A Word In Due Season
1st Week of March 2011

03/01/11
THE ANOINTING

Scripture:  I John 2:27  "The anointing, which you have received of Him, abides in you."

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is not just a feeling that we experience.  Instead, it is a supernatural force that abides within us, which can break the yoke of bondage and set the captives free.  It is like a mighty rushing river that flows from our inner being (John 7:38-39) and empowers us to do the work of God, which we could not do otherwise.  Even Jesus had to depend upon the anointing of the Holy Spirit to complete His work, for He declared that He could do nothing of Himself, but only what the Father showed Him.

When God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit, Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).  Notice that He went about doing good deeds and delivering those who were oppressed.  God is love and He intends for the anointing in our lives to be used to fulfill His desires and complete His purposes.  The anointing is never meant to be a show of personal power or to do evil.  Consider the event with Jesus' disciples, James and John.  They wanted to use the power of God to command fire to come down from Heaven and consume those who did not agree with them (Luke 9:54).  Jesus told them that they didn't understand which spirit was operating within them, for the Spirit of God seeks only to minister and give life, not destroy and bring death.  Yet, this is what happens when we allow our carnal mind to be in control.  We, too, can easily lend ourselves to the wrong influence just like the disciples who personally walked this earth with Jesus.  It seems that they would have been beyond error, but the truth is that we all have weaknesses within our soul.

According to God's word, the Holy Spirit is always present within us.  The Holy Spirit is there to strengthen and direct us although we may not sense His presence.  In the natural, we have muscles that are never used until the need arises.  We don't necessarily feel them or notice them, yet they make themselves available and show their strength when they are needed to move, lift, or push a heavy object.  The anointing is like a spiritual muscle that is waiting to be used.  When a need presents itself, the anointing of the Holy Spirit will rise within us to meet the challenge because He is abiding within us.  The anointing will cause us to find the boldness to do or say things that we normally would be too shy to do or too timid to say.  We may surprise ourselves at times by praying for someone or witnessing to them because the Holy Spirit suddenly moves within us. 

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/02/11
SOWING IN THE TIME OF FAMINE

Scripture: Genesis 26:12 "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him."

There was a famine in the land, but God gave specific instructions to Isaac not to go into Egypt to have his needs met. Instead, God told Isaac to dwell in the land that He was leading Isaac to and He would be with him and bless him there. Isaac stayed where God placed him, and in reward for his obedience, he became very prosperous. In fact, he gained so many possessions and servants that the Philistines envied him (Verse 14).

The story of Isaac deals with sowing actual seed and reaping real financial and material blessings. It can work for us as well as it did for Isaac. Like Isaac, we are not to look to Egypt or the world as our source of supply. When we are willing and obedient to the God's command, He makes certain promises to us. God will meet all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. We will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). As we sow into God's kingdom, we will reap. As we give, our blessings will come back to us "pressed down, shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38).

The famine that comes to you may not be in the area of finances. Yet, this same principle of sowing and reaping is also valid when you face famine in other situations. Your famine may be in the areas of your relationships, health, or emotional well being. When any area of your life is lacking, you are to trust the Lord with all of your heart and not lean to your own understanding. God can bring about a harvest in the time of famine if you will simply sow.

If you are experiencing famine in a relationship with your spouse, parent, sibling, or close friend, you must sow into that relationship. At first it may look as though nothing will come from your seeds of love, compassion, forgiveness, and trust, but remember that seeds remain dormant for a season before they bring forth a harvest. If you remain diligent, you will eventually see the results. You may be facing a famine in the area of your health and lack the initiative to press forward. However, as you discipline and force yourself to sow the necessary seeds of proper diet, rest, and exercise, you will reap a harvest. Your famine may be in the area of your emotional well being and things may look hopeless and overwhelming to you. During this discouraging and very challenging famine, you must sow God's word into your life. As you do, He will quicken your mortal body and bring you new mental strength. You will only reap what you alone sow. Others cannot sow for you. So be diligent with your seed even in the time of famine. Make sure that you plant your seeds and then expect to see a hundred fold harvest. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/03/11
RESPOND WITH PEACE

Scripture: Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, as much as lies within you, live peaceably with all men."

Any time that two or more people are gathered together, there is a possibility for conflicting opinions and disagreements. Sadly, these situations can get out of control and turn into strife and division. God, in His wisdom, knew this may happen and that there would be times that it would be impossible for us to maintain peace with all men. He was aware that we would come face to face with those who would distort the truth and provoke us to anger. God also foresaw the useless and fragmented conversations that we would be engaged in as we desperately tried to explain and reason with irate individuals. In society we are taught that when these situations occur, we should take a deep breath and very slowly count to ten. That is a wonderful idea and it may help us to calm ourselves down so that we not act inappropriately, but it is not a guarantee that things will be brought together and that peace will prevail.

The scriptures teach us how to approach the matter in another way. They tell us to follow after the things that make for peace and that edify one another. We are not to avenge ourselves nor be overcome with evil, but to overcome all evil with good. David said, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment upon the head" (Psalm 133:1-2). God loves for His children to be in unity just as we desire for our own children to work together and be in unity. However, there are situations beyond our control.

