| ............ | A Word In Due Season July 2015 7/1/15 DARKNESS AND LIGHT Scripture: Job 36:32 (KJV) "With clouds He covers the light." There is a saying, "Don't doubt in the darkness what God shows you in the light." When God speaks to us, the entrance of His Word gives light to our soul. It is as though a candle is lit within our spirit and our vision becomes very clear. His promises are easy to believe because when God'sWords are before us, they lead us on in faith. That light, however, will very quickly be challenged in the process of life. Like the clouds that hide the brightness of the sun, the clouds of doubt and unbelief will hinder our vision and hide the light of His Word from our view. It is easy to have faith when the light that surrounds you is bright and your vision is clear. Yet, it is another thing to walk in faith when you are engulfed in total darkness and cannot see a thing. Many times our spiritual vision is hindered by circumstances that intrude upon our lives. We know God's promise is there and that it is real, but we just can't see any evidence of it because a cloud separates us from the truth. In fact, there are times when life's situations may look very frightening to us and our soul will question God about His promises. God said that He would provide, but where is the answer? God said that He would heal, so why am I still sick? God said that He would comfort me, so why do I continue to grieve? Where is my deliverance from the addictions that plague me? When will my children return to the Lord, for God's Word said that when they were old they would not depart from His training? Taking an airline flight illustrates how the clouds of conflicting thoughts can separate us from the light. When we are on the ground on an overcast day, the only thing that we can see are the different shades of darkness in the clouds above because our vision is limited. All that we can feel is the cold and dampness that surrounds us. Once the plane leaves the ground everything changes. The sky opens up to a beautiful brightness and on the other side of the clouds we find that the sun never stopped shinning. It is the same with our personal needs. The provision, the healing, and the answer was always there. It was just beyond the darkness of the clouds. We must always remember that God is not limited by what we can see. That is the reason that we must always believe that even though His light and His Word may be hidden for a season, its brightness and truth remains forever on the other side of the clouds. I encourage you to keep believing the Lord in the area of your need, for eventually His Word of truth will break through the clouds and fulfill the hope of your vision. +++ 7/2/15 TRUTH BRINGS FREEDOM Scripture: John 8:32 "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free." The devil desires to hold us in bondage by deception so he works on our minds like he did with Adam and Eve in the garden and also with Jesus in the wilderness. He deceived Adam and Eve by telling them that they would become wise like God if they ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan also attempted to deceive Jesus by offering Him the kingdoms of the world if He would just bow down and worship him. In this same way, the devil tries every tactic to destroy our faith and lure us away from God's truth by telling us that we need to be free. He points out that the grass is greener on the other side and entices us to step over. He makes promises, but never tells us the true consequences of our responses. He tempts us in the areas that we are most vulnerable, trying to destroy our trust in God's laws and boundaries. At some point, the door opens, a grand temptation presents itself, and we have a choice to make, God's way or our way. This story illustrates the problems that we face when we get out from under God's laws and boundaries. A family was crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner. They took their bird with them and secured him in a cage for a safe voyage where he was sheltered, fed, and cared for. Along the way he was even petted and loved because he was precious to the family. However, the bird desired to be free and wanted to enjoy a more exciting life. He felt he was capable of exploring the ocean on his own and when the opportunity presented itself, he left his cage. He began to soar away from all that he thought was bondage. He enjoyed his release for a season, but after awhile, he began to experience the consequences of his choice. The winds became stronger the further that he flew from his cage. There was no place to rest, no food, no shelter, and no one to hold and love him. He found himself overcome with fear and anxiety as he tried to figure out how to solve his problems. He discovered that the boundaries of his master were not so bad after all. He made his way back to the ship, his cage, and a very happy family. Like this example, the laws and boundaries of God are not meant to deprive us of any good thing. They are given to us for our benefit and for reasons that we may not understand. God's boundaries separate us from sin and death and give us life (Romans 8:2). When we step out of God's boundaries, we leave His covering and we forfeit our promise of provision, protection, and rest. We step into the area where the law of sin and death rule. Like the bird that left his cage, we too are attack with anxiety and fear and our problems begin to overwhelm us. Yet, even in our darkness, our Heavenly Father never stops loving us and continually waits and watches for our return. We must understand that the world has no true freedom to offer. It is God's truth that sets us free and when the Son makes us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36). +++ 7/3/15 BLESSED NATION Scripture: Psalms 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." The fifty-six men who signed our Declaration of Independence, which was approved on July 4, 1776, committed an act of treason against the British Crown. As they signed this incredible Declaration, they mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Of those who signed, two became Presidents of the United States, three became Vice Presidents, and several others became either State Governors or U. S. Senators. However, there were many signers who suffered greatly. Four died of wounds from the war and five were imprisoned. Several lost their wives and children as their homes were attacked. The oldest signer of the Declaration was 70 year old Benjamin Franklin, whose faith was strong in God. Speaking of God, He said: "Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this." Benjamin Franklin was convinced that all was vain unless the Lord was God and Builder of this nation. The freedom we enjoy has been purchased with tears and blood. We have reaped the noble sacrifice of these brave men, and every American life has been touched by the document they signed. Because of their sacrifice, we have experienced a "Blessed nation whose God is the Lord ... And we are STILL one nation, under God. +++ 7/6/15 SPIRIT OF TRUTH Scripture: Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man that He should lie." God speaks only truth into our lives because He is the Spirit of Truth. He doesn't repent or turn back on the words that He has spoken, for He cannot lie. He fulfills every