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A Word In Due Season
1st Week of September 2010

09/01/10
ACCEPTABLE WORDS

Scripture: Psalms 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer."

How many times have we wanted to take back our words after we had spoken them? The moment they left our mouth we knew that we had said the wrong thing at the wrong time. David also identified with this problem so he prayed and asked God to help him with his thoughts and his words. He wanted his words and meditations to be acceptable in the sight of God. However, David did not leave all the work and responsibility to God. He made a decision to do his part. In Psalms 17:3 he said, "I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." In Psalm 39:1, he also said, "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle." In other words He was saying, "Whatever I have to do to keep my mouth shut I will do it, even if I have to put a muzzle over it."

God knew that we would have problems with our tongue so He provided a gate (our teeth) and a door (our mouth) to help us guard our words. Yet sometimes we are not wise enough to use either one of these, and "out of the abundance of whatever is in our heart our mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). If we want our words and meditations to be acceptable to God, we must work at it. Solomon said, "You have to teach your mouth and add learning to your lips" (Proverbs 16:23). He also said that if you keep your mouth and tongue, you would keep you soul from trouble (Proverbs 21:23). This is so true, for just a few words are capable of stirring up a lot of trouble.

Our words have power and we must be very careful how we use them. Scriptures declare that David was a man after God's own heart, yet he found it necessary to ask God to help him with his words and the meditations of his heart. He drew from the One that was his strength and his Redeemer, and we must do the same. We must ask God to help us with our thoughts and our words, for when God intervenes, our mouth will become a well of life and minister grace to those around us. +++

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09/02/10
THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1 "Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

Physical battles are not won when we are engaged with the enemy in combat. Instead, they are won long before we reach the battlefield. It is the preparation and training season that makes the difference in the outcome of any battle. If a soldier wants to be the victor in battle, he must become familiar with his weapon, understand the battle strategy, and know his enemy well. He must also be aware of his own strengths and weaknesses in order to be victorious over the strengths and weaknesses of his enemy.

Spiritual battles are the same. They are not won as we are engaged in conflict with the enemy of our soul but rather when we are on our knees in prayer before the Heavenly Father. For it is only in the presence of the Lord that we are able to gain the strength that we need to conquer the enemy. And like the military soldier, we too must be familiar with our spiritual weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty and with them we can pull down the strongholds of the devil. We must understand that our battle strategy, or fighting the good of faith, is "not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6)." We must also know the enemy of our soul well. He appears to us as an angel of light, but in reality, he is the spirit of deception, seeking whom he may devour as he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Finally, it is important to be aware of our spiritual strengths and our spiritual weaknesses. The weakness within us will turn into strength when we rely upon the supernatural power of the Lord.

What is your particular battle today? Is it in your health, finances, relationships, or in the workplace? Whose armor have you put on to engage in that battle? Are you relying on your own knowledge or are you putting on God's belt of truth? Are you standing in your own self righteousness, which is as filthy rags or have your put on His breastplate of righteousness? Are you trying to work out your own solutions or are you walking in the Lord's shoes of peace and wearing His helmet of salvation? Or are you holding up God's shield of faith and using His Word as your sword of the Spirit? Your faith must be in God and not in yourself or your own abilities, for without the Lord, you can do nothing. Your only weapon is the Word of God, for it alone can stop the voice of the enemy.

When we come to understand these things about spiritual warfare, we will become more than conquerors because we will realize that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God supplies us with spiritual armor, but we must put it on. When we use what God has provided, we will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. +++

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09/03/10
JESUS IS OUR DOOR

Scripture: John 10:7 "Then Jesus said to them again, I am the door of the sheep."

The shepherd was a familiar figure in Jesus' day. He had many duties to perform but one of his main responsibilities was to protect his sheep from any harm. Shepherds allowed their sheep to graze in the open pastures during the day, but before the sun went down they gathered them into a safe place, which was called a sheepfold. After the shepherd had gathered all of his sheep into the sheepfold in the evening, he would lay his own body down across the entrance. This was a common practice amongst the shepherds. The shepherd's body became like a door, which guarded the sheep. Nothing could pass through the entrance of the sheepfold without going through the door, which meant that nothing could get to the sheep without first encountering the presence of the shepherd.

Jesus spoke these comforting words to us because we are the sheep of His pasture. He lovingly cares for us in every way. He leads us into green pastures so that we can be nourished and beside the still waters so that our souls can be restored. He doesn't quit there, however. Instead, He is our way into the Kingdom of God or our door into the sheepfold, for no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. Like the sheep inside the sheepfold, we may have no idea what is on the outside of the safety that our Good Shepherd provides for us. Yet, Jesus is aware of every peril that seeks to destroy us and He places Himself between us and all danger. We never have to fear the unknown because nothing can get to us without first encountering His divine supernatural presence.

We deal with doors everyday and most of us check to make sure that they are secured when we go in and out. A few years ago, I had a door that wasn't very secure. It was safe as far as keeping the rain and creatures out of the house, but it was too old and worn to protect me in the time of real trouble. When the fierce winds of a hurricane came my way, the door could not fulfill its purpose. And even though it was locked and braced with a makeshift board, it still blew open as the raging winds of the storm passed by.

