraged. We must realize that the Lord is not finished with us yet. His work is progressive as He takes us from faith to faith. We are made just by faith in Him and then our faith in Him becomes a daily process. We can be assured that the Lord will not desert us on our journey or stop in the middle of our progress, but will continue to develop us right up to the time of His return. Faith springs from faith. The initial faith that we received leads to more faith. As we receive the Word of faith daily, the Lord transforms us and renews our mind. Faith arouses greater faith so that we no longer waver in any area of life. We must understand that it is only as we have faith in God and totally trust our past, present, and future lives to Him, that we, being justified, will really learn to live. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of March 2010

03/22/10
ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD

Scripture: Romans 8:27-28 "... the Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good ..."

Life offers surprises to all of us and many times we do not know what to think or say in the middle of the ordeals that come our way. We believe that God will come to our rescue so we definitely want to keep our faith and not complain or make negative confessions about our situation. Yet, we don't want to have false hope and offer untrue statements either. So how can we express our faith and trust in God until our promise of hope is fulfilled?

We must understand that God is never taken by surprise. He not only knows the beginning from the end, He also has a plan to bring all things together for our good. He is able to take the lemons in our lives, add some sweetness, and make lemonade. When things seem impossible, He is able to take the crooked circumstances and make them straight for our benefit. Even when people work against us, they can't stop the plan and blessings of God that are upon our lives. Our hope is no different than that of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. Everything worked together for Joseph's good because he loved God and was called according to God's purposes. Joseph told his brothers, "You thought evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).

God's word doesn't say that all things are good, but it declares that all things will work together and turn out for our good in the end. We must realized that maturity is developed in the midst of adversity, strength is gained in pain, and a spirit of hope and faith is birthed in the midst of desperation. Every trial of faith that we endure deepens our trust in the Lord. Every experience that we go through causes us to grow and teaches us that all things are working together for our good. Therefore, when others question us about the disease that is attacking our body, our confession should be, "According to Romans 8:27-28, The Spirit is making intercession for me according to the will of God and all things will work together for good." When we are financially challenged, we can boldly declare, "The Spirit is making intercession for me according to the will of God and all things will work together for good." When our relationships are strained, we should find refuge in this same thought, "The Spirit is making intercession for me according to the will of God and all things will work together for good." This confession also holds true when we are facing any of the other storms of life. It is God's word for us and we can trust Him to bring it about in His time. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/23/10
POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS

Scripture: Isaiah 50:7 "For the Lord God will help me; therefore I shall not be confounded."

We take pride in our accomplishments so defeat and failure in any area of our lives can become confounding and confusing for us. It can cause us to be frustrated not only in front of our critics but also ashamed in the face of our close friends who are really standing with us. Failure can also be so discouraging and disappointing that we do not want to try again. Yet, failure is a necessary part of life because it is a natural consequence of trying. If we never try, we will never fail, and likewise, we will never fail if we never try. On the other hand, we will never succeed if we do not try, for success demands that we attempt the goal.

Sooner or later everyone who does anything will fail at some point in their lives. It may be with a career, a relationship, or the hopes and dreams of the future. When these failures occur we can allow them to either destroy us or teach us about the frailties of our own abilities. If we work with our failure, it can add strength to our character by allowing us to understand others when they fail and it can also teach us the importance of offering them a second chance. Failure will show us that life is very unpredictable and that the road to tomorrow will have many twist and turns. It will present unexpected challenges, but we must not allow the uncertainty of the path to deter our journey or keep us from reaching our destiny. Regardless of adversity, we must continue to press towards success.

Michael Jordan acknowledged his failures in life, but didn't allow his failures to keep him from his potential success. He missed more than 9,000 shots in his career and lost almost three hundred games. He said, "On twenty-six occasions I have been entrusted to the game's winning shot ... and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is precisely why I have succeeded." He recognized that his success came because he refused to be destroyed and defeated by mere failure. He refused to be confounded and instead, he pressed on to victory in the midst of shame. Like Michael Jordan, you must remember that you are not destroyed or defeated regardless of how many times you miss the goal. You only stifle your dreams and limit your potential for success when you, yourself, give up. You must not lend yourself to this mindset or allow yourself to be confounded, but realize that the Lord is for you and not against you. God has given you a potential for success so look to Him for help and keep trying until you obtain the victory. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/24/10
EL SHADDAI

Scripture: Genesis 17:1 "I am Almighty God."