promise and stands by His covenant. James 1:17 says "There is no variation or shadow of turning with God." He is a constant God, setting the days, seasons, and years into motion, and then keeping it all on tract and in order. He has a lot to take care of, yet He is never too busy to be concerned with our personal affairs. His Word tells us that "All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). If He can keep the whole world and universe in line, we can trust Him to cause our lives to also come together. When His Holy Spirit inspired the words, "All things work together for good," those words were meant to lead us into God's truth. God meantexactly what He said, even though during times of rough and endless battles, we may have our doubts. God knew that there would be seasons that our faith would be challenged so He gave us many scriptures to dispel our doubts and to let us know that regardless of how things look on the outside, He is working a greater work on the inside of the whole situation. All things are going to work out for good because He is going to take the lemons of our life and make them into lemonade. The situation may be bitter in the process, but God will cause sweetness to come out of it. Like the incident at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, He can still turn water into wine. People make many promises that they are unable to keep. But God doesn't make any empty promises, for He is well able to perform all the Words that He has spoken. He has good plans for you and whatever He has told you will come to pass. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you a future and a hope." When the way seems narrow and the road seems long, remember His Words and let Him guide you through your situation. Don't lean upon your own understanding. Trust the Lord. As you allow Him to direct your path, all things will work out for good. Listen to the still small voice of the Spirit of Truth, keep your faith in Him, and trust HisWords because good results are on the way. +++ 7/7/15 DOUBLE SECURITY Scripture: John 10:28-29 "... neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." When I was a young child, my father liked to tease me and play games with me. Quite often, he would offer me something like a nickel or a dime or possibly a small piece of hard candy. He would show the prize to me and then he would close his hand tight around it. It was up to me to pry his fingers open so that I could retrieve the reward. I would work diligently to open his hand with all of my might, but my strength was never able to match his strong hands. He would laugh because I would only be able to get one finger loose at a time. The treat that he was offering to me was safe in his hand until he decided to give it to me. In the scripture above, Jesus said that no one would be able to pluck His sheep out of His hands. He then declared that His Father is greater than all and that no man would be able to pluck them out of the Father's hand either. Can you grasp this picture? We are protected not only by the hands of Jesus but also by the hands of our Heavenly Father. It is as though Jesus is holding us as tight as He can in His hands and then He places His own hands in the hands of the Father God. Their hold upon us becomes double security, for Jesus and the Father are one (Vs. 30). This does not mean that the Father and the Son are one person, but that they are one in perfect unity in their natures and actions. They work together as a team and the devil has no power over this mighty unity. He is no match against the combined strength of their four hands, four thumbs, and sixteen fingers. This knowledge should give us great security because we can be assured that the Father and the Son are holding us as tight as they can because of the great price that they both paid for us. God the Father gave His only Son in order to secure our redemption, and then Jesus, the Son, sacrificed His own life on the cross so that we could have eternal life. We have much to rejoice about. For we know, that regardless of how hard the devil may try, he can never pry us out of the double security of Their hands. +++ 7/8/15 ABLE MINISTERS Scripture: II Corinthians 3:5-6 "God, Who also has made us able ministers of the New Testament." When God calls upon us to do anything, He equips us for that service. We are not qualified, nor sufficient in our own abilities, so He makes us to be able ministers. Jesus' disciples had walked with Him for three years. They had heard Him teach and saw Him perform many mighty miracles. You would think that the personal mentoring that they received from Jesus would be enough to launch them into the ministry. Yet, Jesus instructed them to wait until they were filled with the Holy Spirit before continuing in the ministry (Acts 1:4-8). Likewise, we also need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to be able to complete the ministry assignments that God has called us to do. I Corinthians 1:26-27 tells us that God doesn't choose us because we are wise, mighty, or noble. In fact, He chooses the foolish and the weak so that it will confound the wise and strong. He chooses those who are dependant upon the Holy Spirit, and who understand that without Him, they will fail. In I Kings chapter three, God made Solomon an able minister as king over Israel by giving Him wisdom and an understanding heart. Before God moved on the scene, Solomon, as a grown man, stated, "I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." He admitted his weakness to God, and God equipped Solomon with the wisdom that he needed to be able to perform his duties as king. Jeremiah the prophet also felt too small for God's great call. He spoke to God and said, "I cannot speak: for I am child." But God told him not to fear. He, then, put His own words in Jeremiah's mouth and set him as a prophet over the nations (Jeremiah 1:10). For God to work in your life, you must humble yourself and come to terms with your own weakness. You need to understand that God is not calling you because He thinks you are able. He looks beyond your insufficiencies and sees the potential of His Spirit working in your life. You must realize that your sufficiency is not in yourself, but in the Lord who will strengthen you. With God, all things are possible. He is not limited by anything except your doubt and unbelief. God looked down the corridors of time, formed you, and filled you with His Spirit for such a time as this. He is equipping you daily by His Spirit to minister to people who need your prayers and words of encouragement. Don't be afraid to step into the unknown. If God called you, He will equip you with His Words, His wisdom, and His power. He will make you to be an able minister. +++ 7/9/15 HOPE IN GOD Scripture: Psalms 42:11 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God." The understanding that we have of the general meaning of "cast down" is that our minds, wills, and emotions are in a state of sadness and despair. The psalmist takes it further and speaks of being in turmoil because of circumstances. In his book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23", W. Phillip Keller explained the term "cast down" more precisely. He said, "It is an Old English term for a sheep that is stranded on its back. The sheep creates its own predicament by