The door that Jesus offers us is not like this, for He, Himself, is the door and He is faithful and dependable. His presence provides safety and security beyond our natural comprehension. He is the Good Shepherd and He will not flee when the enemy attacks and He will not collapse in the midst of the storm. Even when facing the cross, Jesus willingly laid down His own life for us. It is a great assurance to know that we are safely hidden away from harm, for the Lord is our door and His presence is between us and danger. This thought should give us sweet peace and destroy any terror in our soul. +++

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

09/06/10
FAITH'S REPUTATION

Scripture: Romans 1:8 "... your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."

Paul was looking forward to ministering to the church in Rome and he wrote a letter to them to prepare the way for his visit. He gave thanks to God for them and for their testimony of faith. He told them that their faith was so profound that it had gained its own reputation and was widely known and spoken of throughout the whole world.

Everything that we accomplish, whether natural or spiritual, depends upon our faith. In the natural, we plant seeds in faith expecting to reap a harvest. We invest our finances believing that we will gain. We buy in faith and sell in faith believing that every transaction will be profitable. We work hard each week expecting to be compensated by those we serve. We invest in friendships and relationships with faith in our heart that the love we give will be returned to us in some manner. In the spiritual, we pray in faith believing that God, Himself, will hear our words and answer our prayers. We ask in faith because He said that if we ask it would be given to us. We seek in faith because He said that we would find, and we knock in faith because He told us that the doors would open.

The world about us watches our every effort and most of the time it is without our knowledge. I recall the year when my husband was dying of cancer. It was a season when my faith was sorely tried, physically, financially, and emotionally. It took every ounce of faith to make it through the long dark valley of the shadow of death. Yet, the Lord was true to His word every step of the way. He was always near, met every need, and was a present help in the time of trouble. We were a family that lived from payday to payday, yet we made it through several months with no savings and no income. When I had to drive my very sickly husband to the hospital for his radiation treatments in the 100-degree Texas heat in a car with no air conditioner, I asked God to give my husband a cloud. Each day, without fail, for several weeks a cloud came just at the right time to cool down the car for the 25-mile journey to the hospital, then it would disappear until the time for the return journey home.

I cannot explain faith's mystery or how we even made it through that year. I only know that God was faithful. When I was the weakest, God revealed His strength. I later found out that my neighbors were watching as I leaned upon the Lord and allowed Him to take me through the valley one day at a time. A neighbor remarked that she drew strength from my example, which helped her get through the same situation the next year. II Corinthians 3:2 says that we are an epistle, known and read of all men. Faith has a reputation, whether it is weak or strong. What is your faith speaking to the world around you? +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/07/10
DREAMS THAT COME TRUE

Scripture: Genesis 37:20 " ... and we shall see what will become of his dreams."

Joseph's angry and jealous brothers sought to stop Joseph's dreams from coming to pass. They stripped Joseph of the special coat of many colors that his father had given him and cast him into a pit. They later sold him into slavery. Their first choice would have been to kill Joseph, but their evil devices could only go so far because a sovereign God was still in control. God spared Joseph's life by using his older brother, Reuben, to rescue him from greater harm. When Joseph finally found himself in Egypt, he may have thought that God had forsaken him all together. Yet all the while, God was moving in Joseph's life and leading him to the place that he needed to be so that He could fulfill Joseph's dreams and accomplish His own divine plan.

When God thinks of you, He thinks of someone that He loved so much that He sacrificed His only Son. He allowed Jesus to become a curse for you so that you could spend eternity with Him. You mean something to God and are special in His eyes and He has thoughts and plans for you that include a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). God has spoken good words over you. Like Joseph, you may presently be limited by circumstances beyond your control. Life may have dealt you a poor hand, and as you view the future, it may seem that time is running out for your hopes and dreams to come to pass. For whatever reason, the future seems to only hold a few years and you may wonder how God can finish His work in your life in such a short period of time.

Regardless of how you view your situation, you must not become discouraged for God is still in control and He can do a quick work. Joseph was raised from the pit to the palace in one day. His grand work lasted only a short time, seven years of plenty and seven years of lack. In this short time, however, Joseph saved a nation from destruction and his dreams came to pass just as God had promised. Also consider Jesus. His ministry on Earth was only for three years, but look at what He accomplished in that short length of time. Like these men, it is time for you to make every moment in your own life count. You may have only three short years as Jesus did to fulfill your life's call. No one knows for sure what the future holds. You must work as though God is going to keep His promises to you and you must pray expecting Him to actually answer you. You must continue to express your thanksgiving and worship God in anticipation of His manifestation. Remember that even though you are human, God is divine. Stretch your faith and your thinking, and see what becomes of your dreams, for nothing is impossible with God. He is able to bring your dreams into reality. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/08/10
BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2 (Living Bible) "Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love."

As believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have inherited a responsibility to walk worthy of the divine calling that is placed on our lives. We cannot and must not act or react in the same manner as those who do not profess Christ as their Lord. Our lives are an open book that is read of all men and we must be careful of what we write on the pages. Our actions must encourage those in the faith and be a witness to those who are searching for the reality of God. Our speech must be tempered and our words must always minister grace to the hearer. All that we do in word or deed must be done to manifest the glory of God, for we are new creations in Christ Jesus.

Did you notice that Paul didn't tell us to be humble, gentle, and patient to those with faults because they desire it or deserve it? He didn't even tell us to do it because of God's love towards those at fault. Instead, Paul said we are to act with humility and gentleness because of the love of God that is within us. We are also to be patient and make allowances for each other's faults. In other words, we are to allow others to have faults. Then we are to be so filled with love ourselves that the love in our heart is able to flow out and cover their faults and overshadow all of their transgressions.

Love is powerful because its source is God, for God is love (I John 4:16). When you say that you have love in your heart, you are saying that you have God, Himself, within you. This is an awesome and overwhelming thought. When God is within you and His love is reigning on the throne of your heart, there will be a manifestation of humility, gentleness, and patience in your life. Your behavior will be a credit to God's kingdom because of the love that you show towards those who have faults. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/09/10
LABORERS TOGETHER

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:9 "For we are laborers together with God."

The Apostle Paul was a very important man to the kingdom of God and had many reasons to promote himself above others. Philippians 3:5 and 6 declares that there was no fault in him. He was circumcised on the eighth day, and he was of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin. He was of the party of Pharisees and observed all the laws. He was so zealous for God that he persecuted the church with a good conscious. In verse four, Paul said if anyone had reason to rely on themselves, he had more.

Even though Paul had all these things going for him, he put them aside. He forgot his prestige and counted his personal abilities as loss. Throughout his ministry he never sought to exalt himself above others, but became a servant to the very church that he once persecuted. He became a laborer with those who were trying to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, for he knew that he could not do it alone, and neither could they. Paul spoke against those who manifested envy, strife, and division by trying to exalt him above Appolos, who was another minister of the Lord Jesus. Paul explained that he had planted, Appolos had watered, but God was the one who gave the increase. Paul and Appolos were ministering for the same cause and Paul realized that both of them were nothing without the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

In the twelfth chapter of I Corinthians, Paul said that we are all part of the body of Christ and that every member has an important role. In Ephesians 2:21, He also likened the members of the church to a building that is fitly framed together. He emphasized that no part of the body or the building is more significant than the other. He also showed us by example that we are not to envy someone else, feel intimidated by our low degree, or exalt ourselves. We are God's workmanship and He sets the terms, placing us where He wants us to be. We are accountable to fulfill that responsibility. We need to work together. Like the Paul and Appolos scenario, if you plant the seed, I need to water, and vice versa. We are not to strive one against the other, as there is no place for division in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is one Lord over us all and He will bring the increase as we labor together with Him. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/10/10
THE PROMISE OF JOY

Scripture: Psalms 30:5 " ... weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

The worse dilemmas that we face in many cases are not the hard ones but the long ones. It is not the dark moments that suddenly occur in our lives that challenge our souls but rather the long dark night seasons that seem to never end. For example, giving birth is a very painful experience but not nearly as painful as a permanent disability or as challenging as a chronic illness that leaves you incapacitated for some length of time. A significant financial crisis is hard to bear but it is not as rough as enduring years and years of financial lack, with seemly no hope for the future. Likewise, experiencing a short period of extreme loneliness, depression, or emotional conflict doesn't compare to living in these dark places day after day, week after week, month after month, and sometimes year after year. When we are going through these kinds of situations, we need a reminder or a word of hope that better times are promised and that joy will follow the difficult season at hand.

Through out the scriptures men faced dark and difficult seasons, but time always brought victory and joy. Noah and his family escaped death, but their confinement in the ark had to be a trying time for all of them. After God closed the door of the ark, there was no way for them to escape until He opened it again. They were prisoners of the flood and the darkness that surrounded them. But at the end, joy came as God made a promise to Noah and established His new covenant with a rainbow. Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed when he heard that his brother, Esau, was coming to meet him because years before he had stolen his brother's birthright. Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord all night long, but his joy came in the morning when the angel blessed him and his brother received him in peace. Daniel suffered in the lion's den for a night, but joy came in the morning as he gave great witness of God's protection. Mary endured the pangs of childbirth, but when Jesus was born, the angels made an announcement to the shepherds in the fields, proclaiming good tidings of great joy. God traded their tears, grief, and sorrow for His joy unspeakable and full of glory.

The Lord does the same for us. God's Word says that He will never put more upon us than we can bear. At some point, He will turn our captivity into a place of freedom and for all of the tears that we have sown, we will reap joy (Psalms 126:5-6). Jesus has been anointed to "give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3). He will turn our sorrow into dancing again (Psalms 30:11). And our "light affliction, which was for a moment will work in us a far more exceeding weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17). These words are our promises from God, for He has good plans for us. He holds our lives in His hands and in His time, the sun will rise, the morning light will appear, and darkness will flee. The Lord will faithfully fulfill His promise of joy to us. Our weeping may endure for a night, but our joy will come in the morning. +++

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

09/13/10
LET GOD BE GOD

Scripture: Psalms 78:41 "They turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel."

