A Word In Due Season
1st Week of June 2012

06/01/12
PLAIN PATHS

Scripture:  Psalms 27:11  "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path."

One of the greatest privileges of being a child of God is that we can depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead us in our daily lives.  David leaned upon this knowledge and cried out to the Lord in several of the Psalms, asking for direction.  He pleaded with God to lead him in the way of truth and righteousness, not just for his own benefit but also for the sake of the Lord's Name.  He understood that his actions were a reflection upon his Heavenly Father and that they either brought honor or dishonor to His Name.  For that reason, he prayed that the Lord would teach him His way and lead him in a plain path.

Jeremiah 10:23 said that it is not in the way of man to direct his steps and Isaiah said that the Lord God would lead us in the way that we should go (Isaiah 48:17).  Yet, just as hard as we try to follow after God's will and complete His purposes, the enemy seeks to divert us through deception and circumstances.  As a result, we often fail to stay on the straight and narrow path.  Most of the time, it's not a matter of blatant disobedience or rebellion on our part, but that we just miss the still small voice of God.  The consequence is that we fail to be in the right place at the right time.  And because we are not in the place where God wants us, we are not able to either be the blessing or receive the blessing that He has designed for us.

The devil tries to use these places in our lives to bring confusion and discouragement.  He knows that if he can cause us to depart from the leading of God's Spirit by just one degree, we will eventually be way off course.  Several years ago, I was to follow my husband across town to an unknown destination using separate vehicles.  I knew part of the route, but just as we got to the critical point to change directions, my husband suddenly changed lanes and exited the loop we were on.  Just as he changed lanes, an eighteen-wheel truck separated us, and I was forced to continue in the direction that I was going.  After the large truck passed, I saw my husband enter the interstate highway.  He was now on the third rung of the freeway heading east, while I was on the bottom heading south.  Our paths crossed, but he was several yards above me.  My heart wanted to panic as I saw him fade into the distance.  Because of my limited knowledge of the freeway system, I had been rerouted by circumstances beyond my control.  I knew, however, that I could trust my husband, and I had an assurance that he would stop and wait for me.  I knew that he was more concerned for me than I was for myself.

God knows that we face these same sort of dilemmas in our spiritual life.  He sees our panic and confusion when we realize that we are out of His will because we've been cut off by deception or circumstances.  He watches for us to make a deliberate effort to return to Him.  Then when we do return, we find Him waiting patiently on the plain path.  He is our loving Father who is more concerned about us than we are for ourselves.  So, like the psalmist prayed, let us yield ourselves to God and ask Him to teach us His ways and lead us in a plain path. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of June 2012

06/04/12
HE CHALLENGED WORD 

Scripture: Luke 8:12 ".. then comes the devil, and takes away the Word out of their hearts." 

Jesus told a parable to His disciples to explain in the natural what happens in the spiritual realm. He used the analogy that the Word of God was like a seed and that our heart was like the soil in which the seed was planted. He said that when the seed is sown, the devil comes immediately and attempts to steal it from our hearts. If our heart is able to absorb the seed the devil then tries to destroy its fruit through other means. He will bring persecutions, the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things to choke out the seed of God's Word. The devil is vehemently against the Word of God because he knows that God's Word is full of power. It will not return to God void, but it will accomplish what He sent it forth to do (Isaiah 55:11). 

The greatest of saints were challenged in their belief in the Word. Peter had a wonderful revelation that Jesus was the Son of God and Jesus told Peter that He would build His church upon this revelation. Later Jesus warned Peter that the devil was going to sift Peter as wheat. The devil was out to destroy Peter's faith. When Peter was challenged, he declared that he didn't know Jesus and even denied that he was one of Jesus' disciples. Joseph was given a Word from God in a dream, but he was also challenged in many ways. The seed that had been planted inside of Joseph's heart had to endure the rejection of his brothers, the pit, the prison, and the temptations of Potiphar's wife. Jesus, Himself, had to protect the Word that God the Father had spoken over Him when He said, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." The devil challenged Jesus face to face in the wilderness in an attempt to steal the precious seed by saying, "If You be the Son of God ...."

Jesus declared that it has been given unto us to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a great opportunity but we decide what kind of harvest that we will receive by what we do with the Word that God sows into our heart. Matthew 13:8 tells us that our potential to produce fruit from the Word ranges from having no fruit, thirty to sixty fold fruit, or one hundred fold fruit. It will not be any easier for us to receive a harvest than it was for Peter, Joseph, and Jesus. Jesus told us that we must take heed how we hear the Word. We must allow the Holy Spirit to break up the hard ground of our heart so that we can receive the good seed and then we must guard the garden where it has been planted. The devil will definitely challenge us so we must rid our lives of anything that would attempt to choke out God's Word and destroy our faith. Our harvest will depend upon our faithfulness to protect His Word that He has put within our heart. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
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06/05/12
DOERS OF THE WORD

Scripture:  James 1:22  "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

A cartoon showed an elderly couple sitting at a counter in a diner.  The gentlemen spoke to his wife and made mention of the older couple who were sitting at the other end of the counter.  With a hint of criticism, he told his wife, "That's probably what you and I will look like in about ten years or so."  She responded to him saying, "You do realize that's a mirror at the end of the counter, don't you?"  The man could not see himself as he really was and truly thought that he was in much better shape than the reflection that was peering back at him.  Little did he realize that his age and everything that comes with aging had caught up with him, even his poor eyesight.

