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A Word In Due Season
1st Week of September 2012

09/03/12
LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND

Scripture: Philippians 3:13 "Forget the past ... reach to the future ... press toward the mark."

Jean-Pierre de Caussade in 'The Joy of the Saints' said, "To escape the distress caused by regret for the past or fear about the future, this is the rule to follow:

Leave the past to the infinite mercy of God,
The future to His good providence;
Give the present wholly to His love by being faithful to His grace."

The Apostle Paul basically said the same thing. He said, "I am going to forget the things that are behind and reach for the things which are before me." As he forgot the past and looked with anticipation to the future, he made every moment of his life count by pressing towards the goal that was set before him. He spent no idle moments and left no stone unturned. When he was in prison, he didn't sit around and wait until he was released to do something for God. He diligently spent his time writing letters to instruct and encourage the saints in the ways of the Lord. Even when he was stoned and left for dead, Paul did not shrink back because of this horrific past event, but fearlessly got back into the arena and fought the good fight of faith.

These are such wise words, for even though we are living in the present, there is not a day that goes by that we do not reflect on the past or wonder about the future. As far as the past is concerned, we all have things that we regret, but there is no way to unscramble eggs or to change our histories. What is done is done and, like the Apostle Paul, we must forget the past and move on with our life. We cannot drag our past into the promise of our future, but must leave our regrets to the infinite mercy of God.

The Lord tells us not to worry about our transgressions because He is not adding them up or holding them against us. In His heart, they are as far as the East is from the West. When we seek His forgiveness, He instantly erases our sins from His thoughts and never judges us harshly even though He, Himself, has never sinned. As God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. It is interesting that those about us who have failed are the ones who continually hold us accountable for our past. Their memory seems to be short concerning their own failures, but very keen in remembering the past mistakes of others.

Our future is in God's hands and as He holds it before us, we must reach for it, believing that He has good plans or a good providence for us. There is nothing to fear, regardless of what we may face, for God is with us and He is in control. His will for our lives is sovereign and we must be faithful to submit to His plan with our whole heart. As we give the present season to God and press forward towards the mark of His high calling on our lives, the door to our future will open before us and the fear of the unknown and the distress of the past will fade into obscurity. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/04/12
FAITH IN LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS

Scripture: Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him."

The devil sought to dislodge Job from his faith by destroying his possessions, killing his children, afflicting his body with disease, and separating him from the bonds that he had with his friends. Yet, Job remained strong and faithful in all of his sufferings and did not charge God foolishly. He placed his life in the hands of God and determined to trust in Him even if it meant death to his physical body. This showed Job's great faith in the goodness and the sovereignty of God.

It is one thing to have faith for life, but it is quite another to have faith for death. It is easy to have faith when you are walking on the water, but it becomes difficult to maintain that same faith when you begin to sink. It is not so hard to worship God and stand for the things you believe in until you are faced with the fiery furnace for expressing those beliefs. It is easy to say prayers in public, but it would be frightening if you knew the consequences of saying those prayers was a lion's den. It is not so difficult to believe that your ship can make it to the other side of the lake until a raging storm begins to toss you about in the midst of your voyage. We have to admit that the threat of death is a great challenge to our faith. Yet, I believe that when this one foe is conquered, we are brought to a higher level.

Like Job, we must come to understand that we can trust the One who created our bodies and that death has no sting for the child of God. If our Heavenly Father wants to take us home with Him, we must have faith to submit to His bidding, and say "Though He slay me, I will trust in Him." The furnace we face may be heated seven times hotter, but we must trust the One who kindles the fire and realize that except for the final episode of our lives, it is not intended to consume us, but to refine us so that we can come forth as pure gold. Neither are the raging storms meant to destroy us, but to show us that the Lord is the Master of the Sea. Our lives may have many hardships, tangles. and tears, but if we use our mouths to pray and worship, God will close the mouths of the lions and keep us safe when we are in their midst. Each of Earth's challenges are meant to show us Heaven's provisions and bring us to a place of faith so that we can have victory in the midst of life situations and in the midst of even death itself. ++++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/05/12
REST IN HIS PRESENCE

Scripture: Exodus 33:14 "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

True peace and rest does not come from your surroundings but from the Holy One who lives within you. In the midst of every kind of adversity and the clamor of the voices of this world, you can always slip away in your spirit to hide in the Lord's awesome presence, for He is always available. He is your Holy Mountain where you can find solitude and He is your Mighty Fortress in the time of trouble. There is no price to be paid for this wonderful privilege except that you must seek Him and yield your being to His Person. Then as you simply acknowledge His Presence, He will quiet all of the thoughts within your mind, dispel all the anxieties in your heart, and give rest to your spirit.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and His presence is supernatural. Yet, He doesn't bring an end to all the conflict in your life. He simply tells you not to allow your heart to be troubled as He offers you His peace. He says, "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). It's up to you to receive the peace that He is offering. Friends may try to comfort you, but only Jesus can exchange peace for confusion, hope for despair, security for fear, and fill your heart with love when you have been rejected. Jesus walks on the water to rescue you when you are tossed about by the waves and contrary winds. He is the Shepherd who leads you through the rugged and dangerous paths and protects you from all harm. He is your Light in the darkness and He is the Living Water so that you never have to thirst again. You can have rest because of who Jesus is.