laying down in a hollow, or depression, in the ground. If the sheep is heavy because of its own weight or the weight of its fleece, the center of the sheep's body will shift and the sheep will turn over onto its back in the depressed ground. Once the sheep is on its back, gravity will keep it there." The sheep has no means to deliver itself. Its only hope is to be rescued by the shepherd. The psalmist referred to his soul as being "cast down" and disquieted within him. This meant that the things that were going on inside of him were not quiet. Instead, the voices and noises within him were very loud and disturbing. We sometimes find ourselves in this same situation. We're "cast down" or flat on our back and don't understand what is going on. We may not even know how our circumstances progressed to this place of hopelessness or how we slipped into this place of depression. Our minds talk to us and tell us that we need to give up because things are not going to work out. After listening to the negative thoughts of our minds, our emotions get stirred up and we become frustrated and anxious. Like this psalmist, in our tears we may begin to ask, "Where is God? Why is this happening to me? When will He deliver me and what should I do?" Just like the sheep that is cast down, there is no one that we can depend upon except the Lord our Shepherd. The other sheep may sit there and bleat to us in our distress, giving us counsel. As good as that counsel may be, only the Shepherd's still small voice can drive out the anxiety and fear and bring peace. And as much as others may want to comfort and help us, only Jesus can truly rescue us and turn our life right side up again. Only the Lord can strengthen our legs and help us regain our balance. In John 10:14 Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd and I know My sheep." He knows everything about you and your circumstances. Don't allow yourself to fret over the past, be in despair about today, or be frantic about tomorrow. Don't lend yourself to the position to be cast down. Put your hope in the Lord and trust Him to lift you up and deliver you. +++ 7/10/15 A PIT IN THE WILDERNESS Scripture: Genesis 37:22 "... cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness." Jacob had twelve sons, but he showed special favor to one of his sons named Joseph and also made him a beautiful coat of many colors. This special favor and the coat provoked Joseph's brothers to envy. To make matters worse, Joseph told his brothers that he had a dream in which his entire family bowed down before him. Joseph's dreams only infuriated his brothers more, and in a jealous rage, they made plans to kill him. They called Joseph the dreamer and said, "Let us slay him and then we shall see what will become of his dreams." The eldest brother, Reuben, saved Joseph's life by suggesting that they put him into a pit in the wilderness rather than killing him. Reuben's intent was to come back later and rescue Joseph, but while he was away, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. This incident would have been frightening to anyone at any age, but Joseph was just seventeen years old when this event occurred. Being physically cast into a dark and lonely pit in the wilderness would have been hard enough to bear, but Joseph also had to deal with the emotional side of it. He not only had to come to terms with the evil actions that had been committed against him, but also had to acknowledge the rejection that was dealt to him by his own brothers. Joseph was their flesh and blood but they didn't want him in their lives and they hated him so much that they want to kill him. They wanted to destroy the dreamer and his dream. The bruises of the heart many times are harder to bear than the wounds to the physical body. Yet, the evil that transpired with this situation proved in the end to be a part of God's sovereign plan. God had an enormous purpose for Joseph's life and this pit in the wilderness was necessary to bring about that plan. Sometimes we find ourselves in a pit or in a wilderness place and wonder what we did to deserve it. Nothing seems to be happening at the present. Our lives are not moving forward and it seems that we are losing valuable time. None of us like for our lives to slow down in this fashion. Instead, we want everything to keep moving at top speed. Yet, God has planned divine pit stops for us. He calls us away so that He can make necessary adjustments in our thinking and form us into the person that He wants us to be. Pits and wilderness places are never fun but they are powerful, and after the experience, we are never the same. In the wilderness, we learn to be attentive to God. When we find ourselves alone, God gives us rest so that our bodies and spirits can be regenerated for the next leg of the race. The hard places make us stronger and the challenging places increase our faith. The spiritually lean and dry desert places cause us to hunger and thirst after God. Trials develop patience and dark places cause us to long and search for the true light. Joseph had many pits and prisons to experience before he finally made it to his ordained destiny in the palace. Yet, God used all the evil intended for Joseph to bring about good for a multitude of people. Keep this reminder in your soul. The devil is not only after you, the dreamer, he also wants to destroy your God given dreams. You may be in a pit of despair or alone in a wilderness place, but God knows all about your needs and desires. He knows the hardships that you are facing right now and He wants to encourage you. What the enemy intends for evil, God will turn around for good. God's hand is upon your life and nothing the devil can do will cause God to lose His grip. Trust the Lord, for He is faithful!! At the appointed time, He will lift you out of the pit that you are in or visit you in your wilderness and fulfill the dreams that He has placed in your heart. +++ 7/13/15 ANCHORS OF HOPE Scripture: Acts 27:29 "They cast four anchors out ... and wished for the day." Have you ever faced circumstances in which all hope had been taken away? All that you could wish for was to get through the dark season and be able to see the light again. The Apostle Paul and the sailing crew that he was with were facing the same situation. Verse twenty of this chapter tells us three things about the storm they were in. 1) They did not see the sun or stars for many days. 2) No small tempest was on them. Instead, a great tempest challenged them. 3) All hope of survival was taken away. Paul, who was a prisoner, had tried to warn those over him of the impending danger if they continued their voyage, but they chose to set out on their journey rather than to believe him. When they encountered the storm and weren't able to see the sun for many days, Paul said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me" (Verse 21). We can all learn something from this true-life story when we find ourselves in spiritual conflicts or adverse circumstances. Look at these spiritual anchors of hope that will keep you in the times of storms in verses 23-24. God's Presence in your life. Paul said, "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, Whom I belong to, and Whom I serve." If you belong to God, He has anchored Himself within you and will never leave you or forsake you. God's