God led His people out of Egypt with a mighty show of power and provided for all of their needs in a supernatural way. He also brought them deliverance through many signs and wonders in the face of their enemy. They saw God provide manna from Heaven and water from the rock and they walked on dry soil when He rolled back the Red Sea. These were just a few of the miracles they witnessed, yet, they still did not believe in God or trust in His salvation. Instead, they provoked God in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert. They even wanted to turn back to Egypt and the bondage that it stood for. God had a place of promise for them, but the walk of faith proved too difficult and kept them from His blessings. Their eyes were always upon the opposition instead of their faithful God and this lack of faith and trust limited Him.

God's ways do not always make sense. Many times they are not even reasonable or logical. Just when we think we have God figured out, He does something different. What kind of god would allow a young man, like Joseph, to be taken from his parents and family and be sold into slavery? Who would imagine that an intelligent god would call a small boy like David to fight a huge giant? And who would think it wise to put the helpless baby Moses in a basket and send him down the river? Yet, God had grand destinies planned for each of these lives and He used adverse situations to push these victims into glorious victories.

God also takes us down the paths of faith. His place may not be the place that we've planned and when we hear His voice, our strength may seem too weak. We see the vision, but our faith can't reach that far. We feel God drawing us into a new place, but we can't seem to enter because we fear the unknown. So instead of shooting the arrows of our destiny at God's goal, we try to do our own thing. We shoot our arrow in the direction that we want to go, then try to paint His target around it. We desire to serve God, but we want it within our own safe boundaries. We sing the song, "Where ever He leads I'll go," but that is only if it is not too challenging. We feel safe if we can fit God into our own small box, but our reservations limit God because He will only act at the level that we embrace. If we want God to enlarge our borders, we must embrace new dimensions and not limit the Holy One of Israel. If we want to experience all that God has planned for us, we must allow Him to stretch us beyond what we know. We must allow God to be God all by Himself. +++

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09/14/10
CAREFUL HEARING

Scripture: Mark 4:20 "Hear the Word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit."

Mark gives an analogy of seeds that are sown in four different types of soil and compares them to the seed of the Word of God that is sown into the hearts of men. The first seed is sown on hard ground by the wayside and is snatched away and stolen by the enemy. The second seed is sown on stony ground and is unable to take root because of persecution and afflictions. The next seed is sown among the thorns and is choked out by the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things. Finally, the fourth seed is sown on good ground and brings forth a plentiful harvest; thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.

Notice that all of the seeds that were sown were good seeds. They all had the capacity to bring forth a harvest, but the condition of the heart made a difference and determined whether the seeds were able to bear fruit. The seed that bore fruit was the one that was planted in a heart that met two conditions. The heart had to hear and understand the word and then it had to follow through by actually receiving the word. Mark continued to say, "Be listening, and perceiving, and comprehending ... Be careful what you are hearing. The amount of attention that you give to the truth that you hear will be the same measure that comes back to you" (Mark 4:23-24). Your harvest totally depends upon how much thought and study you give to God's words.

If you are standing on a Word from God, continue to give thought and study to that word. It may be awhile before you see results, so do not allow offenses of any sort to destroy or steal it from you. Seeds take root downward before they bear fruit upward. You can't see what is happening under the earth, but the seed is working, growing, and pushing itself upwards. The dirt and darkness of the earth may be overwhelming as they speak doubt and fear to the tiny seed. Even after the seed takes root and begins to grow, persecutions, afflictions, deceitfulness of riches, and the world may try to choke it out. Therefore, carefully protect the word and remain patient. Remember that something is happening in the spirit that you cannot see. Life is being created and growth is taking place in the unseen realm. You will find that as you mix faith with the seed that God has sown in your heart, it will profit and produce fruit (Hebrews 4:2). +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/15/10
MORE IMPORTANT MATTERS

Scripture: Matthew 23:23 (NIV) "You have neglected the more important matters of the law --- justice, mercy and faithfulness."

Jesus spoke boldly to the religious leaders of His day and condemned them for strictly adhering to the law but not taking care of the more important matters. They were indeed paying their tithes, even on the smallest of herbs, but at the same time they were neglecting the law of justice, mercy and faithfulness. Their good works were only done so that they could be seen by others. They distorted their faces to announce that they were fasting and would sound trumpets in the streets when they gave their gifts to the church. Yet, they had no mercy when it came to those in true need, for they took financial advantage of the widows and neglected to care for their own elderly parents. In their hearts, the religious laws were far above the spirit of love, mercy and grace. They made no exceptions to the law even when exceptions were necessary so that the goodness of God could be presented to the people. They even found fault with Jesus when He healed people on the Sabbath day because they were bound by the law of the Sabbath.