Even Jesus faced these situations in His life. He was heralded into the earth by angels singing, "Peace on earth, good will to men." Yet, His teachings provoked the religious leaders and His presence stirred the very forces of darkness and evil, causing demons to cry out when He came on the scene. And Paul, who instructs us with this scripture to live peaceably with all men as much as possible, found it almost impossible for himself because of his commitment to the gospel of Christ. Everywhere Paul went there "arose no small stir" because he spoke the name of Jesus (Acts 19:23).

When the opportunity comes for you to face strife and division, you don't need to count to ten. Just think about Jesus and yield to Him, for He is the Prince of Peace. As much as you allow Him to rule and reign within you, He will endow you with His supernatural presence, which will invoke peace. Whatever your personal challenge may be, He will give you strength to respond with a silence that is able to create peace in the hearts of men. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/04/11
THE POWER OF THE KEYS

Scripture:  Matthew 16:19  "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ..."

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of March 2011

03/08/11
GOD'S FRIEND

Scripture: James 2:23 " ... Abraham was called the friend of God."

What an enormous statement and an honor to be called "God's friend." The friendship between Abraham and God didn't just happen. It was developed over a period of time as they shared many experiences and as they learned to trust one another. God called Abraham out from his own country and away from his family to become the Father of many nations. When Abraham obeyed the call, God faithfully blessed him and delivered him from every threatening situation. In the test and trials that Abraham faced as he made his journey, he learned that he could trust God and rely upon God's faithfulness. And through those same tests and trials, God found that He could trust Abraham.

Abraham was a man who was willing to make every sacrifice, even if it meant offering his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. He knew the nature of God and was assured that this special friend would never let him down. Abraham believed that God would keep His promise to bless his seed, so he placed Isaac in God's hands and trusted God to spare him. Abraham had so much confidence in God that in the midst of this contrary situation, he told Isaac, "God will provide Himself a lamb." Even as Abraham bound Isaac to the altar and raised his own hand to slay him, Abraham knew that his friend named God would not fail.

II Chronicles 19:7 spoke of Abraham as being God's friend forever. It wasn't just a passing relationship. It was destined for eternity. Scriptures are given for our examples. If Abraham and God could share this kind of friendship, we should be able to experience the same, for God is no respecter of persons. This thought alone should revolutionize our lives. Like any other friendship, however, if we want to be friends with God, we have to be a friend to God. When we reach for His hand, it's always there. He expects no less from us. True friendship doesn't shrink from responsibility. It shares the good and the bad. God is not just someone to call on every time that we get in trouble or need help. He desires personal fellowship. He seeks to love and be loved, to trust and be trusted. Our trust level should be so high that we would follow God anywhere and our love should be so strong that we would do anything that He asked of us. God wants us to be His friend and He wants to be a friend to us. He wants to hear us calling His name out loud. As friends, He wants to talk with us and share His thoughts, and He wants us to talk to Him and share our thoughts. The Almighty God offers Himself to us on this intimate level. He chooses to be our friend, but it is up to us to respond to His invitation. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/09/11
CLEAN GONE FOREVER

Scripture: Psalms 77:8 "Is God's mercy clean gone forever?"

The psalmist was in a dilemma because he had no answers for his questions and no solutions for his problems. He was so troubled that he couldn't even sleep. As he complained about these problems that were overwhelming him, he finally came to the conclusion that God's mercy was "clean gone forever." Clean means that he couldn't see the slightest trace of God's mercy in his situation. It was as though God's mercy was totally washed away. He even said, "Does God's promise fail all the time? Has He forgotten His grace?" The Message Bible says it another way, "Just my luck, God went out of business just the moment I needed Him."

The psalmist finally changes his tune and says, "This is my infirmity, I am sick, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember His works of the past. I will meditate and talk of the wonders that He has done. Who is so great a God as our God?" (Vs. 10-13) The psalmist took his focus off of himself and his problems. He then placed his attention upon the Lord God Almighty and thought about all of God's mighty works that He had done in the past.

Have you ever driven through a long dark tunnel in which you were not able to see where you had been or where you were going? You could only trust that you would reach the end soon and come out safely. Seasons in our lives sometimes seem like long dark tunnels. Our situations become just like the one that the psalmist described. Lingering sickness and discouraging difficulties suppress our faith until we feel that God's mercy has been totally wiped out, and is "clean gone forever." None of God's promises seem to be working for us, and just when we need Him the most, it seems that He has gone out of the mercy and grace business. But, my friend, you must never give in to these thoughts of despair. Instead, meditate upon God and His Word in your dark hour, and as you do, you will see a small glimmer of light at the end of the darkness. Your hope will be revived and you will discover that God's grace is sufficient and that His mercy remains and is not 'clean gone forever'. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/10/11
HEARING AS THE LEARNED

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4 "Morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned."

These words simply mean that God helps our hearts to understand what our ears are hearing. Words in themselves mean nothing to us unless we have understanding about the subject at hand. For example, when someone gives me an in-depth instruction concerning the computer, they may as well be speaking in a foreign language. I can hear the words they are saying, but can't follow the meaning because I have limited understanding about the subject. I have no foundation to build upon so my ears do not hear as a learned person. In fact, with every new thing that I learn, I have to write each step of the process on paper and then follow those instructions in detail. I am sure that it must be frustrating to the one who is trying to teach me.