Power is also available to you. Paul said, "Fear not." God is in not only in the situation with you but He has empowered you with the anchor of His strength. Trust in Him, for He is well able to keep you stable in the midst of the storm. God's has a Purpose for your life. The angel said, "Paul, you must be brought before Caesar." God has a specific destiny planned for your life and that assignment for you will be your an anchor in the midst of adversity. The devil cannot stop the purpose and will of God in your life. The scriptures declare that if God has spoken it, it will come to pass. Finally, God's Promise will never fail. The angel said, "God has given you all those that sail with you." You must hold on to the promises that God speaks to you, for they will be your anchor as you face the raging storms. They will not only keep you, but also keep those around you who are facing those same storms. Paul told the men, "Be of good cheer, for I believe what God told me." In the midst of the storm, Paul had faith in God and told the men that their only hope was to abide in the ship (Verse 31). When the storms of life rage against you, don't be tempted to leave the ship even though it may appear to be sinking. Your hope is to abide or remain where God has placed you. Don't run to the world and what it has to offer in an effort to escape the conflicts in your life. Though tossed about by storms and winds of adversity, trust God and allow Him to be your anchor. If you refuse to compromise, your faith will take you through the storm. +++ 7/14/15 HALF-BAKED CAKE Scripture: Hosea 7:8 "Ephraim is a cake not turned." The Northern Kingdom (Israel) was also called Ephraim. When Ephraim or Israel presented itself to God, it was full of sin and strife. Ephraim had mixed themselves among strangers and allowed these people to devour their strength. Even though God had redeemed Ephraim, they had transgressed against Him and had made no effort to seek forgiveness or return to Him. When God saw their iniquity and wickedness, He saw them as cakes that were not turned. They were like a pancake that was cooked only on one side, unready for consumption and detestable to the palate. Yet, verse nine tells us that Ephraim did not recognize their own weakness. They were unaware that their strength had been devoured or that they had become old and decrepit as signified by their gray hair. Like Ephraim, unholy alliances also cause our spiritual strength to be devoured. The sin and strife we experience in these relationships depletes our Christian witness and destroys the anointing of God's wonderful Spirit upon our lives. God doesn't want us in these compromising positions. When He gets ready to use us in His kingdom, He doesn't want to discover that we are as cakes unturned and unfit to fulfill His purposes. Instead, He wants to find us complete and our hearts thoroughly furnished with His Word so that we are able to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). God wants us to be pure and full of His Holy Spirit so that we are well able to do the mighty works that He has called us to do. He has also furnished us with spiritual weapons and told us to put on His whole armor so that we can stand and be ready to engage in spiritual battle against the forces of the evil one (Ephesians 6:11). We should not allow ourselves to be half-baked in any area of our lives. We must stay on the altar and allow God's Holy fire to perfect us and finish His work within us. When we are thoroughly furnished with His Word, filled with His Holy Spirit, and have put on the whole armor, we will be able to present ourselves to God as a cake that is finished and not one that is unturned or half-baked. +++ 7/15/15 WE NEED EACH OTHER Scripture: I Corinthians 12:21 "The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you." The Apostle Paul compared the individual church members to a human body and said that God had set every member in the body as it pleased Him. Paul encouraged the church to appreciate one another and to recognize that each person was just as important as the other. The eye is needed so the body can see what the hand is doing and the hand needs the eye so it can perform its duties. The head needs the feet to take it places, but the feet cannot go without the head. The feet, the hand, the eye, and the head do no look anything alike. Neither do they have the same functions or need the same care. Yet, each is important and necessary in its own right. The body is sorely paralyzed without these various members functioning together in unity. This is such a simple analogy but very fitting and easy to understand. The body of Christ needs each other. We cannot say one to the other, "I have no need of you", for we all have need of each other. Not only do we need each other, but we also need to work together in the unity of the Spirit. We are not to be jealous or to strive against one another. Psalms 133:1 tells us that it is good and pleasant for the brethren to dwell in unity, for when we are in unity we accomplish much more. Think about your hands. God created you with two hands and supplied each hand with four fingers and a thumb. Each finger and each thumb is important. Can you imagine how limited you would be if your hand only had a thumb or one finger? If would be very difficult for you to hold and lift things or to do various task. Even in battle, a body with one finger on each hand would find itself in jeopardy. Yet, a hand with all of its fingers and a thumb, clutched into a fist, becomes a mighty weapon. God wants us working together in this fashion. You may not esteem your place or your gift in the body of Christ as highly as you do someone else's gift or place. Yet each vessel and each gift is important to God's kingdom. He wants us to join together in such unity that we can usher in His presence and combat the forces of Hell together. The Word of God confirms this. Matthew 18:19 says, "If two agree on Earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them." Verse twenty tells us that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in the midst of them. The scriptures also tell us in Ecclesiastes 4:12 that a threefold cord is not easily broken, and Deuteronomy 32:30 tells us that if one can chase a thousand then two can put ten thousand to flight. God has placed you in His body where He wants you. Remember that you need others and that there are others who need you. +++ 7/16/15 GOOD SUCCESS Scripture: Joshua 1:8 " ... then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success." Success is defined as the gaining of something desired, planned, or attempted. Yet, there is a difference in "success" and "good success" as spoken of in this scripture. Many times our plans come to pass and we are successful in our attempts, but when it's all finished we realize the thing that we desired and accomplished was less than God's best for our life. There's nothing worse than succeeding at a bad choice. The first part of this scripture explains how to have prosperity and also good success. It says, "Meditate in God's Word day and night and then do it." It is then that you will prosper and have good success. Prosperity and success are not necessarily wealth and fame. Success is possessing that place that God ordained for you, which brings joy in your spirit and rest for