Many times we are like this gentleman.  We don't see ourselves as we really are and can't see the spiritual lack that has occurred in our soul because it has come upon us so gradually.  We have become lukewarm in our spirits, and as we look at others, our criticisms define our own deficiencies.  Even though we faithfully attend church services, read the Word, and listen to good gospel music, James tells us in the scripture above that there is more.  He said we must not only hear the Word, we must also be doers of the Word.  In verse twenty seven, he expounds on this subject and defines true religion by saying that it is to "visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world."  He said that if we are only religious and are not doing the Word or taking care of these matters, we are deceiving ourselves and our religion is vain.  James declares that we are like a man who looks at himself in a mirror, but goes away and forgets what he has seen.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/06/12
WORRY OR WORSHIP
Scripture: Psalms 95:6 "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

There is a battle that rages within us when troubles arise in our life. It's a battle between our flesh and our spirit. The battle demands that we either choose to worry about our problems or worship God right in the midst them. It's a hard place, but our right choice brings great rewards. We see the leper in Matthew 8:2 who had no hope of being healed, yet he worshiped Jesus as he made his request for healing. His worship ushered in the healing he needed, and his leprosy was cleansed. There is another story where it seemed that it was too late for any kind of help, as death was in control. The daughter of a certain ruler had died, but the ruler continued to worship Jesus right in the midst of his daughter's death and she was raised up to live again. Worship is very powerful. Even devils were dispelled when worship prevailed in the hearts of those who came to Jesus for help (Matthew 15:22-28 and Mark 5:2-13).

You acknowledge several things when you worship God in the midst of adverse circumstances. First, your worship declares that God is your first love and that He is more important than your immediate needs. Your worship tells God that you trust Him and that you love Him regardless of what happens. Second, as you worship, you do not lean upon your own understanding. Even though you are at the end of your own resources and ability, you recognize God as the One who is more than enough. You see Him bigger than your problem. Finally, your worship announces that you are releasing all of your doubts and fears to God as you humbly submit your situation to Him. As you cast every care upon Him, you make Him the Lord of your life.

In the day that Lucifer fell, He attempted to exalt himself. He said, "I will ascend into Heaven, exalt my throne above the stars of God, and be like the most high God" (Isaiah 14:13-14). Lucifer intends for all that is evil to be exalted in your life today. This includes worry. He desires that you choose to walk with him and serve him, so he plants seeds of doubt in your heart and tormenting thoughts in your mind. His goal is to cause you to worry about the enormous situations that he has created for you. He wants you to bow down to him through worry rather than bow down before God in worship and trust. Satan knows that if the fear he attempts to plant in your mind can take root, it will drive out the faith that is in your heart. If fear and doubt prevail in your life, he will then be exalted above your faith in God, and Jesus will no longer be Lord. When you see these patterns working in your life, remember to give God first place by exalting Him above the situation. Instead of worrying, simply show your trust by bowing down and worshipping the Lord your God, your Maker. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/07/12
HIS NAME IS AS OINTMENT

Scripture:  The Song of Solomon 1:3  "Thy Name is as ointment poured forth."

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced to her that she was going to have a son, he also told her what to name Him.  Gabriel said, "You shall call His name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest" (Luke 1:31-32).  The name Jesus means, "the Lord is salvation."

Names are very important because they not only identify people, but they speak of the character of that person.  We attach many things to a name.  When you hear the name of someone you know, most often you can describe their character, where they live, work, go to church, and how they conduct their business.  Their name will either bring good thoughts into your mind, which will be like sweet perfume, or their name will remind you of unpleasant memories of the past.

Subconsciously, we listen for our own name.  Even though we may be engaged in a separate conversation, we will usually hear our own name when it is mentioned in a noisy and crowded room.  So it is with God.  He is listening for the Name of Jesus to be spoken here on Earth.  Jesus' Name is as a sweet ointment poured forth before God and it calls Him to attention.  God's ears perk and He begins to listen when we speak the Name of Jesus in prayer.  When God named Jesus before His birth, He attached many benefits to that Name.  Philippians 2:9-10 says, "His Name is above every name:  that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow."  Speaking the Name of Jesus calls His presence into an assembly (Matthew 18:20).  It also brings healing (James 5:14); salvation (John 1:12); deliverance (Mark 16:17); answers to prayers (John 14:13-14); the promise of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26); and even signs and wonders (Acts 4:30).