This same also is true with hearing the Word of God. God's thoughts and words do not come to us all at one time. They come as precept upon precept, line upon line, and here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10). Wisdom and understanding increase as we hear God's Word. It is a simple equation; the more we hear, the more we understand. God gives us new and deeper revelation with each reading and study of His Word, for God's thoughts and words are eternal and have no end. It is through consistently hearing the Word of God that faith is birthed in our hearts (Romans 10:17). But faith doesn't stop there. It grows exceedingly larger within our hearts as we continue to hear the Word (II Thessalonians 1:3). As we move from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word, we grow even more (Hebrews 5:14). Our spiritual ears become more sensitive because we not only hear the Word, we experience the truth of the Word. When we experience the Word, our senses are exercised and we learn to discern both good and evil.

Morning by morning, God said that He would open our ears to hear. I learn new things about the same scriptures every day and I understand more now than I did when I was a child because I can now hear as the learned. Isaiah also said, "The Lord God gives us the tongue of the learned." God wants us to share what we have learned, but that privilege only comes when our ears are able to hear as the learned. The milk of the Word is good, but we must desire the meat of the Word. I encourage you to search for the deeper meaning of God's Word without leaving the simplicity of the gospel. God's Word is not meant to be complicated, but it is a mystery, which is waiting to be discovered. Flesh and blood cannot reveal the mystery of God's Word to you. The Holy Spirit, who is your teacher, will guide you into all truth. Read a portion of God's Word everyday and remember that His revelations come as precept upon precept, or little by little. As you consistently study the Word, you will eventually notice that God has awakened your ears to hear as the learned. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/11/11
WALK IN THE LIGHT

Scripture: I John 1:7 "Walk in the light, as He is in the light."

The pathway of life has many challenges, yet we are given a specific instruction to walk in the light. That light is the presence of the Lord, Himself. His examples and words shine light upon our pathway and teach us right from wrong so there is no reason for us to walk in the darkness of deception. God's light is like the spotlight on the stage of life and it limits us to the truth of His word. When we step out of the light, we step out of truth and remove ourselves from God's covering. We can go in any direction in life, but just like being in a spotlight, we are only one step away from the darkness. It is imperative that we walk with God as He leads and directs, one step at a time, so that we can continue in the light.

The darkness holds no positive promise for us and we are not to explore its path, for its shadows only bring death and defeat. So why do we even consider venturing into spiritual darkness? The word of God tells us that we are drawn away by our own lust. The devil approaches us in the same manner as he did when he enticed Eve in the Garden of Eden. He tells us that the forbidden fruit is good to eat and that it will bring enlightenment to our souls. He causes us to believe that there is happiness outside of the light. If we are bored, he tells us that we can do the same things that the world does and escape correction. He distracts us from the truth of God's word, which tells us that if we knowingly do something wrong it is sin. He doesn't remind us that sin has consequences. If we see something we need, he tells us that we should take it and assures us that it is okay to step outside of the light of integrity just this one time. If we are lonely, he tells us that God will understand if we can seek fulfillment in the darkness of an immoral relationship. When we become angry, he tells us that we have the right to express our uncontrolled temper. We must understand that the devil's temptations are ever present and when we give in to his devises, we step out of God's light and into the darkness of evil.

Envision a circle of light, which contains love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the things that God's light produces. Then, think about the darkness that surrounds that circle of light. The darkness is filled with those things that are opposite of the light. There is hate, sadness, confusion, anxiety, impatience, harshness, evil works, doubt, haughtiness, and intemperance. The circle of light is warm and inviting and there is peace because you are able to see what is happening around you and you know where you going. The darkness that surrounds the circle of light is cold and lonely. It is a frightening place because when you walk in the darkness you are lost and alone. You run into things and lose your direction.

Our walk in life is a personal choice. Each of us must decide for ourselves whether we will walk in the light or in the darkness. It is not a one-time decision or even a daily decision. Instead, it is a decision that is designed for every moment of the day. The choices of life present themselves continually and each step is a part of a subtle process. There is no mystery. It is simply walking with God, step by step, and staying in the light as He is in the light. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of March 2011

03/14/11
SPECIFIC PRAYERS

Scripture: Mark 10:51 "Jesus said, What do you want Me to do for you?"

A blind man named Bartimaeus sat by the roadside begging. Undoubtedly, he had heard about a man named Jesus who was going about healing the sick and performing mighty miracles. When he heard that this same Jesus was near, he began to cry out for mercy. Those about him tried to quiet him, but their opposition only caused him to cry louder. His voice of faith stopped Jesus. Jesus stood still and commanded Bartimaeus to come to Him. In faith that he would be healed, Bartimaeus cast aside his beggar's garment, a garment that had provided him provision and security for most of his life. By this act, he was demonstrating his trust in Jesus and his faith for his own personal miracle.

Jesus asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus could see that Bartimaeus was blind, but He was not necessarily moved by the blind man's need to see. Jesus was moved by Bartimaeus' faith and his fervent cries. He wanted Bartimaeus to state his need. This blind beggar could have been short minded and asked for a few coins or a morsel of bread to sustain him for another day. He very well could have taken a lesser blessing, but his faith was great. In the presence of Jesus, he could have asked for anything, but he didn't need the Red Sea to part before him. He didn't need manna to rain down from heaven or water to come out of a rock. He didn't need to be rescued from a lion's den or a fiery furnace. He simply needed to see, so he asked Jesus to restore his sight. Jesus answered his prayer and said, "Go your way, your faith has made you whole."