your soul. Good success is simply a number of good decisions made over a period of time. It is surrendering to God and following His Spirit one step at a time. Joseph was considered to be prosperous in Genesis 39:2-3. Yet he was sold to merchants by his brothers, taken from his homeland, and had to serve Pharaoh as a purchased slave in Egypt. Regardless of his circumstances, the scriptures declared that Joseph was prosperous. He was prosperous because the Lord was with him and the Lord made everything that Joseph did to prosper. Often, there were circumstances that Joseph could not control or do anything about, but behind the scenes God was working a plan in his life, equipping him and preparing him for a mighty ministry. To reach his destiny, Joseph had to rest in God's sovereign plan and totally lean on God's grace. Many times God's leading will be contrary to the thoughts in your own mind. There will be circumstances you can't control or explain because He is working in a sovereign way in your life. But if you trust God and meditate on His Word, He will confirm every step and give you perfect peace. As you act on God's Word, He will make a way where there seems to be no way and lead you through the wilderness. In the end, you will possess His best and have true prosperity and good success. +++ 7/17/15 STEPS OF A GOOD MAN Scripture: Psalms 37:23 "The steps of a good man are directed and established of the Lord." God delights in our way and He busies Himself with every step that we take. Sometimes we get the impression that God just orders our future steps. We fail to realize that He has ordered all of our steps up to this point, and that He is busy working in the present trying to direct us along the way. The Lord makes it His business to be involved with everything that we do. Verse 24 goes on to say, "Though we fall, we shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps our hand in support and upholds us." Thank God for this wonderful promise. We have a heavenly Father that is holding our hand as we walk. He knows that occasionally we are going to stumble and fall so He grasps our hand tightly in His. With His mighty power, He holds us up and supports us so that we are not utterly cast down and unable to get back up. Proverbs 16:9 declares that "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure." Very often we plan our day with little thought of God's plan for that day or the season. We are so busy, we just get up and do what needs to be done. We try to direct God instead of resigning ourselves to being led by Him. We pray, "God, bless my plan." instead of "God, make my plan." Jeremiah 10:23 says, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jeremiah was acknowledging to God that he was aware that he could not direct his own steps. He knew that he would make mistakes and pleaded that when God corrected him, it would be in judgment and not in anger. Proverbs 20:24 says, "Man's steps are ordered by the Lord; how can a man then understand his own ways?" We often do not understand where God is leading us, for He often leads us in a way that is against human wisdom. It is then that we must "Trust in the Lord with all of our heart; and lean not to our own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5-6). God has given all of us natural wisdom and expects us to function in that wisdom and take care of our duties. Yet, He desires that we operate in trust and be spiritually sensitive and submissive to His voice and His Spirit. It is only as we submit ourselves totally to Him that He can establish and direct each of our steps. +++ 7/20/15 JESUS IS AWARE Scripture: Mark 6:48 (NLT) "He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves." Jesus told His disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake and then He went into the hills to pray alone. Late that night while Jesus was still on the land, He saw the disciples. Their boat was in the middle of the lake and they were in much difficulty as they rowed against the winds and the waves. About three o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When He reached the disciples Jesus spoke to them and said, "Don't be afraid, Take courage! I am here!" Jesus saw the disciples when they weren't even aware that He was watching them. Then, He used the thing that was troubling them, as a tool to get to them. He walked to them on the same water that they were struggling in. Isn't that just like God? He takes our problems and somehow makes them seem as nothing. He parts our Rea Sea and allows us to pass over to the other side and then He uses that same sea to destroy the enemy that is pursuing us. He tells us to count it all joy when we enter into trials and tribulations because He is going to cause all things to work together for our good. Somehow we are going to come out better at the end of the ordeal than we were at the beginning. I remember the incident when my house was flooded with two feet of water. The Lord provided a financial grant for me and after it was all over with and the repairs were complete, my house looked better than it did before. Just as Jesus was praying in the hills that day before He rescued the disciples on the lake, He is praying and interceding for you and me at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. He is not only praying, He is watching us continually and is aware when we are in serious trouble. He knows how tired we are of rowing and struggling against the winds and waves of this life. He sees our financial difficulties, our heart aches, our physical fatigue, our troubled relationships, and our disappointments. It will only take one moment of the Master's time, one touch from His hands, or one word from His lips to fix our problems. He is waiting for us to call out to Him. There is nothing too great for the Lord to handle and there is nothing hidden from His eyes or His heart. Jesus sees everything, knows everything, and understands everything. In our moments of distress, He will come to our rescue and speak to us saying, "Don't be afraid, Take courage, I am here!" +++ 7/21/15 LIBERTY FOR THE CAPTIVES Scripture: Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord has anointed Me to ... proclaim liberty to the captives ..." Time and time again, we find ourselves in places of bondage. Most of the time these situations evolve rather slowly as we turn our eyes the other way and allow things to pass that we don't agree with. We never dream that those things will lead us into a snare. We may allow others to manage and manipulate us, only to find that we have lost control of our own lives. We give in on issues so that we can be accepted by our peers, but later realize that we are being identified with concepts that are contrary to our thinking and degrading to our character. We may even fall into a state of total addiction because we take one step towards sin or lust, thinking that it won't hurt to give in just this one time. Instead of finding a place of peace and rest, we are overtaken and we find ourselves in captivity to the very things that we stood against and were trying to resist. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that if you continually surrender yourselves to any one to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey?" It is a simple principle. Yielding to temptation brings about captivity in our lives. Each time we yield to temptation, the devil gains a stronghold in our minds, emotions, and physical bodies. As we continually surrender, we become a slave to him and in bondage to his addictions. Jesus, however, came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The Spirit of the Lord God anointed Jesus to proclaim liberty to the captives. He alone is able to set us free and keep us free from the bondages of our carnal flesh. Zechariah 4:6 tells us that it is not by our might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. We can't wrestle the devil and his temptations in our own strength. We must depend upon God. When we surrender to God, the battle belongs to the Lord, but the Holy Spirit requires our cooperation in this matter. Paul makes it clear that we have a choice to be servants of sin unto death, or to be servants of obedience unto righteousness. Joshua challenged us to "Choose this day whom we will serve" (Joshua 24:15.) We must make a determination that we will serve the Lord God and obey His voice. At the moment temptation knocks at our heart's door, we must yield ourselves to God and allow the Holy Spirit to answer. Only then can we maintain the freedom that Jesus has purchased for us. +++ 7/22/15 WORKED UP OVER NOTHING Scripture: Luke 10:41 (Message Bible) "You're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing." Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are fussing far too much and worked up over nothing? These are the words that He spoke to Martha when she was disturbed because Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet. Martha was so busy that she could not embrace the wonder of the moment. The miracle worker, Jesus, was there in her presence but she had more important things to do than to just stop and sit at His feet. Instead of listening to the awesome revelations that were proceeding from His lips, she received a kind rebuke. Jesus let Martha know that she was troubled about too many things in her life and was burdened with responsibilities that she needed to put aside for a season. She desperately needed to let go of the concerns of life and make Jesus the priority and Lord of her life for a moment. Life is a journey that is meant to be enjoyed, but the tragedy is that we often get so busy that we miss life itself. Like Martha, our natural obligations take precedence over the things that are eternally important. We make ourselves into slaves and serve the need to serve. God never instructed us to be busy about so many things. He told us to abide in Him and in His Words so that our prayers would be answered and our lives would be fruitful and fulfilled. God never promised rewards to those who were just busy. He said the fruitful life is the one that brings glory to God (John 15:8). We must learn the difference between what is good and what is best. Jesus was never stressed or in a frenzy because He had the wisdom to pull away from everything that surrounded Him so that He could spend time with His Father and also find rest for His natural body. Take a close look at your daily commitments and be honest in your evaluation of your responses to life. Are you like Martha? Are you finding yourself fussing far too much and worked up over things that are not eternally important? If you take a moment to consider Mary's approach to life, you will notice that she didn't allow the burdens of life to steal the precious moments that were offered to her. She let everything go just to sit and rest at the feet of Jesus. Jesus extends the same invitation to you. He says, "Come unto me all you that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." When you come to Jesus and rest in His presence, your attitudes will change because your burdens will become light. Instead of being worked up about nothing and worn out over everything, you will have peace in your spirit and fresh strength for your body and soul. +++ 7/23/15 VAIN IS THE HELP OF MAN Scripture: Psalms 108:1 "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory." David faced many challenges. Yet He declared that regardless of the threats from his adversaries and the battles that he must face, he would maintain a steady and steadfast faith in God. He placed all of his confidence in God and depended upon Him for deliverance, for he knew that God was full of mercy and loving kindness. God was David’sonly hope. He knew that trusting in help from man would be in vain. David reminded God that He had promised to establish David's kingdom. David believed that God had spoken the truth, so he fixed his heart on this promise of God and began to sing and praise God before he ever saw the victory. David knew that his help would not come from man, but that it would come directly from God who would cause him to triumph over his enemies. "Vain is the help of man" (Psalm 108:12). Think about those words that David spoke. Through these words, he teaches us a great principle of life. In the times of trouble and adversity, our natural instinct is to run to our families and friends for help. We want to "fix our heart" on them and lean upon them for deliverance and comfort. Yet we soon realize that our faith and confidence in them is in vain. We become disappointed and disillusioned because those whom we trust the most fail us the greatest. We also discover that their help is vain, for their strength is no match for our enemy. Neither can they render adequate solutions for our problems. And often they are too busy to even listen because of the priorities and concerns of their own lives. Help from God is never vain because we are His main concern and He will never fail us. He prompts us to come to Him and totally trust in Him with all of our heart and He tells us not to lean upon our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we fix our hearts upon God in this manner, He works valiantly for us against our enemies, and we find that our faith in Him is never vain. +++ 7/24/15 DESIRES OF THE HEART Scripture: I Kings 3:5 "The Lord appeared to Solomon ... and said, 'What shall I give you?'" What would be your response if God approached you as He did Solomon and said, "Ask what I shall give to you?" Would you speak rashly and ask for the first thing that came to your mind knowing that you may possibly regret that choice in the future? Or would you risk the chance and ask God to come back later after you had time to think it through? Look at four men in the scriptures and notice the one desire of their heart. King David asked that he might have personal relationship, fellowship, and communion with the Lord. In Psalms 27:4 he said, "One thing I have desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple." David's sole desire was to be in the Lord's presence and to be able to worship Him. He was determined to find this special place for he wanted the Lord to talk with Him. He sought for this intimate communion with the Lord to the extent that God called David a man after His own heart. Elisha desired a double portion of the anointing of God's Spirit that was upon the prophet Elijah. In II Kings 2:9 Elijah asked Elisha, "What shall I do for you before I am taken away from you?" And Elisha said, "Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Elisha recognized that it was the anointing of God on Elijah's life that caused the