Jesus' Name cannot be hidden just as a perfume cannot be covered up.  Often, children will get into their mother's perfume or their father's cologne, and not realizing that a small amount is sufficient, they will use a great deal.  When confronted, they may try to deny it, but the odor of that sweet fragrance speaks for itself.  So it is with the Name of Jesus.  When tense moments come into your life today, remember that, just like perfume, the fragrance of His Name cannot be hidden.  Just speak the Name of Jesus in prayer.  It will be a sweet fragrance that is poured out before God and you will have His full attention. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/08/12
BY FAITH

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8  "By faith Abraham when he was called to go out ... went out not knowing where he was going."

There are two sides of faith.  There is believing and then there is taking action on what is believed.  Faith is never fully realized until there is action, for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17).  When God wanted to create, He didn't just believe it to happen.  Instead, He spoke words in faith and His verbal actions caused the worlds to come into existence.  In every instance where Jesus wanted to heal, deliver, or redeem mankind from sin, He took some sort of action.  He prayed, He spoke words of deliverance, and even gave up His own life on the cross.  Both the Father and the Son's faith were proven by their actions and there were everlasting results.

Abraham believed God when God called him to leave his country and kindred and to go to a land that God would show him.  It was a land where God was going to bless him and make him a blessing.  Yet, Abraham could not just believe.  He had to get up and leave.  Abraham had no idea where he was going or how long it would take to get there.  He also did not know the challenges or battles that would come up along the way, but he faithfully followed God and his faith was counted unto him as righteousness.

Like Abraham's life, our own lives will not reach their intended destiny or fulfill their purposes by accident.  There must be an action on our part for us to be able to accomplish our visions.  We can hold big dreams and enormous visions in our heart, but until we act upon them in obedience, they will remain dormant.  Sadly, many times we fail to follow through with actions because we are unsure of the future.  Thus our hopes and dreams never come to pass. 

Look at the important events in your life and you will realize that you had to leave your present place and be somewhere else at a particular time for that event to come into being.  You had to accept an invitation to meet that special person who changed your life.  You had to go on that certain interview to obtain the job that became your lifetime profession.  You had to respond to a call from God to enter the ministry or go to the foreign mission field.  You had to reach out in faith to win a soul to Christ or pray a prayer over the sick for them to be healed and delivered.  In every case, it was a journey of faith and you had to be at a certain juncture to complete God's will for your life.

God is calling you.  His call may be a simple request or a life changing demand upon your life.  Your faith may be challenged as you stare into an unknown future like Abraham did.  You may have no idea where the path will take you but you can rest assured that God will not send you forth without going before you.  His Word will speak to you and His Spirit will guide you every step of the way.  Trust God and believe to receive Abraham's promise for your own life.  Follow God as He leads you out.  He will bless you and also cause you to be a blessing in all the Earth. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of June 2012

06/11/12
WORRY IS VAIN 

Scripture: Psalms 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for He gives His beloved sleep." 

There are issues in life and many times it seems that things are spinning totally out of control. Our jobs come to an end, our health fails, our finances are depleted, and we unable to resolve problems with our relationships. There are many sorrows that afflict our souls. We find ourselves earnestly making an effort to remain patient in these situations, hoping that relief will come soon and free us from our dilemma. Yet, many times we find ourselves staying up late and pacing the floors in the midnight hours as we search for solutions. King Solomon advised in the scripture above that it was useless for us to allow our problems to bring us to this state because God is able to give us rest in every situation. We are His beloved children and even though we may face times of adversity, the Lord doesn't want us to be held captive by a spirit of worry and stress. When it is time to sleep, He wants us to lay down in peace. 

There were two birds that were held captive in a cage. One flew around and beat his wings against the bars in an effort to escape, continually crying, "I don't know what to do. I can't get out. I can't get out." He did this daily and all that he accomplished was frustration, bruises, and torn feathers. The other bird sat on his perch and gently chirped and sang his songs. Somehow he had found an inner peace and was able to find joy regardless of his current state. He understood the vanity of beating himself against the bars that surrounded him, and even though the same bars held him captive, the praise in his spirit allowed him to be free. We are always going to face problems and lack, but we have an assurance that God is our source and that He is sovereign. We are not to sit idly by and do nothing but we must decide to trust the Lord in every situation. We must allow Him to give us rest in the midst of our conflict, having the confidence that He is still in control and that no problem is too difficult for Him to solve. We are to pray for deliverance and release, yet understand that every affliction gives us a fresh glimpse of God and His glory. We are to glean from every situation, knowing that in the midst of captivity, God is going to show Himself strong, for He never fails. 