What are your needs today? God wants the cries of your heart to arrest His attention and your voice of faith to stop Him and cause Him to stand still. He wants your heart to draw upon His love and compassion so that He can meet your need. Like Bartimaeus, God wants to see you leave all of your earthly security behind as you totally lean upon Him. James 4:2-3 says, "You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss or with the wrong motives." God is waiting for you to express your needs and desires to Him in specific terms. He wants to fill every need that is not amiss or out of the scope of His intended provision for you. Like the blind man, you may not need the same miracles that Moses, Daniel, or the three Hebrew children experienced, but your needs and desires are important to Jesus and nothing is impossible with Him. He says, "I see your heart, I know your pain, and I hear your cries. What is it that you want Me to do?" +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/15/11
SOWING PRECIOUS SEEDS

Scripture: Psalm 126:6 "He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bearing his sheaves with him."

Sowing seeds of any kind, whether natural or spiritual, is hard work. It always requires personal sacrifice and faith, but in the end, it brings forth a harvest. What kinds of precious seeds have you sown or are in the process of sowing?

Have you sown financial seeds when you were in need yourself? Did you cry out to God and say, "Lord, I can't afford to give, but at Your word I will share what I have?" Have you found yourself praying for others when your heart was breaking for your own loved ones who needed a desperate touch from the Lord? Have you been called to the bedside of the sick and afflicted when your own body was racked with pain? Have you stepped back and sown precious seeds of peace in situations where in reality you wanted to retaliate? Have you turned your cheek to your abusers in an effort to win and change their heart for God? Have you loved and shown kindness to the unlovely or forgave the unforgivable? Have you sown your life into the ministry and given up all to share the gospel, receiving no benefits and very few thanks or recognition for your service?

Remember that God is the Lord of the harvest (Luke 10:2). He sees all that you have planted. What you sow, you shall also reap. All the precious seeds that you have sown and watered with your own tears will someday bring a great harvest. As the psalmist said, "There is no doubt, you will come again with rejoicing, bearing your sheaves or the fruit of your labors with you." In the darkness of your situation, God is working. Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Continue to sow seed, continue to water your seeds with your tears, and continue to expect a harvest. In the end, you will reap a miracle that will be just as precious as your sacrifice. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/16/11
WHERE ART THOU?

Scripture: Genesis 3:9 "The Lord God called unto Adam, and said to him, Where art thou?"

When God first created Adam and Eve, He created them in His own image. They were surrounded with His glory and never took notice that they were naked. Their sin, however, destroyed the glory that surrounded them and revealed their nakedness. When they saw themselves exposed, fear infiltrated their hearts and the guilt and shame that overpowered them caused them to run and hide from God. God searched the garden diligently and His voice called to them like a loving Father searching for His lost children. After a long conversation with them about the sin that they had committed, God again clothed Adam and Eve, but this time it was with coats from the skins of animals. God then forced them to leave the Garden of Eden.

God's voice is still sounding in the world today. Have you noticed how loud God's voice seems when you have disobeyed Him in some area of your life? You may pray a hundred prayers and wonder if God has heard you. But the minute you use those same lips to say something that is not good, you feel His Spirit of conviction and hear His voice of correction speaking to you. It's like thunder in your ears. You stand there stripped in His presence, and like Adam and Eve, you want to hide. However, you soon learn that you cannot hide from God, for He knows the garden too well. His eyes run to and fro until He locates you. He brings you to a place that you must acknowledge where you are and what you have done. Because God is full of mercy, He offers you repentance, and because of His faithfulness and grace, He forgives.

God's grace and mercy, however, is never a license to sin. When the woman who was caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus, He not only said, "I forgive you," He also confronted her sin and said, "Go, and sin no more." God's forgiveness always demands change within our heart and in our actions. It would be great if we obeyed God's every command and never sinned, but God knows that we are frail humanity and that this is never going to happen. Jesus was the only one who has ever lived on this earth without sin. He alone is holy and moral. He understands our temptations, and as the Good Shepherd, He will leave the ninety-nine good sheep and search for the one that has strayed out of the sheepfold.

If you have failed in some point and are hiding under a shroud of guilt and shame, allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the secrets of your heart to your loving Father. God is calling your name and asking, "Where are you?" He is diligently searching for you because He wants to forgive you, restore you, and clothe you in His righteousness. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/17/11
MASTER OF THE STORM

Scripture: Mark 4:41 "What manner of man is this?"

Jesus instructed his disciples to go to the other side of the lake. As they obeyed His words, they found themselves in a terrible dilemma, for there arose a great storm. Winds beat against their ship and the waves began to fill it with water. Fear gripped the disciples' hearts and doubt filled their minds. Yet, somewhere in the midst of all this turmoil and confusion, they remembered that Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. When they finally called upon Him, He brought all things back to normal by rebuking the wind and speaking peace to the sea. It took only a few words from the lips of Jesus and suddenly there was a great calm.