He is waiting for you like the loving father who waited for his prodigal son to return to His Presence. Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. True peace will come to you when you understand that God is in control and believe that there is nothing that can happen to you that He can't take care of. Rest in the knowledge of His Presence and you will experience the wonder of His peace. +++

When God's Word talks, it is not an audible sound in the air, but the still small voice of His Spirit speaking to your inner being. It comes from God's word that is written in your heart. How many times have you started to do something questionable and a scripture or a thought from God came to your mind? It brought correction so that you could discern right from wrong and also helped you make the right choice. That was God's Word talking. King Solomon, who wrote this proverb, also said, "Bind the commandments and laws of God upon your heart and tie them around your neck." When you have spiritually tied God's Word about your neck, it is like a yoke that will keep you going in the direction that God wants you to go.

This morning, as I was washing dishes, I started remembering an injustice that had been done to me several months ago. I started having a mock conversation with the person who had treated me unjustly. I said all the things that I never got to say when the situation occurred. I was really telling the person off and they weren't even around to hear it. I finished the dishes and my complaining about the same time. I then turned the page of my kitchen Bible scripture calendar for the day, and God's Word was there to talk to me. The scripture on the calendar for the day was Psalms 39:1, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth."

God is awesome and His Word talked to me. In just a moment of time His Spirit spoke to me through that simple word. In my darkness, God's Word became light and He let me know that He didn't want those meditations to consume my heart or those words to be spoken from my mouth. God wasn't pleased with my murmuring and spoke frankly to my spirit suggesting that if necessary, I should put a muzzle on my mouth. God wanted me to start the day in a joyful mood with fresh thanksgivings in my heart and praise upon my lips. His Word corrected me and became a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It restored my joy and gave me beauty for ashes. God can work with us in this manner when our hearts are full of His Word. Make an effort to deposit His words into your heart so that He can withdraw it and talk to you personally throughout the day. When His Word talks to you, your life will be changed. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/07/12
MEASURE OF CHRIST

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to come up to the measure of the fullness of Christ and he also gives us some words to guide us in the direction to achieve this state. He says come together in the unity of faith, gain knowledge about the Son of God, and become perfect, meaning mature. Three simple words; unity, knowledge, and maturity. Without these attributes, our lives will fall short of the measure of the fullness of Christ.

There is a story about a town that had a factory with a whistle, which blew three times a day to let the workers know that it was time to start work, time for the noon break, and time to quit. The factory confirmed their time periodically by calling the local phone company. One day the power went out in the entire city. Once the power was restored, the clock that governed the whistle at the factory needed to be reset. The factory supervisor called the phone company because it had always had the correct time in the past. This turned out to be a fruitless effort, for the factory supervisor discovered that the phone company had always set their clocks by the whistle at the factory. Both the factory and the phone company had been using each other to set their clocks and possibly neither one of them had been correct for a long time.

This is what happens in our lives. Rather than measuring ourselves with Jesus, we measure ourselves against the standards of someone else, and instead of coming up to the fullness of Christ, we fall short. Our whistles are sounding but they are incorrect. We are like the blind leading the blind or the deaf trying to hear for the deaf. There is no vision and the sounds we hear are unclear. There is no faith because we have set our hearts by those who are full of doubt and unbelief. There is no joy and peace because those we mingle with are frustrated and confused.

Like Psalms chapter one declares, we have walked with those who have given us ungodly counsel, and we have become ungodly. We have stood in the way of sinners and became sinful, and we have sat with the scornful and learned to be scornful. Our values have become corrupted and we don't even know it because we are measuring ourselves according to the standards of those around us. We must come to understand that the only precise measurement is the Lord, Himself. We must examine our lives and determine to live not by the world's standards but by the character of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of the Almighty God. We will only come into the fullness of Christ by finding the unity of faith, the knowledge of Jesus, and experiencing the maturity that is in Him. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of September 2012

09/10/12
THAT WHICH COST ME NOTHING

Scripture: II Samuel 24:24 "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God which cost me nothing."