The Lord appeared unto Abraham when he was ninety-nine years old and identified Himself as the Almighty God, which in the Hebrew is El Shaddai. El Shaddai was derived from a related word that means mountain or overpowering one, but it is also interpreted as the "God that is more than enough." When God spoke to Abraham, He told Abraham that he was going to be the father of many nations. Abraham and Sarah by natural laws were obviously too old to have children and they laughed at this news. Yet, God declared that He was El Shaddai in their lives. He could do what they couldn't do. Abraham and Sarah didn't need the laws of nature working for them, for they had the Almighty God that is more than enough.

We see all through the scripture that God was truly always more than enough. For forty years, He provided manna for the children of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. They had plenty for each day's provision and didn't have to scrimp and save. In fact, there was manna left over each day that they were instructed not to save. When Jesus fed the 5,000, everyone must have had plenty to eat because there were twelve baskets of fish and bread left over. When He fed the 4,000 men, plus women and children, there were seven baskets left over. His provisions surpassed the needs and were always more than enough.

Many times we limit the Holy One of Israel. Our minds are too small to allow our hearts to have faith to receive God's wonderful and miraculous blessings. Yet, He is able to do exceedingly beyond anything that we could ask or think, and provides for us according to His riches, not according to our own resources. We must stop looking at and worrying over our situations and start looking at God and believing that He can do the impossible for us. He can stretch our funds and multiply our means. You may not choose to believe it, but I have personally seen God multiply soup as I poured it from one container to another in order to share it with those in need. When I finished pouring the soup, there were two full containers and everyone had plenty to eat. That was El Shaddai at work nearly forty years ago, and He hasn't changed. He is still the same today. His simple blessings can overpower the laws of nature and bring miracles into existence. When circumstances challenge our faith, we just need to trust in God and believe that He is still El Shaddai, the God that is more than enough. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/25/10
AUDIENCE OF ONE

Scripture: I Chronicles 28:8 " ... and in the audience of God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that you may possess this good land ... "

King David desired to build a temple for the presence of the Lord, but because he had been a man of war and had shed blood, God disallowed him to experience this honor, and at the word of the Lord, David put aside all of his hopes and desires. In obedience to God, David gave the pattern of all that the Spirit had put in his heart to his son, Solomon, and allowed him the honor of building a house for the Lord. David was able to lay down his dreams and visions because he was a man after God's own heart and sought only to please God. He knew that success with God was not measured in ones achievement but in faithfulness to His word.

When David stood before the congregation of Israel to make known the plans and process of building the temple, he exhorted the people to search for and keep all the commandments of the Lord. David spoke from experience, for he knew the personal value of obedience to God and the rewards that came from keeping His commandments. He also knew the results of disobedience and sin. In his prayer of repentance that came about because of his involvement with Bathsheba, David prayed, "Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11). Sin separates you from the heart of God and destroys His purposes for your life. In the heart of David, it was a fearful thought that he would no longer have the privilege of enjoying the presence of and having an audience with God.

You could have the opportunity to stand before multitudes, but like David, you must come to the realization that the highest place that you could ever achieve is an audience with God. When you stand in His presence, you stand before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are in the glory of the Almighty God. You must be dedicated to seeking this awesome audience of One, for only He matters. The Apostle Paul said that it was a small thing to be judged by man or even by himself. His only concern was for the approval and praise of God (I Corinthians 4:3-5). Like Paul, God must be the One sitting upon the throne of your heart. You cannot allow yourself to be moved by the praises or the criticisms of men. When you pray, enter your closet and pray to this audience of One. When you sing praises, sing to His heart and not to the ears of man, and when you give, give as unto Him. God sees your heart and knows which audience you are seeking to impress. When you seek to honor Him in all that you do, He promises that you will possess the good of the land. +++

Scripture: Genesis 40:14 "Remember me when it is well with you, and show kindness to me, mention me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this place."