In the midst of this great storm, the disciples found that they had no reason to fear. Jesus was still in control of the ship, the wind, the seas, and even their hearts. And even though Jesus saw their hearts were filled with fear and unbelief, He still worked a miracle on their behalf. When the storm ceased and the ordeal was finished, the disciples marveled, saying, "What manner of man is this?" They experienced a new depth of reverence for the One who had caused the winds and sea to obey Him.

What manner of man is this Jesus whom we serve? If we examine our life closely, we can say that Jesus has never lost control of our lives. He has never sent us to a place where His grace could not keep us. Like the situation with the disciples, if He tells us to go to the other side of the lake, He is well able to help us fulfill that mission regardless of the storms that may come in between. He is the Master of the sea and is never alarmed by the winds, waves, and the rocking of our ship. He sees our doubt and unbelief, but is faithful to extend His mercy and help in the time of our need. Our greatest danger is not the raging sea, but the raging lack of trust within our own spirits. The storms of life will either cause us to shipwreck or they will strengthen our faith. As we face the storms, we must understand what manner of man Jesus is. He loves us and seeks to protect us. There is no storm so great that His presence cannot calm it so have faith and trust in Him. He is always at rest within our spirit and is waiting for us to call upon Him so that He can rescue us from the present danger. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/18/11
GREAT EXPLOITS

Scripture: Daniel 11:32 "But the people who know their God shall be strong and do great exploits."

We live in an amazing time, which is moving very fast. Each day there is something unpredictable and spectacular that happens in the world and we are able to witness it through the miracle of modern media. Sometimes, you may wonder, "What's going to happen next?" Although we are not told everything about the future, we do know that this season of history will require much faith on our part so that we can face the challenges that will come our way. God is now and will be our only help in the times to come.

Daniel was a man who was thrown into the lion's den because he worshiped God. He prayed and gave thanks to God openly three times a day even though the king had established a royal statute against it. The king had decreed the penalty of death to anyone who was caught praying to any God other than himself. Daniel was left in the lion's den all night long, but came out without any manner of hurt because he believed in his God (Daniel 6:23). We must understand that Daniel's faith in God didn't start when he was put into the den with the lions. He had come to know God in a mighty way through His daily prayers and communion with God. He had spent personal time alone with God on a regular basis, which cause him to be strong when adversity came his way. He did not shrink in fear because he had developed a personal trust in God and believed that God could and would deliver him.

There is no way for us to prepare for tomorrow in the natural but we can be ready in the spirit. We must listen to the words of Daniel, for he made it clear that there was a distinction between the people who know their God and the people who do not know Him. He declared that the people who knew their God would be strong. God will give us understanding of the times and strength to endure all things if we get to know who He is and what He will do. We must seek to know the Lord and to know the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Then when we turn to God for help in the times of trouble, He will be able do mighty things in our lives because our faith in Him is mature.

God cannot be just the storybook God that we read about in the Bible. Instead, we must recognize Him as the one and only sovereign God and allow Him to be the supreme ruler of our hearts. We must know that nothing happens without His knowledge and that He holds our lives in the palm of His hands. We have nothing to worry about, for God is greater than the king's decree of death and He can still shut the mouths of the lions that come against our lives. The Lord has full control. All we must do is to study His Word and get a revelation of who He is and then spend time with Him so that we learn to believe in Him and know that we can trust in Him. As we do, we will become strong and be able to do great things through Him. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of March 2011

03/21/11
LIFE'S SPEED BUMPS

Scripture: Psalms 25:4-5 "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your path. Lead me in Your truth."

There is a path that I take to work each day to save a little time. It leads from the post office where I pick up the daily mail to the main street. This shortcut goes through the parking lot of several commercial buildings and the speed is maintained in the lot by speed bumps. You barely pick up speed before you have to slow down again to cross over a bump. There is a better way, however, to keep your speed up while traveling this path and that is by weaving around the edges of the speed bumps from the left to the right. This act of impatience totally disregards the fact that the local officials put the speed bumps there for a reason, which is to maintain safety.

One day all of the outside edges of the speed bumps were blocked by parked cars. I was forced to adhere to the law, slow down, and drive across the speed bumps. As I did, I thought about God's plan for our lives. In Jeremiah 29:11, He said that He had good thoughts and plans for us and even a hopeful future. From the very beginning, when He laid out this master plan, He instituted spiritual speed bumps and put them there purposely to slow us down. He gave us a Sabbath Day and told us to rest one day out of the seven and provided nights so that we could sleep and regenerate our bodies and minds. He also expects us to retreat and take extra seasons of rest. Even Jesus told his disciples to separate from the crowds and take a rest. God extends an opportunity to us to slow down and rest so that we can soak in His presence and commune with Him.