The scriptures describe King David as a man after God's own heart. But even though David worshipped and loved God, there were still times that he failed God. Yet, he was always quick to repent of his transgressions. David had grieved the Lord and brought judgment upon Israel by taking a census and numbering the people, and this act caused a great plague to come upon them. David cried out to the Lord and took full responsibility for his actions. He confessed to God that he was the one that had sinned, and he asked God to spare the people. He told God, "What have these people done? Let your hand be against me and my father's house." When God heard his cry, He instructed David to build an altar in the land that belonged to Ornan the Jebusite. Ornan was very willing to let David come and set up an altar on his land. In fact, Oman offered to give the land, the oxen, the instruments, and the wheat that were needed for the sacrifice. Ornan was as anxious as anyone to stop the plague, but David refused his offer because David knew the heart of God and knew that God required something of him personally. He told Ornan, "Give me the land for the full price." David did not want any discounts, for there was no place in his heart to offer God something that cost him nothing.

Many times in our life we are asked to make a sacrifice. It seems that whatever we have the least of at the time is what God wants. For instance, it is at the time when our finances are lowest that He challenges us to give a little extra. When our energies are spent, He calls us to go minister to someone in need. When we are at the end of our patience, He allows another challenge which may be the one that is capable of breaking us down. And when we are facing a full day ahead and need our rest, He wakes us in the middle of the night to intercede in prayer for His people. He says if someone hits you on the cheek, turn the other cheek, and if they take away your coat, give them your cloak, also. God always calls on us to give something that has value.

King David refused to give an offering to God that cost him nothing because he loved Him. And Jesus, another king, gave a gift that cost Him everything. Philippians 2:7-8 says, "He (Jesus) took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Think about these two sacrifices and their examples to us. God wants a special sacrifice from us. Paul tells us to "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). It may cost us something to present ourselves to God and to walk in obedience to Him, but He deserves no less than our best. Like David's sacrifice, God deserves from us that which cost us something. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/11/12
GROWING FAITH

Scripture: II Thessalonians 1:3 "... Your faith grows exceedingly."

Paul speaks of faith that grows, and in this instance he speaks of faith that was growing exceptionally well. We all want to be declared people of great faith, but developing great faith takes work and nurturing. Our faith can grow slow or exceedingly fast, but like the things of nature; faith depends upon certain elements for growth. Faith grows according to where you are planted. Psalms 92:13-14 declares, "Those planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish ... they shall bring forth fruit." Attending the house of God causes you to grow in faith, for when you gather with other believers, the word of God and the testimonies of your brothers and sisters in Christ encourage you and cause you to grow in 'like faith' (Hebrews 10:25).

Faith must also be nourished for it to grow. Faith's nourishment is the Word of God (Romans 10:17). God's Word is like food to your spirit, and the more you receive, the greater your faith becomes. Without the Word of God, your faith will be stunted. I Peter 2:2 says, "Desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow." You don't see one inch of physical growth as you feed your children, but suddenly, one day, the results are there. In a few short years, your tiny six pound baby is larger than you are. It was a continual process that brought about amazing results. You may not see yourself growing as you study and receive God's Word, but the miracle is happening none the less, and the results will surprise and amaze you one day.

Faith needs to be protected from the voices of unbelief. Abraham didn't consider his own body, which was about one hundred years old and he also did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith (Romans 4:19-20). He protected his faith and didn't allow any circumstances to steal the promises of God from him. Likewise, we have to guard our own faith. We can't give into our own thoughts or the discouragement that may come from others. In Numbers 32:9, Moses sent twelve spies into the land. Ten of those twelve spies came back with an evil report that discouraged the hearts of the children of Israel and kept them from entering the Promised Land.

Faith also depends on whether it is exercised. Exceptional growth had come about in the church's faith as they endured persecutions and tribulations. They had been steadfast through suffering, abounding in love one towards another (II Thess. 1:3-4). Their faith and patience continually grew until it was healthy and fruitful, and manifested the righteousness of God. There is no way to strengthen faith except by going through places where you are forced to use it. Each time you exercise faith to accomplish a victory, you become stronger. Jesus talked about faith in another way. He compared our faith to a mustard seed and said, "Though the mustard seed is the smallest seed of all the herbs, when it is grown, it becomes a tree." The decision is ours. Think about this awesome fact. We can either allow our faith to remain as a small undeveloped seed, or we can allow God to grow it exceedingly. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/12/12
PRESS ON

Scripture: Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

The Apostle Paul knew very well what it meant to mess up in life. He was a very religious man who thought that he was serving God, but instead he was working against God. Wherever he went, he was a terror and a literal death sentence to those who professed the Name of Jesus. But one day, on his way to Damascus to capture more Christians, he had a supernatural encounter with Christ and was saved. His life was dramatically changed, and from that moment on he served Jesus unreservedly and openly declared Him to be the Son of God.