Jesus, on the other hand, was unlike these religious leaders. Although He taught the scriptures in the Synagogue, spent time with the doctors and lawyers, fasted, prayed, and did the other spiritual things that they did, He never allowed Himself to get bound up with the religious laws. He didn't condemn the law but He came to fulfill it, and through His awesome works He displayed love, mercy, faith, and compassion to those who were hurting. He didn't move away from the woman with an issue of blood when she touched Him although the law said that she was unclean and that it was a transgression for her to be in public. Jesus didn't condemn the woman caught in adultery or the woman at the well who had been married five times and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Instead He brought forgiveness, healing, and restoration to these women. He also dined and fellowshipped with the tax collectors and thieves in order to win them to God. And He chose unlikely and imperfect men to follow Him as His disciples in ministry.

Jesus' destiny was not cheap. It came with the great price of His life so while He was here on Earth, He used His time and efforts wisely and paid attention to the more important matters of life. Jesus cared for the needs of people. He strengthened the weak, fed the hungry, healed the sick, and taught the scriptures to the meek. He came to serve and not be served. He has given us the same mandate and commissioned us to do the same works that He did. We are to follow the laws of the land and obey the laws of God, but like Jesus we too are to give heed to the more important aspects of the law. We are to love the unlovely and lift up the fallen. We are not to neglect the true needs of people, but instead we are to respond in love by fulfilling the law of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/16/10
PEACE IN THE STORM

Scripture: Mark 4:40 "Why are you fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side of the lake. However, He did not tell them about the storms that they would encounter while trying to get to the other side. Have you ever followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and found yourself in a seemingly bad situation? You know that you are in the will of God, yet you find yourself in a great storm, your boat is filling up with water, your life is in jeopardy, and although you know Jesus is there with you, it seems that He is asleep.

These times become very frustrating because we can't understand what is happening or why God doesn't intervene immediately and take care of the whole situation. We allow our emotions to take control and we react to our situations like the disciples did. They asked Jesus, "Do you not care ...?" Their very words showed their feelings of rejection. Have you ever felt that God didn't even care about you or your situation? You see Him answering other people's prayers and working on their behalf, but He is strangely silent concerning you. There seems to be no answers or help for you as you stand alone in your dilemma. In Psalm 42:3 the psalmist said, "My tears have been my meal day and night, while they continually say unto me, 'Where is your God?'" Even his tears were questioning his circumstances.

The disciples were feeling the same way about Jesus. They were afraid that He was going to let them perish in the storm. They forgot that His words to them were, "Let us go to the other side." His intention was to get to the other side of the lake safely. The storm in the middle of the lake was just a test of their faith. The disciples, however, allowed their emotions and feeling of rejection and fear to destroy their faith. In Luke's account of this story, Jesus says, "Where is your faith?" He asks us the same question. Does our faith lay in God, or in what our emotions dictate to us?

Jesus did two things in this circumstance. He rebuked the wind, then spoke to the sea and said, "Peace be still." He showed us by example that when the storms of life come against us, we are to rebuke the spirit that is the root cause of the situation, and then speak peace to the physical circumstances. We are to place our faith in God and continue in His will despite the contrary winds and adversities that are coming against us. We must believe that if the Lord told us to go, He will make a way for us to get there. It is very easy to trust God when the sun is shinning, but real faith causes you to have peace even in the midst of the raging storm. +++

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09/17/10
CALLED AND CHOSEN

Scripture: Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

There is quite a difference in being called and in being chosen. Those who are called are simply summoned to appear, but those who are chosen are actually selected above the many who were called. We see this progression in the sport's field. There is a general call to those who would like to be on the team but only a few of those will actually be chosen to join. After the individuals are chosen to be on the team, there will be yet another choosing. The players will be placed and played according to their individual skills.

Such is our life and our callings from God. It is certain that God has called many of us, but we have never made it to the next level. God wants to use us in a mighty way for His kingdom purposes, but He can't choose us because we are limiting Him by many factors in our life. Like the Israelites who came out of the bondage of Egypt, we may limit God with our unbelief. We may not have enough faith in God or feel that the finances will not be available to support the vision that He, Himself, has placed in our hearts. We may say as the Israelites said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" We may fall into the same trap as they did and struggle with our own self-esteem because we see ourselves as grasshoppers when we view the goal that God has chosen for us to accomplish. We may simply not be chosen because our attitude is so negative. God is working in our lives, but we are impatient and we murmur and complain about everything that we do not understand. We may also be left on the bench of life because we are unprepared. We did not take the initiative to study in order to show ourselves approved before God. We did not intercede in prayer in order to be able to meet the spiritual challenge. Also, we may have been lax in keeping our physical bodies in a healthy condition. If God did chose us, we couldn't respond because we would not have the stamina and strength to be able to endure the physical pressure.