Taking physical rest is not the only time that God instructs us to slow down. He has told us to be slow to speak, slow to judge, slow to anger, and slow to express wrath. He said, "In your patience, you possess your soul." Time and again, the Lord instructs us to wait and not be hasty. Yet, many times our impatience prompts us to swerve around His speed bumps, hurry along the path, and disregard His words and signals. Instead of being slow to anger and quick to understand and appease the situation, we become quick to anger and slow to appease. Instead of being slow to judge and quick to forgive, we are quick to judge and find it difficult to forgive and forget. God is attempting to lead us down a straight path and we must slow down and listen to His voice. It is not His will that we impatiently swerve to the right and left in order to avoid His signals. As we consider David's words again, let us ask God to do the same for us, "Show me Your way, teach me Your path, and lead me in Your truth." We must recognize that life's speed bumps are there for a purpose and then we must yield to them. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/22/11
IN GOD'S STRENGTH

Scripture: Galatians 5:16 "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

The Lord understands how strong the temptations are that come against us because while He was living in a fleshly body here on Earth He was tempted in all the areas that we will be tempted in. Yet, Jesus was able to make it through the temptations without committing any sin whatsoever and became the spotless Lamb of God. Even though Jesus was able to remain without sin, He is aware that we will experience many failures in our lifetime. He knows that our spirit is willing to live right, but He also knows that our flesh can be very weak. We face a constant dilemma, for as the Apostle Paul said, "The things that we want to do, we don't do, and the things that we don't want to do, we do."

Temptations can be rough for us to handle at times because our enemy is aware of our personal desires and he will challenge us in the areas of our greatest weakness. There are things that you may encounter that would not bother me at all, and vice versa. Our desires and temptations vary but we all have battles of some kind to deal with. The Lord did not leave any of us without a solution. Instead, He gave us words and instructions to live by so that we can overcome the temptations of life. He simply told us to walk in the Spirit. It is a comfort to know that God did not say the opposite, "Do not sin and then you will be able to walk in the Spirit." He put first things first. He knew that we needed the strength of His Spirit to be able to stand against temptations and successfully deal with the challenges of life. He also knew that only as we submitted ourselves to God could we resist the devil, for our own strength is too small to stand against the forces of evil.

Walking in the Spirit is like walking in the natural. It takes determination and effort on our part. It is a one step at a time process that demands focus, for it is possible to step out of the Spirit at any time. Temptations can come suddenly and without warning. Therefore, we must constantly guard our heart as we walk with God along the narrow path of His righteousness. As we walk with God, we have the assurance that He will avail Himself to us and help us in our battles. The Lord has promised not to put more upon us than we can bear and He is faithful to those words. He will never leave us or forsake so we will never have to battle with temptations alone. As we give ourselves to God and walk in the Spirit we will be able to resist the lust of the flesh because of the strength of His grace. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/23/11
EXPERIENCE

Scripture: Genesis 30:27 "I have learned by experience ..."

Jacob had served Laban, his father-in-law, for many years and Laban had become prosperous because of the blessings of God that were upon Jacob's life. Jacob didn't have to call Laban's attention to this fact, for Laban recognized it himself. Laban told Jacob, "I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake."

The voice of experience is very powerful. There is a saying; "The man with knowledge is always at the mercy of the man with experience." Unproven knowledge is no match for the voice of experience, for experience speaks with great wisdom and authority. Experience is quick to warn others who have yet to learn what it has learned. Even strangers will listen and heed your words when you speak of your experience. For example, the other day I stopped to get gas for my car, but the particular pump that I chose to use did not work properly. First it would not start, then it pumped slowly, and finally it stopped altogether after pumping only 2 gallons of gas. I informed the attendant who told me that it had not worked properly all day. While I was using another gas pump, several cars stopped at the broken pump. Even though it was none of my business, I felt compelled to tell each one of them about my experience. I did not try to influence them in any way. They were total strangers to me and could have disregarded my words, but instead, they moved to another pump. They listened to the voice of experience.

We have experienced so much of God's kingdom. We have received His eternal grace and mercy on a daily basis. He has healed our bodies and restored our souls. He has provided for our needs and put food on our tables. He has kept us from many dangers and delivered us from evil when we fell into temptation. He has taken our sorrows and given us joy. He has delivered us out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of light. He has exchanged our confusion and given us peace in its place. We need to speak into the lives of others with enthusiasm and tell them that God has done these things for us. Our voices of experience could be the turning point for those who are going in the wrong direction. Our life experiences could save them from wasting their own lives, for the changes that we made in our lives could be the same correction they need. Our experiences of victory over sorrow and grief could bring comfort and hope to those whose hearts are broken. Experience is valuable and is a great teacher. We need to share what we have learned with others. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/24/11
LITTLE IN YOUR OWN EYES

Scripture: Proverbs 16:33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom: and before honor is humility."

In I Samuel chapter fifteen, the prophet Samuel came to anoint Saul to be the king over Israel. Later when Samuel met with Saul, he discovered that Saul had not followed the specific instructions that Samuel had given him earlier. The prophet Samuel had told Saul to destroy the enemy and everything that they had. Instead of obeying these words, Saul spared the king, the best of the flocks, and all that was good. Verse thirteen says that when Samuel met Saul, Saul lied and said, "I have performed the commandment of the Lord," but Samuel could hear the noises of the sheep and the oxen in the background. When Samuel confronted Saul concerning the matter, Saul blamed the people for his own disobedience. He said that he had spared the livestock because the people wanted to use them for sacrifices. Yet as noble as this excuse sounded, it was in direct opposition to God's instructions.