Paul never allowed his past to intrude upon his future. He pressed forward to accomplish the destiny that God had planned for him. He didn't dwell on his failures, which by today's standards were horrendous. Nor did he dwell on his past achievements or put his confidence in his own flesh. Philippians 3:5 gives reasons why he could have trusted in himself. He was "of the stock of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, and a Pharisee. He was zealous and righteous." However, he laid all these things aside and counted them as loss just to win Christ. He forgot the past so that he could focus totally on getting to know Christ and the results of his choice were amazing. Because of Paul's commitment and dedication, he experienced miracles, wrote nearly three-fourths of the New Testament, and was a mighty witness for God before the common men and the leaders of the nations. At the end of his life, he could boldly say, "I finished my course."

God gives you a glimpse of Paul's life to encourage you in your own walk with the Lord. Your past may not be perfect and glorious and you may have done things that you wish you could erase. Like Paul, you may have ignorantly injured those with whom you came in contact with. You may suffer the results daily as you see the fruits of your foolishness. But the truth remains; you can't turn back the clock and change the past. You can only press towards the future. You must learn to reject the temptation to live in self-condemnation and unfruitfulness. God still has good thoughts for you and a plan for your future (Jeremiah 29:11). You can still finish your course if you begin to focus upon the Lord and His plan for your life. Begin today to press towards the mark of His high calling, and don't allow your past to intrude upon your future. +++

Scripture: Psalms 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits; even the God of our salvation. Selah."

The word "Selah" at the end of this verse of scripture is used seventy-one times in the Psalms. It means to "pause, and calmly think about that." In other words, when we read God's Word we should stop and think about what He is saying to us as an individual, for these words are personal messages from our personal God. Many times we forget that these are the very same words that God breathed into the hearts of the men who recorded them and that the truth of these words has lived for centuries. They have proven themselves true. Each and every word of God is a powerful living organism that will create life within us when we allow it to rule our hearts. We must not allow God's words to become routine but instead we must pause and take time to reflect upon them and realize that His words are spirit and life.

In Mark chapter four, Jesus compared the Word of God to a tiny seed and explained that the heart of man was like the soil. Seeds have life within themselves, but Jesus said that the growth of the seed depended upon the condition of the heart. He said, "Take heed how you hear." You must read the scriptures with the intent to hear God's still small voice. In the words of the psalmist you must "Selah" or pause and calmly think on God's Word. Each time you read God's Word, meditate on it. Roll His words around in your heart until revelation comes and the Word begins to take root and grow. The tiny seed of His Word will eventually become like a tree in your life. As you hear His Word, faith will arise in your heart. Psalms 1:2-3 says that as you meditate on His Word day and night, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Your leaves will not wither, you will bring forth fruit, and all that you do will prosper.

II Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable ..." God inspired each and every scripture and intends that you profit from them. When you listen to what God is saying through the scriptures, you should expect to find the answers that you need for your current situation and you should also come to understand what His will is for your life. God is your salvation and He wants to load you up daily with His blessings. He wants you to search His Word for your answers and then pause and calmly think about what He is saying to you personally. Selah! +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/14/12
TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY

Scripture: II Corinthians 2:14 "But thanks be to God, Who always causes us to triumph in Christ."

For a short season of time, I worked with a master craftsman who restored antiques. I was amazed as I watched him take an old tragic piece of furniture and turn it into a triumph of beauty. To me, it seemed like it should have been put on the trash heap long ago, but he was able to look beyond the marred and broken piece and see great potential. He was in his mid eighties and would refer to his own age and the disabilities that age had brought. Yet even with his many years, he considered each moment of his own life a blessing and he was a sweet fragrance to all that he met. He told me that everything had value, we just needed to look for it.

He never hurried but worked very patiently for a few minutes every day on each piece. It was as though he had a personal relationship with the wood and knew just how far to take it in each session. He began by stripping the old wood and then gradually worked with the warped places until they were back in alignment. When he glued parts together, he allowed them to set for several days to insure their strength. I was concerned for those pieces, but learned that the glue composition caused them to be stronger than the original wood. When he felt that the wood was ready and its strength was restored, he would carefully sand the piece. He only finished with the stain when he knew that he had done all that he could do with the wood, and even then, he waited until the humidity level was absolutely perfect according to his gage. Many times I brought him the piece that I was working on with the hopes of going to the next step, but most of the time he would look at it carefully, shake his head, and then tell me to start over. I wasn't able to see the flaws until he pointed them out because I was a novice. However, he was a master who had been in the restoration business for fifty years. He had learned early on that each step must be completed perfectly if the piece is to be restored to its original beauty and strength.

God is much the same as He works with us to turn our tragedies into a triumphs. We may look at our battered and abused life and think that we are beyond help and that we are ready for the junk heap like the old antique. We may feel that too much time has passed and we have made too many mistakes to be useful to anyone. We may also look at the broken and bruised lives of others and think that there is no hope of restoration for them, much less beauty. We must remember the words of my friend, "Everything has value and we must look for it." God sees value in you and He wants to turn every tragedy of your life, whether past or present, into a triumph for His glory.