There is no valley too low nor any hurt too deep that Jesus cannot restore our soul and bring joy to our hearts, for He is able to turn every situation around and make it work together for our good. There is no desert so dry that He cannot find us a place of green pastures and still waters to nourish our hungry and thirsty spirits. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is with us and never leaves us. His rod and His staff comfort us and His Spirit anoints our head with oil. He prepares a table for us right in the presence of our enemies. When the Lord is on our side, His love covers it all and there is no reason for us to beat our wings against the bars of captivity. We must receive the wisdom of Solomon and understand that when we give our worries and our sorrows to God, He gives us rest. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/12/12
CUMBERED WITH MUCH SERVING

Scripture:  Luke 10:40  "Martha was cumbered about much serving."

Multitudes followed Jesus and sat for hours and days at His feet in order to be able to hear His counsel and wisdom.  Yet, when Jesus came to Mary and Martha's home, Martha was so cumbered down with the cares of this life that she allowed them to steal her opportunity to enjoy a time of intimate fellowship with the Lord.  She was so distracted by the preparations of the food that she had no time for the true Bread of Life and she was so worried about the beverages that were needed that she couldn't stop and be refreshed by the Living Water.  Her troubled heart would not permit her to lay everything aside and rest for a few moments in the presence of Jesus.

No one was forcing Martha to serve with such zeal and sacrifice.  This was her personal choice.  She felt that she had to be busy about "much serving" and she tried to inflict this same spirit of obligation upon her sister, Mary.  Martha was so busy that when Jesus spoke to her, He had to call her name twice to get her attention.  Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are troubled and careful about many things."  Jesus then defended Mary, who had chosen to sit at His feet and listen to His words.  He spoke to Martha and said, "Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her."  Jesus was not concerned about the food preparation, for He had taken care of these matters before.  If necessary, He could turn the water into wine and multiply the food to feed thousands.       

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/13/12
TRUST IN THE POTTER'S HANDS

Scripture:  Jeremiah 18:4  "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter:  So he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it."

From the very beginning, the potter had an image in his mind of the vessel that he desired to form.  He chose a particular piece of clay, but as he began to work with the clay, it was ruined in his hands.  Please notice that when the clay became marred or ruined that it was in the hands of the potter.  There were several possibilities of why the clay was marred.  Air bubbles, hard pieces of unpliable clay, or foreign objects like pebbles may have worked their way to the surface as the potter applied pressure to the clay.  As the air bubbles or foreign material came to the surface, the potter had to separate them from the clay, which caused void places to occur in the clay.  If these void areas had not been dealt with, they would have weakened and ultimately destroyed the vessel being created.  Perhaps the clay refused to yield to the potter's will as it spun around on the wheel.  Whatever the case, the clay had to be crushed and reworked.  Yet, the potter never became discouraged, as he patiently made it into another vessel that seemed good to him.

Sometimes we may feel like the crushed clay and wonder, "What's next?"  We thought we were on our way to victory and happiness but found that as God worked with us, hard areas of pride and things foreign to His will began to expose themselves in our lives.  Our emotions, self esteem, and our very lives are marred by situations and circumstances beyond our control.  We find our hopes and dreams failing.  Then, as God begins to separate us from things in our lives, void places begin to appear within us and we find that we are not as complete as we thought we were.  We may even begin to strive with our Maker and question His work, challenging Him as to why we are not like others.  And like the scripture in Isaiah 45:9, we may ask, "What do You think you are making?"

Just like the potter, God knows exactly what He is trying to fashion.  In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I know the thoughts or plans I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  From the very beginning, God envisions a plan and a purpose for your life, and He works diligently to mold you into that destiny.  As He works with you, there may be pressures and disappointments, but always remember that you are in the Potter's hands.  These are the same hands that were nailed to the cross.  And even though you have been marred and crushed, you can trust these nail pierced hands to mold you and make you into the vessel that He desires. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/14/12
GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY

Scripture:  I Peter 5:8  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour."

Just as we are on guard for our safety in the natural, we must be the same in our spiritual welfare.  Peter said that we have to be sober-minded or well balanced and temperate.  We also must be watching for our adversary and cautious at all times, for the devil is like a fierce hungry lion who is ready to devour his prey.  He roams about just looking for opportunities.  In the natural, if we received word that a lion or some other danger was lurking in the darkness waiting for a chance to attack, we would take every precaution to protect ourselves.  We would lock our doors and be very vigilant if we went out.  Yet many times in the spiritual realm, we leave the door to our hearts wide open without regard to dangers that are near.

I used to work in an office that had two doors that had access to the street.  I was alone there for as much as eight hours of the day so I always locked both of the doors, which had a regular lock and a dead bolt.  Once, when it was time to go home I couldn't find my keys.  I finally discovered that they were still in the lock on the outside of the door.  The phone was ringing when I had unlocked the door to come in that morning and in my haste I had shut and locked the door from the inside but had left the keys on the outside.  The keys had a large wood carved fish attached to them and were very visible to anyone who may have wanted to enter, as they dangled in the lock all day long.  In reality, when I thought that I was safe, I actually had unknowingly left myself unguarded and subject to the opportunities of harm.