Saul's actions indicated that he didn't reverently fear the Lord. And by refusing God's wisdom and instructions, he allowed pride to reign in his heart. God's knowledge of the situation was much higher than Saul's. God knew that the enemy would eventually come back and destroy His people if they were not totally annihilated. Samuel told Saul, "It is better to obey God than to make sacrifices to Him." Because of Saul's disobedience, God repented for choosing him to be king over Israel. God emphasized His feelings in verse seventeen when He asked Saul, "When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of all the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you to be king over Israel?" In the beginning, Saul's humility had exalted him, but now rebellion and pride had displaced humility in his heart and caused the kingdom to be taken from him.

God speaks to us and says, "Before honor is humility." God desires that we reverently fear Him and that we humble ourselves under His hands and be obedient to His will. He is not pleased when we disobey Him, and then try to cover it up with offerings and sacrifices as Saul did. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. He honors those who yield to His wisdom and walk in humility. I Peter 5:5-6 tells us to be completely "clothed in humility." We must make a conscious effort to clothe ourselves in humility and become little in our own eyes. When God sees our heart wrapped in sincere humility, He makes a way to exalt us in His due time. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/25/11
EVEN WHEN THINGS SEEM HOPELESS

Scripture: Lamentations 3:26 "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

A friend sent me a humorous email recently with several pictures of animals that were caught in precarious situations. One of the pictures was of a mule that was in quite a predicament. The mule was harnessed to the front of a two-wheeled cart, which was loaded down with heavy goods. The weight on the cart must have been unevenly distributed because the rear of the cart was touching the ground and the front of the cart, with the mule, was in the air. The caption over the picture read, "Even when things seem hopeless." This situation was certainly hopeless, for there was no way the mule could help himself, much less pull the heavy burden that had been assigned to him. He just hung there in hopeless despair waiting for his master to unload part of the weight.

Have you ever been in a place of hopeless despair like the mule in this scene? It seems that your burdens are too heavy, your storm is too great, your grief is too painful, or your situation is too bleak. There just doesn't seem to be any relief in sight. Jesus never intended for you to suffer through life in this manner. In fact, He came to give you an abundant life. He said that His yoke would be easy and His burden would be light and that He would not put more upon you than you could bear. Yet, many times we become overburdened by our own design. We take burdens that are not ours to bear and engage in battles that are not ours to fight. We put too much on our cart physically and mentally. In the midst of it all, our strength begins to fail and our faith is challenged beyond measure. Then, like the mule, we are stopped in our tracks and held in suspension by these heavy loads.

We may look just as ridiculous to the Lord when we try to carry our own burdens as the mule looked when he was lifted into the air by the weight of his burdens. Jesus must look at us and wonder why we don't cast every care upon Him. He cares for us and He wants us to cease from our struggles, let go of the conflicts that surround us, and begin to rest in His presence. He wants us to wait for His salvation, for only the Master of our soul can deal with our situations and deliver us. As we yield ourselves to Him, He will take our burdens one-by-one. Things may look bad at the present, but even when things seem hopeless, it is time "to both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
5th Week of March 2011

03/28/11
MEASURE OF FAITH

Scripture: Matthew 9:29 "According to your faith be it unto you."

Two blind men followed Jesus, crying out for help and deliverance from their blindness. Jesus asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They both responded, "Yes, Lord." Jesus then touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith be it unto you." And they were healed because their faith was working.

Notice first that Jesus asked the blind men a question, "Do you believe that I am able?" He then declared, "According to your faith." Faith is simply believing God and acting on His word as though it were true. We have to believe in the "I AM" and believe that He is able. Paul tells us in Romans 12:3 that God has given to each man a measure of faith. What we do with this measure of faith governs what happens with it. We can either cultivate that faith or we can allow it to lie dormant within us. Our measure of faith will grow as it feeds and meditates on God's word, or it will shrink and be useless in obtaining God's blessings. The responsibility and results rests upon us.

Faith is like a muscle. As it is nourished and exercised, it grows stronger and expands. But if neglected, it remains small and weak. Spiritual power is always in proportion to the strength of our faith. We should be able to believe God in a stronger way today than when we were first saved. However, if we haven't been renewing our minds in His Word, then our thoughts are going to naturally conform to doubt and unbelief.

The two blind men followed Jesus even though they could not see, and according to the faith in their hearts, they were healed. Like the blind men, faith is following after that which we cannot see. It's speaking and acting as though we had the answer before it ever comes. In II Thessalonians 1:3 Paul told the church, "We thank God always because your faith is growing exceedingly." Personal faith grows when it feeds on God's word and it must be exercised on a daily basis. When you truly believe that God is and that He is able you become pleasing to Him (Hebrews 11:6), for God can only work in and through you according to your faith. The more faith you have in God, the more you can accomplish for God. So keep believing. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/29/11
GOD'S PROMISE OF HELP

Scripture: Isaiah 41:13 "Fear not; I will help you."

Israel had become feeble and despised by the other nations and God addressed her by saying, "Fear not, you worm!" Israel was God's chosen and called out nation but was being stepped on by all those around her as if she were a mere worm of the dust. However, God, in His mercy, is getting ready to change everything about this abusive situation. In the preceding verses, He promises to strengthen and uphold Israel with His own hand of righteousness. He also promises Israel that her enemies will be confounded and become as nothing in her sight. She will be like a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth and all those who strive against her shall perish. She will become like a mean machine that is able to thresh the mountains of adversity and tear the enemy apart.