You may have tried to fix your life by yourself and failed because there were too many broken pieces and too much heartache and pain from the past. But Jesus is the Master and He can take your life and make you stronger than you were at the beginning. He is able to put your life back together again if you give Him all of the pieces, but you must be patient and allow Him to work at His own pace. The process may seem slow and the season may be long, but remember that God is in control. Regardless of how tragic your circumstances may be, you can be sure that all things are going to work together for good if you love God and are called according to His purposes. As you allow God's Spirit to work in your life, He will restore not only your strength, but also your beauty and will bring triumph out of tragedy. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of September 2012

09/17/12
EXPERIENCES HAVE PURPOSE

Scripture: I Corinthians 10:11 (NRS) "All these things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us."

When the Israelites came out of Egypt they experienced many miracles and also faced many adversities. They probably never thought that thousands of years later we would be reading about their actions in the wilderness and their reactions to Moses' leadership. Little did they realize that there would be sermons preached, books written, and movies made about their flight out of Egypt and that everything that happened to them would serve as examples for us today. They experienced success and failure. When we read the accounts of their deliverance, we take courage and find strength. As we consider their mistakes and acts of disobedience, we gain instruction and are warned not to follow the same path. When we see the miracles that God performed for them throughout their journey, it inspires us to believe. And when we realize that the majority of them did not make it to the Promised Land because of their unbelief, it urges us to hold on to our own faith when we are tempted to murmur and complain.

Each and every event in the wilderness had a purpose for the Israelites and reveals to us that our experiences and troubles also have purpose. It is in the valleys and dark places that we find the reality of God. We may not see Him in the darkness of the moment, but we come to know by experience that He is always near, hiding somewhere in the shadows. It is also in the darkest season that men tend to watch our witness and look for the light of Jesus in our testimony. We are just struggling through the dark season, simply trying to get to the other side of the ordeal. We are not trying to impress anyone or consciously think about our lives being an example to others any more than the Israelites were. Yet, in the midst of our challenge, people are watching to see if our faith will endure to the end.

In life, you are either setting an example or you are learning from someone else's example. Everyone is following someone and everyone is leading someone. The tables turn in life and at some point those whom you have taught become your teachers and even your own children become your instructors. We must always strive to follow the best examples and to set the tone for those who are under our own influence for we are all held accountable in the eyes of God. It doesn't matter if He leads us through the dry barren desert, to the highest point on the mountain, or to the lowest valley, our faith must speak that God's provisions are always sufficient and that His protection is always adequate. Our lives must be a living testimony to the world that we believe that God is in control of every aspect of our life, for someone is always watching. We must rejoice in our life's events for every experience has purpose and is bringing us closer to our destiny. +++

Scripture: I John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world."

When we come to understand that temptation itself is not a sin, we enter a place of victory. Even Jesus Himself was tempted of the devil and faced the same challenges that you and I will face, but He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Matthew 4:1-11 tells of the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness and His victory that He had through the Word of God.

Lust of the Flesh - After Jesus had fasted forty days and was hungry, the devil tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. Jesus answered with the word of God, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Father."

Lust of the Eyes - The devil took Jesus to a high mountain and offered Him all of the kingdoms of the world if He would just bow down and worship him. Jesus answered with the Word, "It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."

Pride of Life - The devil tempted Jesus to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the temple to prove that He was the Son of God. The devil told Him that it was written in the scripture that the angels would take care of Him if He were truly the Son of God. Jesus answered, "It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Certainly, we will not be tempted to turn stones into bread, jump from the top of the church house, or have an actual encounter with the devil in which he offers us all of the kingdoms of the world, but we will face temptations and they will come to us in these same areas. There will be the lust of the flesh for material gain or self-gratification; lust of the eyes for positions of rulership or control in this world; and the pride of life that will entice us to become renowned or to prove our own personal importance. Because Jesus faced these same temptations as a man in the flesh, not as God, He knows how we feel. He understands how hard life can get and is aware of our weaknesses. He is touched by our feeling of inadequacy and knows that sometimes we will pass the test, and sometimes we will fail. With His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus has made provision for us to find mercy and grace to get through these situations. He sits as our great high priest on His throne of grace in Heaven and intercedes continually for you and for me. We are not to be ashamed or fearful because of the temptations that challenge us but we are to boldly come to Him for help in our time of need, and to understand that whatever our situation is, He has been there before us. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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09/19/12
CREATE IN ME

Scripture: Psalms 51:10 "Create in me, a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

King David was a man that loved God with all of his heart and continually worshipped Him. However, he was also human and fell victim to the devices of the devil. He never quit loving God but the lust that he had in his heart for Bathsheba displaced his allegiance and commitment to God. For a short season, this spirit of lust enticed David to commit adultery, and in a moment of weakness, he sinned grievously against God. This act then drove David into deception and conspiracy as he purposely planned to have Bathsheba's husband murdered so that he could keep his own sin hidden.