We know that God has called us aside for his purposes, but if we want Him to choose us, we must concentrate on preparing ourselves for Him. We must develop our faith and believe that God will supply all of our financial needs for the task that is set before us. We must know that we are sufficient in Him and believe that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We must see ourselves as more than conquerors over the giants that challenge us. If we want God to use us we also have to take care or our physical bodies so that we can say as Caleb did, "I am as strong now as I was forty years ago and I am well able to take this mountain." Like the Apostle Paul, we have to lay aside any and all weights that keep us from running the race that God has set before us. Many are going to be called, but if we want to be one of the few that are going to be chosen, we need to be prepared. We must study the Word of God, intercede in prayer, wait upon God so that our spirits can be renewed, and also take care of our physical bodies. We must understand that even though we might be in the number that is called, we will not be chosen until we are ready in our body, soul, and spirit. +++

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

09/20/10
COMFORT IN DISTRESS

Scripture: Psalm 119:50 "This is my comfort in my distress, that Your promise gives me life."

When distress comes into your life, and it will, you can find comfort in God's Word. Isaiah 40:8 tells us that the grass will wither and the flowers will fade, but the Word of the Lord shall stand forever. God's Word is eternal. It never withers and never fades away. In the midst of conflict, His Word remains stable and unmovable and in every circumstance it refreshes the soul and revives the spirit. There is life in every word that God has spoken and there is hope in every promise that He has made.

The scriptures were written for our learning and instruction and it is through the patience and comfort of these words that we have hope (Romans 15:4). Job was a man who suffered many afflictions, yet despite the pain, he never denied the words of the Holy God. Job found much comfort as God spoke to him, and he determined that even if God were to slay him, he would still trust God. Even in the face of death, Job trusted God and found comfort in His promises. David also declared that he had hid the word of God in his own heart so that those words would keep him from sinning against God.

Words themselves are very meaningful and God's words are powerful. If you want to be rescued from temptation and comforted in the times of affliction, you must learn the scriptures. You must also store them away in your heart in the same fashion that David did and trust in them as Job did. Establish a Word account in your heart just as you would establish a bank account for your finances. As with a bank account, you can't draw God's words from your heart if you haven't deposited them there. Neither can you find comfort in His Word if you haven't learned what the scriptures teach. You must memorize and hide God's Word and promises in the secret chambers of your heart so that you can be refreshed and revived as the Spirit of God quickens those words to you. If you do not consume them on a regular basis, you will suddenly find yourself overdrawn with nothing fresh to lean upon. With your Word account depleted, you will lose hope, become discouraged, and suffer defeat. In these stressful times, you can't allow this to happen. God's words are guaranteed to give life. Allow Him to plant them deep within your soul so that you can find hope and experience comfort in the seasons of distress. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/21/10
HIS SHOES OF PEACE

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

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

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

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

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/22/10
A TRAIL CALLED ISHMAEL

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

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

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

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

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/23/10
TRULY PERSUADED

Scripture: Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded ... that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Our relationship with the Lord is special so our steadfast commitment to Him is very important. Our love towards Him is to be complete in every way. He must be the Lord of all and must own every parcel of our heart. In fact, the scriptures tell us that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind. There is to be no place in our lives that shuts out the Spirit of the Living God, for we are His temple and His abiding place.

Likewise, we can also have an absolute confidence in God's love and commitment to us, for He loves us in every way that He requires us to love Him. In fact, He loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that we could be redeemed and then His Son sacrificed His own life on the cross for us. This sacrificial love was the love of God that was manifest in Christ Jesus our Lord. Because Jesus loved us so much, we can be assured that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is our Savior and Lord. He is also our fortress in trouble, our healer in sickness, our comforter in grief, our provider, our shelter from the storm, and our friend who sticks closer than a brother. The list is infinite, for He declared Himself to be the 'I AM.' This means that He is the All Sufficient One. He is whoever we need Him to be or whatever we need Him to be. The Lord loves us with an everlasting love and regardless of what happens in our lives, we can be persuaded that nothing and no one will ever be able to separate us from His great love.

Life is not a one time event, but a series of experiences. As I look back, my life is much richer because of my own personal life experiences. It is true that things were not always easy and circumstances were not always good, but in the midst of it all I discovered that God's Word really is true, for all things do work together for good. There have been many disappointments and times of total despair, but they taught me that God is the healer of the broken heart. There was a long season of hopelessness in my life, but during that season I learned that God never gives up. When I was down, He lifted me up and helped me to be able to endure to the end. There have been times of physical pain and financial lack, but I found that God's grace was always sufficient for me. He never allowed more upon me than I could bear. There were places where the shadows of death dominated my life, but the Lord never left me alone. Instead, we walked together through those dark valleys.

In the end, my strength has been increased by the challenges that I have faced. My faith in God's promises has grown stronger because I had to believe His Word to make it through every trial. My trust in God has been established and is now unshakable because I found that I could truly and totally depend upon Him at all times. My wisdom has increased because I have discovered that I do not have to lean upon my own understanding. God knows more about me and my situation than I do and His ways and thoughts are much higher than mine. My compassion for others has grown deeper because of the trials and adversities that I have passed through. I know the anxieties of their hard places. My empathy for them is also greater because of the things that I have suffered. I can now actually feel their pain and understand their grief. I have not always understood everything that was happening in my life, but I have seen the unfailing faithfulness of the Almighty God. And like the writer of this scripture, I have also come to be persuaded that nothing and no one will ever be able to separate me from His incredible love. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/24/10
PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS

Scripture: II Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."