wonders and miracles to happen. He knew it would take no less than this same Spirit working in his life to empower him to do the same works of God so he asked for a double portion. He received this wonderful blessing because he stayed focused on the prophet and did not allow himself to be distracted even by the chariot of fire. Solomon asked for wisdom and a discerning spirit instead of riches and honor for himself. In I Kings 3:9 he said, "Give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad." Solomon said that he felt like he was but a child, not knowing how to come in or go out. To serve as king over the people of Israel, he needed God's wisdom and the ability to discern truth. The people and their needs was his main concern and God granted his desire. The Apostle Paul's desire was "that he may know Jesus" (In Philippians 3:10). Paul did not want to know 'about' Jesus as we know 'about' someone like the president. He wanted to know Jesus in a deeper fashion and have a personal intimate relationship with Him. He sought for an experience with the Lord on the basis of the Lord's suffering, death, and the power of His resurrection. Paul counted everything else as nothing compared to this desire to know Jesus in a supernatural way. Psalms 37:4 says "Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart." What is your heart's desire? Think about the desires of these men and let them challenge your life. Allow God to form the desires within your heart. Desire fellowship and intimate communion with the Lord so that He may speak words in due season to you. Search for His wisdom and discernment so that you will be able to lead God's people with an understanding heart. Seek to abide in the beauty of God's presence so that you may come to know Him and the fullness of His power. Ask that a double portion of His anointing rest on you so that you may serve and minister to His people. Remember that God loves you and He wants to give you His best. +++ 7/27/15 THE HEART OF OUR LOVING FATHER Scripture: Luke 15:20 " ... while he was still a long distance away, his Father saw him coming, and was filled with compassion, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him." The youngest son of a father asked for his inheritance and then he left home. He went to a foreign country and there he wasted all of his inheritance on a wild lifestyle. He finally came to his senses when his resources were gone and he found himself eating the food that he was supposed to be feeding to the pigs that he was taking care of. When the reality of his situation finally hit him, the son decided to return home and ask his father if he could become one of his hired servants. He never expected the grand welcome that awaited him. His father, like any natural father, was waiting and diligently watching for his son's return. He had probably prayed the whole time that his son had been gone and possibly walked to the bend in the road many times hoping to get a glimpse of his son’s return. When the father saw his son coming home, compassion filled his heart and he ran and took his son in his arms and kissed him. The father took the best robe that he had and put it upon his son. He put shoes on his son's feet and a ring on his finger. He then killed a fat calf to celebrate his son's return. The father was not concerned about how long the son had been gone or how low he may have sunk. His only interest was that his son was now home where he belonged. This is a beautiful picture of our loving heavenly Father. Our Father God never forces us to follow His will, but always waits for us to return to it. When Satan seeks to sift us as wheat as he did Peter, Jesus intercedes and prays for us that our faith will not fail. Yet, sometimes we fail because even though our spirit is willing, our flesh is weak. Our prayer becomes like the words of the prodigal son who said, "Give me." When God gives, we often misuse our inheritance and abuse the liberty that He allows. We then find ourselves in a pit of despair. But God never gives up. He waits and watches diligently for us to return to Him. He listens for our words to change just as the prodigal son's words changed from "Give me" to "Forgive me" Father, for I have sinned." Our Father God sees our heart from a long way off and knows the moment that it changes. As we approach God's throne for forgiveness, He runs to meet us and is always faithful to forgive. His heart is filled with compassion for us and He restores our relationship with Him as His son. He covers us with His robe of righteousness, puts His shoes of peace on our feet, and places a ring of authority on our finger. Our Father embraces us in His loving arms and celebrates our return. +++ 7/28/15 BALANCING THE CLOUDS Scripture: Job 37:16 "Do you not know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge? Job's friend encouraged him to consider the wonders of God, yet Job probably understood God better than his friend did. Job declared that God was perfect in knowledge and certainly knew more about Job's situation than Job himself did. Although things looked dark in Job's life, he knew that God was in control and that He was balancing the clouds in his life. Job was confident that Satan could do no more to him than what God allowed. God also knows more about your situation than you do. Isaiah 55:9 says, "His ways are higher than your ways, and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts." God never loses control regardless of how bad the situation may look or how dark the clouds may get. In the midst of your cares and concerns, you have this assurance that you are still in God's hands and that He is still on the throne. He will never put more upon you than what you can bear. You may hear the thunder roll and see the lightening flash, but you have nothing to fear. Even in the times of temptation, God provides a way of escape. He balances everything out for you so that you are never tempted beyond your ability to endure. In II Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul speaks of all the adversities that he had to face; labors, shipwreck, prison, hunger, pain, beatings, perils, and weariness, just to mention a few. He then declared that he not only had to deal with all of those situations and the turmoil that came against him, he also had to face the care and concerns of all the churches. There were clouds of adversity all around Paul, not only with the heathen but also the followers of Christ. Paul also spoke of a thorn in his flesh that he thought was too great for him to bear (II Corinthians 12:7-9). He prayed about this issue three times, but God answered him with these words, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness." God was balancing the clouds in Paul's life because He knew what Paul could endure. God was faithful not to test Paul beyond his strength. Regardless of how many clouds of adversity you may be facing, keep in mind that God is in control of your life. He is perfect in knowledge and is balancing all the clouds that surround you. No matter how dark the sky gets or how great the storm becomes, His grace will always be sufficient for you. +++ 7/29/15 TWENTY-FOUR, SEVEN Scripture: Psalms 121:3 "He that keeps you will not slumber." There is a phrase that has been coined recently, which is "24-7." The news media uses this term quite