When the prophet Samuel confronted David about his sin, David's heart broke and he began to repent before God. He pleaded for forgiveness and cleansing as he acknowledged his transgression against men and his sin against God. But David's prayer did not end there. He not only asked for forgiveness, he asked God to do a new thing in his heart. David didn't want God to work with his old corrupt heart and just rearrange his priorities. He wanted a brand new fresh start. David wanted the One who had created and formed his heart in the first place to create or to bring into being a clean heart within him. David also wanted his spirit renewed and the joy of God's salvation restored in his life.

Have you ever tried to fix something that was too old to deal with? We recently cleaned the inside of our garage and intended to keep an old handmade shelf that we had used for years to stored cans of paint. From the front the shelf looked fairly good, but when we looked at the back of it, we discovered that the bottom shelf was actually an old hollow door that was buckled in and ready to collapse. It could no longer handle the weight of the paint. It was apparent that we had to start all over and create a new shelf if we wanted things to look and function better.

Our hearts are very similar. We harbor sin and keep old memories and obtrusive clutter in our hearts by holding on to the things that have offended us and by rallying around the pain of the past. We have no idea how hollow those chambers of our heart are or how damaging it will be when they collapse under the pressure of the moment. We need to allow God to examine every area of our heart and get rid of anything in our life that does not fit well into His Kingdom. I encourage you to pray the simple fifteen words that David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." As you pray this simple prayer, expect God to answer, for He wants to do a new thing within you. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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09/20/12
ASKING FOR WISDOM

Scripture: James 3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is ... easy to be entreated."

To "entreat" means to make an earnest request or petition for something. James said that it is easy to entreat or ask God for wisdom. One reason that it is easy is because we know that we are doing what God wants us to do, for He is the one who told us to ask Him for wisdom. So in asking for wisdom, we are obeying His will and fulfilling His desires. Yet many times we allow the opportunity to pass us by because we just don't think about involving God in our routine or daily problems. We leave the quest for His wisdom for the greater situations that we don't think that we can handle. Like our natural inclination when we are trying to install or put something together, we don't worry about reading the instructions - until we need help because we can't get it together by ourselves.

James 1:5 gives another reason why it's easy to ask or entreat God for wisdom. He said that God doesn't reproach, mock, or make us feel ignorant because we lack understanding. When we seek God concerning a matter or ask Him for direction, He doesn't slap His forehead in gesture and say, "Are you really that stupid?" He is our faithful God and Father and He always meets us at our point of need. He makes asking easy as He only requires that we ask for wisdom with a heart full of faith, believing that He will answer (James 1:6).

In Proverbs 3:15 & 16:16, Solomon tells us that "Wisdom is more precious than rubies" and "better than gold." He also said, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom." Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and he said, "Get wisdom!" The formula is simple. We get wisdom by asking God for it. When we ask, His Holy Spirit teaches us. He is the source and the supplier of the wisdom that comes down from above. His wisdom is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). God's wisdom is there for us and His Spirit is waiting to instruct us in every detail of life. All we must do is ask and we will receive, seek and we will find, knock and it will open to us. +++

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ..."

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words because images linger in your mind. Just think about a great painting such as the Mona Lisa or the Lord's Supper. When you think about these works of art, you can recall their clear image in your mind. Yet think about a wonderful sermon that you heard just a few hours ago. How many of the words do you remember? Unless diligent effort is made to memorize written or spoken words, they are easily forgotten. You may retain the thought, but many, if not most, of the words will escape your memory.

God knew the importance of the visual senses, so throughout the scriptures He allowed men to see things so they could hold His promise in their hearts until His work was completed. These images were their fortress against the hardships they were compelled to face in their journey of faith. With Abraham, it was a sky full of stars representing his future descendants that could not be numbered. For Joseph, it was a dream showing forth his future honor and authority. For Moses, it was a burning bush and for the wise men who sought for the Messiah, it was the star of Bethlehem. Paul saw a blinding vision of the Son of God on the road to Damascus. Like Jesus, all of these men were able to endure their particular crosses because of their visions and the joy that was set before them. Their hearts held a vision of the final outcome, which enabled them to press forward until they reached their goal and captured their prize.

Like these men of old, God wants "your heart flooded with light so that you can see the future that He has called you to share" (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). Without a vision of the plan that the Lord has ordained for you, your purpose may perish. However, with a clear vision of the future there will be hope in the midst of discouragement, and this hope will create a strength that will help you endure the struggles and hardships of the present moment.