Joseph was being held prisoner with Pharaoh's baker and chief butler and these men had a dream which they shared with Joseph. Joseph interpreted both dreams and told the butler that he was going to be restored to his post. He pleaded with the butler to remember him and also mention him to Pharaoh when this event happened, but the butler forgot to befriend Joseph even though Joseph had graciously interpreted his dream for him. Finally after two full years, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. The butler remembered Joseph, who was still in prison, and recalled his divine gift of interpreting dreams. He mentioned the accuracy of Joseph's interpretations to Pharaoh and Pharaoh sent for Joseph to be brought out of prison. When Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh's dream and give him sound counsel, Pharaoh recognized Joseph's wisdom and discretion and made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

From time to time, we acquire items with the intentions of using them for special occasions. It could be crystal stemware and linen napkins for a formal dinner or plastic cups and plates for a picnic. Yet because we have designated their use for a special time, we usually put them in a special place to save them for their season. God did the same with Joseph. He knew exactly where Joseph was and could have delivered him out of the prison at any given moment, but the Lord kept Joseph hidden in the darkness of this special place until his appointed time. When the time was right, God moved suddenly in the life of Joseph and called him out of the depths of darkness into the light of his destiny. What would have happened if the butler had remembered to mention Joseph to the Pharaoh two years earlier? If Joseph had been released from prison, he may have went back to his homeland. He surely would not have been in the place where Pharaoh could conveniently find him in order to move him into God's new place at God's appointed time. Joseph had already been in bondage for about fourteen years when God chose to leave him two more years. God may have needed those last two years to instill the finishing touch in Joseph's life in order to prepare him to be ruler over a multitude of people.

Sometimes we do not recognize our own personal prisons as special places. We struggle with the darkness of not understanding why we can't move forward and become embittered by the difficulties that we face. We grow impatient because the time of our deliverance lingers and we often move out from under God's covering. We try to get others to help us and we make a way of escape for ourselves, which is not in God's perfect plan. We may have been in a marriage that God intended to mend. We may have borrowed money to settle a debt when God had another plan that would have saved us a large amount of interest. We may have tried to accomplish ministry on our own terms by going out before our time, prophesying our own words, or attempting to use gifts that God had not given us yet. Wherever we are and regardless of the darkness and difficulties that we face, we must remember that God knows exactly where we are and that He has His own reasons for keeping us hidden. If we wait on His timing, we can rest assured that our season of deliverance will come and that the Lord will take us out of our special hidden place and move us into our destiny. +++

A Word In Due Season
5th Week of March 2010

03/29/10
IN THE HANDS OF A SOVEREIGN GOD

Scripture: Genesis 39:2 "The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man ..."

When Joseph was seventeen years old, his whole life changed in a very short time. His father had favored Joseph above his brothers and had given him a coat of many colors. As Joseph began to flaunt his robe before his brothers and tell them of his dreams, he provoked them to mischief. Because of their total disdain for Joseph and his dreams, they stripped him of his coat and threw him into a pit. Their intentions were to kill him, but God's hand was upon Joseph and He prevented his brothers from their evil actions. God sovereignly caused a band of traders who were on their way to Egypt to pass near the pit where Joseph was being held captive. Instead of killing Joseph, his brothers decided to sell him to the traders.

Little did Joseph know that even in these early stages of his life God was working a divine plan. The execution of God's plan may have seemed cruel at the time, but God needed Joseph in Egypt so that He could fulfill His purpose in Joseph's life. In every detail, God had sovereignly worked to get Joseph to his appointed place so that He could groom him and get him ready to govern the land during the season of abundance and during the great famine of seven years. Joseph had very little control over his life and circumstances. God was guiding every footstep and setting him up to save a multitude of people. All Joseph could do was go with the flow and cooperate with the circumstances that God sovereignly set before him. He learned to endure the hardships and disappointments gracefully and found favor with those about him. God was with Joseph every step of the way and caused all that he did to prosper. He allowed Joseph to be placed in charge of his master's household and even blessed his master's house for Joseph's sake. Every small step that he took was a part of God's great plan and Joseph eventually recognized this. He told his brothers, "You thought evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).