Life is like that many times.  We shut and lock the doors of our hearts on the inside and are unaware that we have left the keys on the outside.  We think that we are totally protected but instead, we are vulnerable to spiritual attack.  The Apostle Paul told us not to give any opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:27).  We must guard our hearts above all things and be established in our faith.  We can't harbor sin, hate, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, or anything that is contrary to God's Word because when we do we allow it to dangle as keys on the outside of our hearts.  These things give opportunity to the devil and are an open invitation for him to come in.  We must remember that the devil is a fierce enemy and we must remain vigilant concerning his strategies.  He walks about looking for a chance to devour hearts that are vulnerable.  We cannot allow ourselves to be naive or negligent in any area of our lives but must make sure that when we have shut and locked the doors to our hearts that we are still holding the keys. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/15/12
THE REST OF FAITH

Scripture:  Hebrews 4:3  "For we which have believed do enter into rest ..."

Where there is faith, there is rest.  Faith does not come by sight or the reasoning of the mind, but comes when you hear God's voice and you receive His words as truth.  When God speaks His will into your life, truth comes into your heart and it gives you an assurance that brings rest.  Faith brings an end to all anxiety and fear.  Even in the midst of adversity, rest will be written with indelible ink within your soul if you have truly believed.  Doubts will flee and struggles will cease.  Even those around you will marvel as they witness the peace that prevails in your spirit and the rest that surrounds you.

The devil will challenge your faith, but when you've heard from God, there will remain a knowing within your spirit that cannot be shaken.  Nothing and no one can pry God's words from your heart or destroy the faith that you have in His promise.  His Word is your foundation and your heart is fixed like the men of the scriptures who did great things based on just a word from God.  Noah built an ark and escaped the flood.  Moses led millions of people into a desert and leaned upon God for every provision for forty years.  David challenged Goliath, the giant, and defeated him with a simple sling and a stone.  Abraham left his family and country to search for a city whose builder and maker was God.  Sarah received strength to conceive in her old age and gave birth to Isaac.  And Isaac sowed seed in the time of famine and reaped a harvest that was a hundred fold.  These people of God just believed what God said, obeyed His voice, and then rested in His promise.  God never failed.

God doesn't want you to be anxious in your faith and to struggle to believe.  He wants you to enter into rest and follow the example that He has set.  Verse four tells us that "God rested on the seventh day from all His works."  In the six days of creation, He spoke everything into existence and created life.  God did all that He planned to do, then on the seventh day He entered into rest.  He ceased from His labors and believed that the sun, moon, and stars would function just as He commanded them to.  He was at peace knowing that the herbs, trees, and every green thing would seed itself and bring forth fruit in obedience to His word.  God had faith that the creatures would multiply and replenish the earth just as He had spoken.  He was not anxious about His creation or its future.  God left His creation to obey His words.  And then He rested.  

Faith causes you to act in season.  It will make you calm in the midst of a storm, bold as a lion in adversity, strong for battle, and patient when you need to wait.  This is the rest of faith.  It meets every challenge with a dignity and a peace that possesses your soul.  Faith hopes when there is no hope and believes when there is no way possible.  And the rest that comes with true faith passes all understanding. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of June 2012

06/18/12
DECISION TO CHANGE 

Scripture: Luke 15:17 "And when he came to himself ..." 

The prodigal son reached the very bottom of his circumstances and found himself sitting with the pigs. He was so hungry that he desired their food. It was then that he came to his senses. When he came to himself, he saw the results of his own choices and decided that he had been in this mess long enough. This wakeup call caused him to change his thinking and he made the decision to go back to his father's house where he belonged. Regardless of the humiliation that he would face and the unrighteous judgment that he would receive from others, he depended upon the mercy of his father and hoped to enjoy the benefits of his forgiveness and faithfulness. His intentions were to repent, ask for forgiveness, and possibly get a job as a hired servant in his father's house. This was the best that he hoped for. 

The ways of the prodigal son are not foreign to us, for we have all failed and come short of the glory of God. We want to think that we are spiritual enough to be beyond that point, but the truth is that the desires of our heart and the lust of our flesh many times lead us astray, if not for long seasons at least for brief moments. The prophet Jeremiah said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and is desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). There have been times that I have asked my own self, "Can I get any more confused about the desires of my heart than I am right now?" My true desire was to walk wisely in the things of the Lord but the foolishness of my heart was pulling the other direction. Like Paul, there was a war going on in my spirit. The things I wanted to do I did not do and the things I didn't want to do, I did (Romans 7:19). 