There must be a clear picture in your mind of the Lamb of God and what He has accomplished for you. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among men so that we could behold His glory and understand His completed work on the cross. You must see the blood that He shed for you as He paid the price to redeem you from your sin. You must get a glimpse of the stripes that were laid on His back for your healing and see the crown of thorns that was shoved into His brow so that your mind could be free. You must behold Him as your risen Savior, the One that death could not hold, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, who now sits at the right hand of the Father. You must realize that Jesus is always praying and interceding for you and recognize that He is your friend who is closer to you than a brother. You must see Him at your side at all times, for He said that He would never leave you or forsake you. Keep your eyes on Jesus, for He is the author and finisher of your faith, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. With these visions of Jesus in your heart and mind, you will walk in victory. +++

A Word In Due Season
4th Week of September 2012

09/24/12
GOD SAID ... AND IT WAS SO

Scripture: Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 "And God said let there be..."

In these scriptures, every time that God said, "Let there be," there followed an awesome act of creation. God said, "Let there be light" and there was light. He said, "Let the waters gather together and let there be dry ground" and it was so. God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass and herbs" and it happened just as He commanded. Every time He spoke, His words framed, fashioned, and put into order the entire world. His words were as powerful as they were simple. He called things from the unseen realm to the visible and from the spiritual to the natural. God's Words were never void of power. They always accomplished what He sent them forth to do because He is a God of faith and when He speaks He breathes upon His Words and gives them life.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible for us to please God. He wants us to understand, exercise, and move in faith just like He did. We were created in His image and He has given us the capacity for faith, but we must develop it. Faith is not an emotion, but a God imparted gift that comes with the knowledge of God's Word. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God." In other words faith comes into our hearts when we hear what God is speaking to us, but we can only hear God speaking as we hear His Word.

Faith is believing that God told the truth, then simply acting upon that truth. Don't worry about trying to have faith or trying to get faith. Just read the scriptures and find out what God has said about your situation. Your faith must line up with God's Will, and God's Will is expressed in His Word. Regardless of what things look like in the natural, begin to act and talk like God told you the truth. Rest in His eternal promises, for there is nothing impossible with God. Ask in faith for your needs to be met according to God's will. His will is that none should perish, but that all should receive eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son (John 3:16). His highest wish is that you prosper and be in health (III John 1:2). He wants His people happy and blessed. Find the answer that you need in God's Word then believe in your heart that as God breathes upon that particular word and says, "Let there be," that it will be so. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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09/25/12
BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING

Scripture: Isaiah 10:27 " ... the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."

A yoke was a harness that hung about the neck and shoulders of animals in order to join them together so that they could work in unity. In Isaiah's time, it was also worn by men to help them carry their heavy loads. In either case, a yoke was a symbol of bondage. Many of God's people today are in yokes of bondage. The yoke may not be seen with the naked eye but the heavy burdens are there just the same. There are bondages of grief, sorrow, unforgiveness, financial situations, addictions, health problems, and disappointments of every kind. People are continually searching for solutions to rid themselves of these burdens, but the prophet declared that only the anointing of the Lord would destroy these yokes and bring freedom into the lives of the believers.

The anointing is not given by God so that man can experience goose bumps or a good feeling, but comes so that we might be a strong witness (Acts 1:8). The anointing is given for a purpose, is full of great power, and has action. Jesus declared that the anointing upon Him caused Him to be able to preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to open the prisons to those who were bound. The anointing also brought comfort and appointed beauty for ashes, exchanged joy for mourning, and brought praise to those plagued by a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61). All the miracles and the many healings that Jesus performed were accomplished because of the anointing of God upon His life (Acts 10:38).

The meaning of "anoint" is to rub with oil or impart through the idea of contact. We all know that when we are touched with oil, it spreads to everything we touch. So it is with the anointing of God. When we are touched with His anointing, it spreads to all those whom we touch. God anointed Jesus because Jesus communed and fellowship with Him. And because of Jesus' contact with the Heavenly Father, He had confidence that God would work through Him. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He boldly declared, "Father, I thank You that You heard Me. And I know that You hear Me always" (John 11:41-42).

Like Jesus, we have a mandate from God to minister to a hurting world, but we can only give to them what we have received. We have to be touched with the oil of the Holy Spirit to be able to spread the oil. That touch will only come to us when we are in close contact with our Heavenly Father like Jesus was. As we commune and wait upon God, He will pour out His Spirit upon us and fill us with His power. This is His anointing and it will destroy the yoke that is upon us and also empower us to undo the burdens in the lives of others. +++

Scripture: II Timothy 4:16-17 "No man stood with me, but all men forsook me ... But the Lord stood with me, and strengthen me."