Fear was a mighty enemy for Israel and it is a mighty enemy for us as well. For this reason, God addresses fear many times in the scriptures. Each time that He issued a challenge to one of His servants or manifested Himself, He said, "Fear not." He addresses fear because it is a strong emotion that can paralyze and hold in bondage those who yield themselves to it. The Lord wants us to know that we have nothing to fear because the spiritual realm operates by authority and spirits know their limits. The devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and watches our reaction to the spirit of fear. He can only come through the doors that we open. When we boldly resist fear as we would any other temptation, it has to flee. It is not by our might or by our own power, but by the spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). Our strength has no influence over fear. It is God's power that accomplishes the work.

Fear can be big or fear can be little, but all fear is tormenting. General Patton said, "I learned early in life not to take counsel with my fears." Like Patton, from the very onset, we are to set fear aside and refuse to allow it any place in our hearts. We must guard our hearts, for what we allow into our spirits will eventually manifest itself. Job said, "What I have greatly feared has come upon me" (Job 3:25). His fear opened the door for destruction in his life. It is said what you put into the well is what you will draw out. If you receive fear into your heart that is all that you can draw out. When you give place to the devil, you allow him the authority in your life. When you give place to God and His promises, you allow God the authority to rule your being.

Like Israel, you may see yourself as a worm before your enemy. You may feel feeble and despised because of the abusive situations that you are in. Fear may be knocking at your door and all may seem lost. Regardless of how hopeless it all may seem, you must turn your thoughts to God and remember that He has chosen you to rule and reign in this life. He has made you an overcomer and He wants to change you and your self-image. The Lord speaks to you as He did to Israel and says, "I will change you from being a worm into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth and you will tear down the mountains of adversity that are before you. Fear not, for I will help you." +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/30/11
HEARING JOY

Scripture: Psalms 51:8 "Make me to hear joy and gladness."

Joy is necessary for our spiritual and natural well being, for it is the joy of the Lord that gives us supernatural strength. Joy enables us to make it through the most difficult trials and gives us a resistance against temptations. James 1:2 tells us that we are to count it all joy when we enter into a place of temptation because God is going to use it for His glory. Temptations try our faith, but when we are able to maintain our joy in the midst of it all, God is able to complete a work within our heart and do greater things than we can ever imagine.

David said, "Make me to hear joy and gladness." He was in a very discouraging place when he said these words to the Lord, for Nathan, the prophet, had just exposed David's sin with Bathsheba. David loved God with all of his heart, but when his sins were exposed, he was forced to admit and face his own faults. With grief in his heart, he confessed his sins, pleaded for forgiveness, and asked that the joy of the Lord be restored in his life. He knew that God was merciful and that God's joy was there and still available to him, but he needed God to open his ears and help him hear it.

Many situations come in our lives to steal our joy. Like David, it is hard to find joy when you know that you have sins and faults in your own life that you need to deal with. It is also hard to hear the sounds of joy when you have lost a loved one to death, when you are in a broken relationship, when you are stressed financially, and when your health is failing. Yet, it is the strength that joy provides that will sustain you during these adverse situations. Jesus said, " I have spoken to you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11). He spoke words to us so that we could have joy. We desperately need the strength of these words that bring His joy. It is one thing for joy to be present and available and it is another thing for us to be able to hear it and receive it. We must ask God, as David did, to make us able to hear the sounds of joy and gladness that will take us through the difficult times and places. +++

Copyright © 2011 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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03/31/11
RUN WITH PATIENCE

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1 " ... Let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

Each of us have different issues to face in life. One struggles with finances, another with relationships, some with health, and others with death itself. We do not get to choose our circumstances or the race that we would like to participate in. God places us in the race at His discretion and we must patiently endure it, knowing that God will never put more upon us than we can bear. Whoever you are and whatever you are going through, you can be assured that you were God's choice for that testing. He knows your heart and has faith in you.

When God spoke to Satan in Job 1:8, He said, "Have you considered My servant Job, there is none like him in the earth?" God placed His full confidence in Job and felt that Job was well able to pass Satan's tests. God allowed the hedge around Job to be lifted, but each test that Satan placed on Job had to be approved by God. God's confidence was rewarded by Job's steadfast faith and trust, which prevailed against his hopeless situation. Job patiently endured and ran the race that was set before him and at the end he received his reward.

God has good plans for you and His thoughts towards you are much higher than you can imagine. At the end of your race, God has great rewards, but like any physical race, you must discipline yourself to achieve your goals. You must expect hurdles, and in the midst of your race you cannot allow yourself to be distracted by the glory that you are receiving or by the pains that you are having to endure. You are to lay aside every weight and every sin that seeks to burden you down.

Jesus is your great example and the author and finisher of your faith. Because of the joy that was set before Him, Jesus was able to endure the cross and despise the shame. His goal was to defeat Satan and redeem you and I from spiritual death and the curse of the law. Jesus' vision of victory kept Him from giving into the temptations and evil devises of the devil. Therefore, you are to consider Jesus and the things He endured for you so that you do not become weary and faint in your mind. He doesn't want you to give up in the middle of the race. You must run your race with patience. In the midst of the race, the Holy Spirit of God will fill you with His power. You will catch a second wind and you will experience the joy of victory. +++

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