The Lord searches our hearts and He knows the secrets that lie in every chamber. We can't hide anything from Him, for His Spirit not only discerns the thoughts but also the intents of our heart. We may put up a good front but the Holy Spirit knows if our hearts are in the right place or if we are like the prodigal son and are actually sitting in a spiritual pigpen, estranged from our Heavenly Father. Solomon said, "He that trust in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). If we want to walk wisely, we cannot allow ourselves to trust in our own hearts or follow after our own desires. Like the prodigal son, we must come to ourselves and make a decision to find our way back to the Father and ask Him to help us walk down the narrow paths that He has ordained for us. When He sees us turn from our own ways, He will welcome our submission to Him and celebrate our choice to fulfill His will. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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06/19/12
NO COMPLAINTS

Scripture:  Philippians 2:14  "Do all things without complaining or arguing."

Does this scripture really mean that we are to do everything without complaining and have a right attitude in every situation?  That sounds a bit hard.  Our first thought is that the Apostle Paul, who wrote these words of instructions, probably didn't understand all the hardships that we would have to face.  He must not have known that we would have people on the job, our families, and others in our social life to contend with.  He must not have realized that we would have assignments that we didn't want to do.  The trash would have to be taken out and the lawn kept.  There would be meals to cook and dishes and clothes to wash every day.  Paul should have made allowances for some of the complaints that we would want to voice.  Yet we fail to consider that Paul went through much worse tribulation and persecution than we will ever experience, and he still remained without complaint.

These few words, "Do all things without complaining or arguing", lay a lot of responsibility upon us, yet they're not meant to be burdensome.  Instead, they are meant to be for our good, for the apostle Paul spoke these words knowing quite well that God was working in us to do His will and His good pleasure (verse 13).  When God speaks, He wants His believers to simply obey His words, and verse fourteen through fifteen tells us why.  The reason we are to obey without complaining is because our very actions speak of Jesus to a world that Paul described as crooked and perverse.  When we live without murmuring and refuse to engage in disputes, we become blameless and harmless before them and without rebuke.  They can find no legitimate cause in their refusal to hear our message concerning the gospel.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
================================================================================= 06/20/12
NO SIN TOO GREAT

Scripture:  Psalms 103:3  (Living Bible)  "He forgives all my sins."

God is faithful and He continually surrounds us with His loving kindness and tender mercies.  He extends His love and compassion towards us even though we do not deserve it.  He knows our shortcomings and there is no sin so great that He will not forgive except that of total blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  Whenever and whatever we confess, He promises to forgive and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  This is the good news of the gospel because our lives are marred with sin every day.  Even the Apostle Paul was engaged in the battle for righteousness.  Although he had been converted, he declared that he couldn't make himself do right.  He wanted to do good, but he just couldn't.  When he tried to do good, he didn't.  And when he tried not to do wrong, he did it anyway (Romans 7:19).  He counted himself as a total failure as far as his sinful nature was concerned, yet he knew that God's grace was sufficient for him.

We may think that the forgiveness and redemption of our sins and the sins of those about us is hopeless.  Yet our sins will never be greater than the blood of Jesus, for His blood is able to wash away every stain and make us whiter than snow.  We can look through the scriptures and find forgiveness on every level.  After Peter declared the awesome revelation that Jesus was the Messiah, he cursed and even denied that he knew Jesus, but Jesus forgave him and caused him to be a great apostle.  The woman at the well was living with a man that she was not married to, but when she encountered the forgiveness of Jesus, she became a witness to the entire city.  Another woman was caught in the act of adultery, yet instead of condemning her, Jesus forgave her and rescued her from her accusers.  King David found forgiveness not only for his sin of passion and adultery with Bathsheba but also for the premeditated murder of her husband, Uriah.  The Apostle Paul did many things contrary to the Name of Jesus, and without mercy he persecuted the church.  Yet Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, forgave him, changed his life, and called him to the ministry.  Even in Jesus' most difficult hour, He extended forgiveness not only to the thief who hung on the cross beside Him, but also to the multitudes who had crucified Him without cause.

This is the wonderful Savior that we serve.  Jesus looks beyond our sins and who we are and continues to be who He is.  He is faithful and forgiving and doesn't turn us away when we fail.  He looks at us through His eyes of love and remembers that He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.  He paid a great price for our forgiveness.  He is our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, and He always forgives all of our sins. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
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06/21/12
GOD IS FAITHFUL

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 7:9  "Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandment to a thousand generations."

God is always faithful to keep His word.  When He tells you to do something or go somewhere, He waits for your obedience to carry out His instructions.  Then, when you move in that direction, He makes the crooked way straight and opens the path before you.  He leads you through green pastures and beside still waters.  He provides every need for the journey and the anointing for the mission.  He never fails to honor His covenant but also will not do anything until you step out in faith. 