Earlier in this chapter, Paul says that he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. He had a determination not to let anything or anyone deter him from preaching the gospel and fulfilling God's plan for his life. Paul goes on to explain that Demas deserted him and that a coppersmith by the name of Alexander did much evil towards him. Not only that, Paul faced other disappointments. When he had his court hearing, no one defended him. Paul found himself standing alone, but took comfort in his situation, for he knew that the Lord was with him and would strengthen him.

There are seasons in life when relationships become strained or cease to be. Those who were with you suddenly turn and leave with no decent explanations. And those who have conflicting opinions stir up confusion and fight against you. For one reason or another, you are abandoned by those whom you loved and trusted and also by those whom you thought loved you. And like Paul, there seems to be no help even though you are endeavoring to serve the Lord. In your darkest hour, you are left alone in the arena of life to manage your disappointments and your discouragement.

However, you can always take comfort in knowing that God will always be there for you. Even though others desert you, He will never leave you or forsake you. Each new door will present the opportunity to fail or succeed, to win or lose, to continue or to quit. The actions and opinions of others do not fit into this equation. It remains your choice to fulfill God's will and purposes for your own life. With the Apostle Paul, he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. Regardless of his hardships and the disappointments of his relationships, Paul did not quit. And his battle scars won him a crown of righteousness. God also has a crown for you. Trust in Him when all others forsake you. He will give you strength to endure the present and empower you for the task that is set before you. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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09/27/12
GOD KNOWS YOUR NAME

Scripture: Psalms 147:4 (Amplified) "He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names."

I must confess to you that one of my biggest weaknesses is not being able to remember people's names. When I meet a person for the first time I give them my undivided attention and think surely I will be able to remember their name. I concentrate and make a conscious effort and even try to enhance my memory by writing their names on a list. But regardless of how diligently I try, when I meet them again their name often escapes me.

Our Father God, who is eternal and has no beginning or end, does not have this problem. Even though He has to manage the whole world, nothing escapes Him. He is omniscient and His knowledge is not only vast, it is also very specific and personal. The psalmist declared that the Lord's memory is so inexhaustible and boundless that He can remember the names of all of the stars. He knows exactly how many He has created and calls each one of them by their own individual and personal names. Even though there are billions of stars in the sky, He doesn't need a list and His mind never goes blank when He tries to recall their names.

As far as we are concerned, God knows everything about us. He not only knows our name but He also knows the exact number of hairs that we have on our heads (Matthew 10:30). He knew us before we were ever formed in our mother's womb and He also knows what our eternity will be. We don't have to worry about our future because God has already been there and seen the end before our beginning. Neither do we have to worry about the present, for if God keeps track of the number of hairs on our head, He is surely watching every other detail of our life. He knows every triumph and also every discouraging thing that is happening in our lives and He is there to celebrate with us as well as to comfort us.
Whatever your challenges are today, be encouraged because God knew this day was coming and He has been working on the solution to your problem before it ever started. The Lord has made a covenant with you and just as He knows the names of the stars, He knows your name and He will never forget it. You can trust Him to take care of you. +++

Copyright © 2012 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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09/28/12
FAITH HAS ACTION

Scripture: James 2:18 "I will show you my faith by my works."

A quote from God's Little Devotional Book says, "He who wants milk should not sit on a stool in the middle of the pasture expecting the cow to back up to him." We could say the same thing about the finished work of faith. It is not just a thought in the mind or a dream in the heart. Faith is substance and acts in obedience to God's word. It does not sit and wait for the thing hoped for to come to it. The farmer who wants milk takes action. And the man who wants to see his vision from God come to pass must also take action. Our action is the demonstration of our faith.

However, action without God's instruction is presumption. Romans 10:17 tells us that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." True faith hears a word from God, believes it, and then acts as if God spoke the truth. At the same time that faith is acting, it is also resting in a faithful God. Faith never struggles. Look at some of the actions and results of the actions that took place when God spoke and caused faith to come alive in the hearts of men:

Noah built an ark and saved his household.
Abraham journeyed throughout the land and claimed it as an inheritance for his descendants.
Moses stretched forth his rod and parted the Red Sea,delivering Israel from the hands of the Egyptians.
The widow of Zarephat baked a cake for the prophet Elijah,and her provisions were sustained throughout the famine.
Peter launched out into the deep water at Jesus' command,and took in so many fish that his boat began to sink.
The young lad sacrificed his five loaves and two fish to Jesus and then saw a multitude of 5000 fed and a twelve basket return.
The servants at the wedding of Cana filled pots with water and Jesus turned the water into wine.

What if Noah had not built the ark or Moses had not lifted his rod in obedience to God's word? And what if Abraham had been too fearful to leave his homeland? Or what if Peter had refused to go back out into the water after he had fished all night and caught nothing? What would have happened to the multitude if the young boy had not sacrificed his lunch? Without obedient action, none of these would have received the manifestation of God's promise. Faith requires action, so when and whatever God says unto you, you must do it if you want to see results (John 2:5). +++