Satan is the enemy of God's people and his main attack is to come against our minds. He knows his battlefield very well and knows that if he can plant just a few thoughts in our mind, then our imagination will begin to reinforce those negative thoughts. The thoughts and imaginations will then unite and become strongholds in our mind. These strongholds cannot be dealt with in the natural; for there is no way that you can physically pick something out of your mind. You must deal with it spiritually and come against it with the Word of God.

Adam and Eve fought this same battle when the devil tempted them in the garden. He sowed doubt in their minds by saying, "Did God really say, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'" They began to look at the fruit that he showed them and ultimately fell into his subtle devises. Jesus had the same experience, but He did not fail.  Just after God announced that Jesus was His beloved Son, Satan attacked Jesus with the thought, "If you be the Son of God." Jesus immediately responded with the Word and refused to dwell on the deceptive thoughts. He cast down the imaginations that came against His mind and disallowed Satan to build any stronghold that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God. Satan attacked Jesus three times with the same thought in the wilderness, but Jesus continued to say, "It is written".

Satan comes against all Christians and sometimes we can't seem to find the victory in our lives. We are tormented, defeated, and cast down because of the devil's deception.  We are waiting for a victory that will never come unless we come to understand that it is our own responsibility to guard our thoughts, rise up, and use the weapons that God has given us. The Word of God is our weapon, our sword of the Spirit, and is mighty enough to cast out the thoughts of the devil. We do not have to understand how the power of His Word works just as we are not required to understand how electricity works to enjoy the benefits. We are only required to speak the Word. God is the One who does the work, empowers the Word, and defeats the devil. God declared that His Word would never return to Him with VOID marked on it (Isaiah 55:11). Satan doesn't have the authority to disqualify the Word of God.  When you are challenged by the enemy, find a scripture that pertains to that battle and take your thoughts captive with that word. Then use that word to cast down your imaginations and pull down every stronghold. God has provided the weapons. His Word is valid and will stand forever. Follow Jesus' example and simply say, "It is written." Here are just a few scriptures to help you.

IT IS WRITTEN:
Salvation - "I am saved by grace through faith." (Eph 2:8)
Healing - "He heals all my diseases." (Ps. 103:3)
Prosperity - "God wants me to prosper." (III John 2)
Forgiveness - "If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
    my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
Protection - "God is my present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
Rejection - "He has made me accepted in the beloved." (Eph. 1:6)
Fear - "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of
    love, and a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7)
Depression - "God heals my broken heart." (Psalms 147:3)
Persecution - "I am persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but
    not destroyed." (II Cor. 4:8,9)

Loneliness - "Lo, I (Jesus) am with you always." (Matt. 28:20) +++

A Word In Due Season
5th Week of August 2010

09/27/10
ACCOUNTABILITY

Scripture: Romans 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

We all have people in our lives that we are accountable to, and whether we realize it or not, God has set them as precious guards for our souls. They are stones beneath our feet that keep us stable in life's circumstances. Many times, our accountability to them is established by relationship and may be unspoken. The circles of our accountability may be our supervisors or co-workers, our teachers or students, our parents or children, our family members or friends, or our church leaders and pastors. Yet, whoever they may be, our relationship allows them the right to watch over us and to speak into our lives. We must be ready at all times to render to them an account of our words and an explanation for our behavior.

Beyond the natural, there is a higher place of accountability in our lives and that is with God, Himself. When Daniel Webster was asked, "What is the greatest thought that can occupy a man's mind?" His answer was, "His accountability to God." In Psalms 139:7, David asked God, "Where shall I go to flee from Your presence?" There is no place to go where we can get away from our place of responsibility and accountability to God. He is in our high places and our low places. He is with us in the darkness as well as the light. Yet, we often forget this minor detail. When no one is around, we do things and say things that would shame us in front of others. We fail to consider that God is there with us. If we could physically see Him, it would probably make a tremendous difference in our secret actions. Yet, He is always watching everything that we do and hearing all that we say. He even knows the thoughts in our hearts.

Joseph was a young man who was confronted by Potiphar's wife. When she tempted him to sin, Joseph let her know that he was committed to his master and was accountable to his God. Even though no one would see his acts of indiscretion, he declared, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Even in the secret and dark places, he knew that he was still accountable for his actions. King David experienced the same feelings when his sin was exposed. He made himself accountable to the prophet, Nathan, and acknowledged his grievous sin to the Lord. He told the Lord, "Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned."

Sin speaks of the pleasure that will be enjoyed for the moment, but never says anything about the long-term consequences that will follow. It speaks of fun and not the heartache and pain that it will leave behind. It speaks of secrecy and not transparency. So in the moment of choice, let us remember that we are all personally accountable to those that we are in relationship with, and most importantly, that each of us will have to give an account of himself to God. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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09/28/10
HELP IN THE TIME OF NEED

Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need."