frequently to inform their audiences that they are going to be reporting the news non-stop, twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. According to the psalmist, this is the same timetable that God keeps, for He never sleeps, takes a weekend off, or has vacation time. He is a "24-7" God. He is there all of the time. He never leaves us or forsakes us, but watches over us twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. Even though we may not recognize it, God not only watches over us but continually works in our life. Whether in the daylight or dark, He is working in the natural and in the spiritual realm. His plans are much higher than our plans and He is working for us when things seem bad and also when things seem good. He is there 24-7 rearranging our schedules and diverting our paths to keep us from harm. There is nothing too great for the Lord to handle and also nothing too small for Him to care about. In the midst of the darkness, God watched over the Israelites who had marked their door post with the blood of the lamb and He disallowed the death angel to take their first born. Later, God worked throughout the night to roll back the Red Sea and prepared a dry path right in the midst of it so that Moses and the Israelites could escape their enemies. God was awake at midnight to shake the prison doors open for Paul and Silas, and He also spent the night with Daniel in the lion's den. God walked in the midst of the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew children. He was also there in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. These servants of God couldn't see Him but He was there just the same, and manifested His mighty presence in their midst. God is awesome and He is with you right now. Things may get rough at times as you live out your "24-7s". The storms may come, the winds may blow, the sky may turn dark, and the night may seem long, but God is neither absent nor asleep. Instead, He is right in the midst of your life and very alert. You must learn to trust in His wisdom and depend upon His hands to help you make it through your personal situations. God will not sit down or rest in the midst of your battles, but instead will fight for you. He will impart His strength and empower you with His Spirit so that you can experience victory with every challenge. God never slumbers and will keep you Twenty-Four, Seven. +++ 7/30/15 GOD'S EYES Scripture: Proverbs 15:3 "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." When we were children we thought that our parents had eyes in the back of their heads. No matter how hard we tried to hide our transgressions, it seemed that they somehow were able to discover them. It was always such a mystery. And of course, the big question always came to our minds, "How did they find out?" As we grew older, we began to understand that God's Spirit was leading them and allowing them to find out the truth so that they could provide discipline and protection. They weren't always looking for the bad, but because it was there, it just showed up. It was a result of a principle in God's Word that states that what is done in secret will be brought to light. God is our heavenly Father and as a parent, He is just as concerned for us as our natural parents are. He is everywhere and is always watching. His eyes are in every place and He never slumbers or sleeps. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. Our knowledge can't even begin to compare to His. He even knows exactly how many hairs that we have on our head. Can you top that? He not only sees our actions and words but also knows the intents and motives of our hearts. God cannot be deceived. Sometimes we may feel that our prayers are not getting past the ceiling, much less to the throne of God. And we become weary in well doing, feeling that no one is noticing our efforts, especially God. Then when we commit the slightest infraction against His law, we are sure that He notices it. We forget that He is more intent on finding the good in us than the evil. Look at the example of Job. God asked Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who reverently fears God and abstains from and shuns evil because it is wrong (Job 1:8 Amplified)?" Job may not have been aware that God was watching and admiring him. At times, he may have felt that His good deeds were in vain and may have become weary in well doing, but he did not give in or slack off. Even in his worse trials, Job continued to trust God and shun evil. Just as God's eyes were upon Job, His eyes are upon you today and because He is always looking, His eyes are going to behold the good and the evil that is in your life. Therefore, strive to be found as Job was; blameless and upright, one who reverently fears God and abstains from evil because it is wrong. +++ 7/31/15 GOD'S EYES Scripture: Proverbs 15:3 "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." When we were children we thought that our parents had eyes in the back of their heads. No matter how hard we tried to hide our transgressions, it seemed that they somehow were able to discover them. It was always such a mystery. And of course, the big question always came to our minds, "How did they find out?" As we grew older, we began to understand that God's Spirit was leading them and allowing them to find out the truth so that they could provide discipline and protection. They weren't always looking for the bad, but because it was there, it just showed up. It was a result of a principle in God's Word that states that what is done in secret will be brought to light. God is our heavenly Father and as a parent, He is just as concerned for us as our natural parents are. He is everywhere and is always watching. His eyes are in every place and He never slumbers or sleeps. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. Our knowledge can't even begin to compare to His. He even knows exactly how many hairs that we have on our head. Can you top that? He not only sees our actions and words but also knows the intents and motives of our hearts. God cannot be deceived. Sometimes we may feel that our prayers are not getting past the ceiling, much less to the throne of God. And we become weary in well doing, feeling that no one is noticing our efforts, especially God. Then when we commit the slightest infraction against His law, we are sure that He notices it. We forget that He is more intent on finding the good in us than the evil. Look at the example of Job. God asked Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who reverently fears God and abstains from and shuns evil because it is wrong (Job 1:8 Amplified)?" Job may not have been aware that God was watching and admiring him. At times, he may have felt that His good deeds were in vain and may have become weary in well doing, but he did not give in or slack off. Even in his worse trials, Job continued to trust God and shun evil. Just as God's eyes were upon Job, His eyes are upon you today and because He is always looking, His eyes are going to behold the good and the evil that is in your life. Therefore, strive to be found as Job was; blameless and upright, one who reverently fears God and abstains from evil because it is wrong. +++ Copyright © 2015 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
.............................. | ||