Obeying God's voice and following His commands may not always be easy, but it will always be possible.  God may not share His master plan with you or accomplish it in the same manner as He did in the past, for God is creative.  His ideas are fresh and He is big on doing new things.  His ways are past finding out.  If God tells you to go to the other side of the lake, His presence will go before you.  He may calm the waters so that your ship can cross the lake safely like He did with His disciples or He may roll back the water and allow you to cross on dry ground like He did with Moses and the children of Israel.  Then again, He may cause you to walk on the water.  You just have to flow with His plan.

Arthur Blessitt, the gentleman that walked across this nation and many others carrying a large cross, made this statement about obedience to God.  He said:

    "If God says to do something or go somewhere...

     I get on a plane.
     If there is no plane - I get on a train.
     If there is no train - I get on a bus.
     If there is no bus - I walk.
     If I can't walk - I just fall in that direction!

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
================================================================================= 06/22/12
ENDURING THE PRESSURE

II Corinthians 1:8 & 9  " ... pressed out of measure, above strength ... that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God."

The Apostle Paul identified his own sufferings with those that Christ suffered and declared that his own suffering had a special purpose.  He believed that the hardships that had come to him because he preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ were not in vain but were meant to encourage other believers.  Even though he had been pressed out of measure and pushed beyond his strength until he despaired even of life itself, he was still confident that God would deliver him in all situations.  Instead of trusting in himself, Paul put his trust in God and believed that the things he was experiencing would be a testimony of God's grace, mercy, and comfort.

We love to hear music played on a piano but did you know that it takes eleven tons of pressure on the strings of a piano to keep it in tune?  Each of the eighty-eight keys must be dealt with separately and each string must be stretched to its limit until the right tone is sounded.  It takes an expert to accomplish this feat.  In the end, no string can be loose, for just one key that is out of tune can disrupt the melody of the whole song.  If the piano were a living being, it would probably shout out a protest against this painful process, saying that it was too much to endure and that the results really weren't worth it.  Yet, when the piano is perfectly tuned, it makes beautiful music.  I have a piano that has several keys that are out of tune, and when played, the most noticeable notes are those that need to be corrected.  Anyone, even those who do not know music, can determine that the keys are out of tune.

Our lives are similar.  God works with us very patiently in an effort to tune our lives so that we are able to make the right sounds in His kingdom.  It takes much faith to submit to God's tuning process, for many times it is an unpleasant ordeal as He takes us through things that are quite painful.  He allows pressures that we don't understand and that we think are unbearable, and just like the piano tuner, He works on us one string at a time.  He tightens our situations, stretches us to our very limits, and then listens carefully to the tones that are coming forth from our lives.  God doesn't want anything within our being to be out of tune.  When He strikes a key, He wants us to be in harmony with His will and His purposes.  He has designed us to be an instrument of excellence in His kingdom.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

A Word In Due Season
5th Week of June 2012

06/25/12
DEEPER REVELATION OF JESUS 

Scripture: Ephesians 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him ... " 

These words were a portion of the prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed for the saints at the church in Ephesus. You would think that the saints in the church where Paul had visited personally would have had a deeper revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ. But knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus in a personal way are two different matters. When you truly know Jesus, your heart is flooded with light and you experience the riches of His glory. This is the depth of knowledge that Paul had of Jesus and he desired the same for the church. He didn't want them to just have a small glimpse of Jesus. Instead, he wanted them to have an intimate relationship with Jesus and know Him in the fullness of His power.

Like the saints at the church in Ephesus, there are many today whose vision of Jesus is limited. He is only seen twice a year during the special holidays. During the Christmas season, Jesus is seen as the baby in the manger. Then at Easter, He is seen as the suffering Savior on the cross and the celebrated risen Lord. The rest of the year, Jesus may be overlooked. After attending church on a holiday, a lady once asked why the church only used Christmas poinsettias or Easter lilies in their floral arrangements at the altar. Her limited knowledge revealed that she only visited the church twice a year. How sad.

God has better plans for you. He never intended for your concept of Jesus to be just the babe in the manger or suffering man on the cross. Jesus is to be your constant companion for He said, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). He is "Emmanuel, God is with you" (Matthew 1:23). Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. When you face a dark valley, He is your Shepherd that walks beside you. He will lead you, protect you, and comfort you in the midst of the shadows. In the darkness, Jesus is your Bright and Morning Star. In the dry dusty desert, He is your Living Water. In hunger, He is your Bread of Life. In the storms of life, He is the still small Voice that speaks peace to your spirit and it is His presence that calms your soul. He is your Friend who is closer than your brother. And Jesus is so much more. Come to know Him. Pray the same words that Paul prayed; that God would open your eyes and give you a deeper revelation of Jesus Christ. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/26/12
SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST

Scripture:  Romans 1:1  "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle..."

The Apostle Paul was called and separated by God to be a minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  His ministry to this day is considered to be one of the greatest and we look to him as an example of the highest degree.  He went on many missionary journeys, had great revelations, was well educated, and wrote much of the New Testament.  God even worked through Paul's life and performed miracles.  Yet Paul did not esteem himself, his qualifications, or his position.  Instead, he laid all of it aside and humbly considered himself to be a simple servant of Jesus Christ.