God works no less sovereignly in our own lives. We may face cruel bondage and painful disappointments, but we must remember that God is in control. Like Joseph, our friends may forget us and our family members may reject us, but God will always be there. Our dreams may falter and our plans may fail but God says that all things will work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). If you have prayed, "Not my will but Thine be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" then get ready for God to direct your life. His ways may seem mysterious at times, but if you trust the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean to your own understanding, He will lead you down a path that brings blessings to others and prosperity and favor in your own life. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/30/10
HIS WILL - YOUR DESTINY

Scripture: Luke 22:42 "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done."

Jesus had taught His own disciples to pray for God's will to be done in their lives.  He told them to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Now as Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane and is facing the horror of the crucifixion, His own will and desires are being challenged and tested. His human side would rather have the cup of suffering pass from Him and He prays desperately three times to this effect. In His struggle, Jesus suffers so much agony and stress that great drops of blood begins to pour from His body. Yet, He humbly yields Himself to the Father and submits Himself to God's will.

Even though Jesus was very willing in His spirit to give Himself for the Kingdom of God, it was difficult for His flesh to surrender. Likewise, God's will for us may not always be an easy choice. Many times it's hard to respond because obedience usually means great sacrifice in many areas such as time, energy, and finances. Yet, we know that the rewards of following God's will and obeying His voice always out measures any sacrifices that we may make. When we completely surrender and give ourselves over to God's will, we are acknowledging His claim over our life and giving Him license to be in control.  In Jesus' case, this meant the necessity of the cross. In our case, it requires taking up our cross, separating ourselves from our desires, and giving ourselves to His desires. In Luke 9:22-23, Jesus said that He "would suffer many things ... and be slain." He then told us that if we wanted to follow Him, we would also have to "deny ourselves and take up our cross daily."

Yielding to the cross daily is a great challenge, but Jesus said if you lose your life for His sake, you will also save your life. It is only when you are totally yielded to God and His will that He can do great things through you. When Jesus was faced with a decision, His thoughts focused on His mission and His destiny. He did not allow anything to draw Him away from God's plan, for He knew that His life and destiny not only affected Himself, but also the lives of the multitudes. Like Jesus, your life will eternally affect the lives you are destined to touch. For this reason, you must give yourself to God and pray, "Not my will, but Thine be done." +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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03/31/10
TRUSTING GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

Scripture: Psalms 121:1 "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help."

The psalmist speaks of the blessings and help that come from God when we place our trust in Him. He says that God will keep us stable in all situations, whether by day or night, for the same God that led Israel out of Egypt with the cloud by day and the fire by night is also watching over us. This almighty God who is the maker of the heavens and the earth never slumbers or sleeps, and He constantly watches to guard us from the enemy and to preserve our body and soul wherever we go.

In times of trouble, there is a special hill that we can look to for all of the help that we need. It is the hill called Mt. Calvary where Jesus suffered and died for you and me. When we have grief and pain, we can look to that hill because it was there that Jesus carried our sorrows. "He was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." Isaiah 52:14 says, "His appearance was so marred" that He could hardly be recognized. Jesus was also a man who was despised and rejected by other men and was also acquainted with much grief (Isaiah 53:3-4).

We can also look to this hill for our spiritual cleansing and salvation because it was there that "Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities." As we look to this hill we can find peace and well being, because as Jesus bore the crown of thorns upon His brow, the "chastisement of our peace was laid upon Him. Through the anguish that Jesus suffered, He provided us with a glorious peace that passes all understanding. When we have physical ailments, we can look to Him for our healing, for on the way to Mt. Calvary, He was beaten and scourged. And scripture tells us that because of the thirty-nine stripes that He bore in His own flesh, we are healed. This hill is also a special place of refuge when we are facing great difficulties and unstable situations. On this hill "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Obey the instructions of the psalmist and lift up your eyes and look. You will not only see the hill called Mt. Calvary, but you will see Jesus, the Son of the Living God. He is your help and your only hope, for with His own life, He has paid the entire debt that you owed. +++

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