God's promise of mercy and grace for the time of need is offered to each one of us individually. Under the old covenant, the priest were the only ones who could enter into the Holy of Holies and they could only do that once a year. When Jesus was crucified the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom signifying that every believer could go into the Holy presence of the Lord. No longer did they have to depend upon their priest, for they were provided direct access to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews now tells us that we not only have the privilege to approach God but that we can do it with boldness and without fear and trembling.

Whatever you are facing today, God gives hope in all situations. He offers you healing, prosperity, forgiveness, and blessings in many other areas. These provisions of God are not only sufficient, but they are also personal. He wants all of your needs met. We would fill up many pages if we began to list all of the good things that we know God has in store for us. Yet, Ephesians 3:20 tells us that His bounty is beyond our knowledge. It says that God is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we could ask or think. His promises are faithful. They have been signed with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and dated nearly 2000 years ago when He hung on the cross and said, "It is finished."

Although God's provisions are there waiting for us, it remains our responsibility to go before His throne of grace to receive them. James 4:2 tells us that we have not because we do not ask, and that when we do ask, we ask amiss. It is time that we consider our real needs and also the enormous price that has been paid to meet those needs. The work is finished! We can come to God at any time for any thing. Let us not waver in our faith but come boldly before God's throne of grace in the time of need believing that He will answer our prayers (James 1:6). +++

Scripture: Isaiah 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left ..."

After God spoke these words to the Israelites, He followed up by telling them not to fear or be confounded with respect to what was about to happen in their lives. He wanted to assure them that He was right in their midst and that He was working His plan. All that was required of them was that they were to enlarge and stretch themselves to the full so that they may be able to receive His salvation and blessings.

Many times God wants to do something new and different in our lives, but when He speaks a promise to us, fear and doubt also chime in and mingle themselves with the words that He has spoken. Fear and doubt begin to voice all of the reasons why God's plan can't happen. Their arguments are strong. They tell us that we need to stay on familiar ground and that we must not get ourselves into something that is too big for us to handle. They discourage us from stepping out in faith and furnish us with excuses to keep us from walking through the doors that God is opening for us. They paint a dismal picture and challenge every ounce of faith that God has birthed within our spirits. All the while, God continues to speak His fresh and new word to us, "Enlarge, stretch forth, spare not, lengthen, and strengthen yourself, for I am getting ready to use you. Don't fear or be confounded, you are going to break forth on the right hand and on the left hand."

What a mighty promise this is, but it comes with much responsibility. It is never in God's plan that we become stagnant in our relationship with Him or our ministry to others. As He instructed the Israelites to make their tents larger, God instructs us to get ready for His plan and purpose to be fulfilled in our lives. He desires to grow our faith and take us from glory to glory, but we must do our part. We must discard the negative words of the devil and stretch our faith to come into agreement with God's promise. We must make ourselves vulnerable in every way and allow His Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us for the task that is ahead. If we want to break forth into the new dimensions that God has prepared for us, we must take the initiative to enlarge our thinking to see His vision. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/30/10
SALT AND LIGHT

Scripture: Matthew 5:13 & 14 "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world."

One of our greatest purposes on Earth is to glorify our heavenly Father. Jesus made a declaration of several godly characteristics that we are to maintain in our daily lives in order to accomplish that purpose (Verses 3-11). We call these characteristics the beatitudes. We are to be poor or humble in spirit; mournful or able to feel and be stirred, meek or teachable, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart; peacemakers, and also have the ability to endure false accusations and persecution for righteousness' sake.

Think of these "beatitudes" as the attitudes that we need to be. We are challenged on a daily basis to respond to life situations, and sometimes we may react differently than what Jesus set forth in the beatitudes. When this occurs we need to make an attitude adjustment and allow God to change our heart. Jesus taught that in all situations we are to react as He did and not as the situation demands because we are to be as salt to the earth. Salt causes thirst. When people see our responses and notice that our actions glorify God, it becomes like salt to them and makes them thirst for the inner peace and joy that we have. When we fail to display the examples that Jesus set forth, however, our lives become as salt that has lost its savor or saltiness. Jesus said that salt in this condition is good for nothing. When our lives do not have spiritual flavor, they become worthless and do not bring glory to God our Father.

Jesus also said that we are to show forth His light in our lives. Our light is to shine in our own houses as we display a private and personal witness to those closest and nearest to us. And our light should also shine before men who are in the market places and around the world. Yet, we cannot manufacture or create our own light. Our light will only shine as bright as the light of God's life that is within us. We have an awesome responsibility as we live before others. If we allow the salt in our lives to be compromised or fail to display the light of the Lord, it will be as though our witness is hidden under a bushel. Salt causes thirst and light draws men out of darkness. We must keep watch over our attitudes so that we can be the vessels that God has ordained us to be. When our life is as salt and we are full of God's light, our lives will glorify God and lead others to Him. +++