Paul voluntarily took the position of a servant or a slave who held no rights before his master.  He reserved no portion of his life for himself, but totally submitted himself to the will of Jesus Christ.  He was willing to live or die for the cause.  It made no difference to him for he was simply here to serve Jesus and others and he was joyful in that state.  He went through many trials and tribulations because of his determination to fulfill the call of God that was upon his life, yet he never failed or faltered.  The call upon his life to be an apostle caused him to walk as a servant before the Lord and the people.  Paul declared himself to be a debtor to all people, whether they be wise or unwise and his goal was to impart spiritual gifts to them in order to establish them in their faith.  He was not ashamed of the gospel and was ready to go anywhere at any time in order to proclaim it.  He remained true to God's call upon his life even when he was cast into prison.  No walls or bars could stifle his message.  He endured to the end and finished his course as a servant and as an apostle.

Every call of God starts and finishes with being a servant.  There is no "big me" in the ministry.  Once you answer the call, you simply serve God and you serve others.  You work and many times become, as it were, a slave.  You discover that ministry is no picnic and offers few material rewards.  Yet, true ministers will go anywhere and do anything without regard for rewards or benefits.  They just love God and love others and have the same mindset that Paul had.  They are first servants.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/27/12
GRACE TO THE HUMBLE

Scripture:  I Peter 5:5  "God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble."

Two opposing forces that battle against each other in our spirits are pride and humility.  Not only do these two forces battle within our own spirits, but they are also acknowledged and dealt with by God.  God resists the spirit of pride and He exalts the spirit of humility.  Pride is deceived, lifts itself up to the level of God, and declares, 'I did it'; while humility recognizes the truth and says, 'God did it'.  Even Jesus declared that He could do nothing of His own self (John 5:30).  He could only judge as the Father judged, speak as the Father spoke, and do what the Father showed Him to do.  Jesus was able to accomplish the purposes of God because He was meek and humble and walked in strict obedience to the Father's word.

Like Jesus, if we are going to minister to people and change the world, we are going to have to be concerned about what God thinks is important.  He hates pride so much that He doesn't even want us to look proud.  Proverbs 6:16 says that a proud look is an abomination to God and lists it along with sins such as a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, wicked imaginations, false witness, mischief, and sowing discord.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/28/12
ON THE EDGE

Scripture:  Exodus 15:1  "The Lord has triumphed gloriously."

When God's people fled from Pharaoh, they found themselves trapped between their enemy and the Red Sea.  Their situation was seemingly hopeless and fear consumed their thoughts.  They reacted to the circumstances that surrounded them and began to wish that they had never left Egypt but had stayed in the cruel bondage that they had been in.  At the moment, serving the Egyptians seemed a lot better to them than facing death in the wilderness. 

Difficult times bring a reality check.  When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they saw God do amazing things and were excited about their deliverance until this first impossible situation came along.  At the edge of the Red Sea, they failed to understand that the same God who had brought them out of Egypt was the one who was going to make a way for them and also keep them from perishing at the hands of Pharaoh and his army.  In fact, instead of standing on the edge of destruction, they were standing on the edge of a miracle, for God had a magnificent plan of deliverance in His mind.  The Red Sea that frightened and challenged them was going to be the instrument that God would used to destroy their enemy once and for all.

If you have been in a place where it seemed that you had a Red Sea on one side and the Egyptians on the other, you can understand the turmoil that went on in the hearts of the Israelites.  You know what it was like when your mind and emotions began to reel totally out of control because you had no valid options.  You have experienced the sinking feeling of hopelessness when you realized that you couldn't go forward and you certainly couldn't turn back.  Yet, impossible situations have a purpose in the heart of God and He uses these places to work His wonders in our lives.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
================================================================================= 06/29/12
WORD IN DUE SEASON

Scriptures:  Proverbs 15:23  "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!"

It would be wonderful to always be able to say the right words in the right season to encourage someone in their daily walk.  It is like planting a seed in fertile soil.  However, you can't share words from God if you haven't heard from God any more than you can plant a seed that you don't have.  You may speak words, but they will be empty and without power unless they are anointed by God.  A cartoon once showed two ladies gossiping at a water fountain at work.  Finally, after much discussion, one of the ladies said, "Well, I guess I need to go back to work.  I've already told you more than I know."  How many times do we find ourselves telling other people more than we really know about a subject?

Isaiah says, "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the disciples and of those who are taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, He wakens my ear to hear as disciples - as those who are taught" (Isaiah 50:4).  This prophetic scripture reveals that God the Father awakened Jesus' ear so that He could hear, yet Jesus still had the responsibility to discipline Himself to listen to the voice of the Father.

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
www.widsonline.com
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