| ............ | A Word In Due Season JULY 2021 7/1/21 FREE INDEED Scripture: John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." Free indeed means that your freedom is without a doubt. It is an unquestionable fact or a certain reality. When you are free, you are not held in bonds and you are not required to give allegiance or serve that which you do not support. When Jesus spoke these words, He wanted us to understand that we have freedom through Him and that we are no longer bound to sin or the devices of the devil. In verse thirty-four, Jesus stated that if you commit sin, you are a servant to that sin because it holds you in bondage. When Jesus makes you free, you are free indeed. His sacrifice on the cross did not accomplish a partial work but brought total freedom and redemption. We are free in the spirit the moment that we are saved, yet there is a process before a total manifestation of freedom is achieved in our lives. I found a moth that was trapped in my kitchen. It desperately wanted freedom and to return to its own environment outdoors. At this point, I was lord over the moth and held in my hands the power to do whatever I wanted to do with it. I could trap it and keep it enslaved, or even kill it, but my desire was not to harm it. I wanted the moth to be free just as much as it wanted to be free. Rescuing it, however, was a different process. I finally captured it in a plastic cup and covered it with a paper towel. I did all I could do to protect it during the process of bringing it to its freedom. The moth did not have knowledge of the plan or understand what was happening to it. It only knew that its world had suddenly become dark and that it was sensing unknown motion. It began to fight furiously for its freedom and beat its fragile wings against the cup. I spoke comforting words to it in the midst of its frantic moments while I took it to the door to release it. It was only took a few moments, but I am sure that it must have seemed like an eternity to the poor captive. Maybe when it was released, it understood that I meant no harm and that I only wanted to give it freedom. Like the moth in this story, God wants us to complete our destiny. He wants us free of sin and the snares of the past, which we have made ourselves servant to. In our hearts we agree with God's will and want to be free to do what He has called us to do. We can see the light and hear God calling, but we just cannot seem to get there because there are too many barriers. So we just pray and then suddenly one day God answers our prayers, and He begins to deal with our situation. When He captures us, it seems frightening, for darkness surrounds us and we can feel the motion of His Spirit taking us to the unknown. We begin to beat ourselves against the sides of the cup that God is holding in His own hands because we do not know what He is doing. We do not know what is happening, but we do know that we have no control. All we can grasp in the natural realm is that an unseen force is holding us in bondage. All the while, God is speaking words of comfort to our hearts. The Lord may possibly try to share His plans and the purpose for our confinement as He desperately attempts to get us to the door where He can set us free. We will face this same process many times in life because we will fall into many snares. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is so weak. Yet, in all of our dilemmas, God will faithfully come to our rescue. We must understand that freedom always comes with a price. The price of our freedom in God is our surrender to God. We must let go and allow God to have His way before we can be totally free. +++ 7/2/21 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. +++ 7/5/21 ENLARGE YOUR VISION Scripture: Isaiah 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left ..." After God spoke these words to the Israelites, He followed up by telling them not to fear or be confounded with respect to what was about to happen in their lives. He wanted to assure them that He was right in their midst and that He was working His plan. All that was required of them was that they were to enlarge and stretch themselves to the full extent so that they may be able to receive His salvation and blessings. Many times God wants to do something new and different in our lives, but when He speaks a promise to us, fear and doubt also chime in and mingle themselves with the words that He has spoken. Fear and doubt begin to voice all of the reasons why God's plan cannot happen. Their arguments are strong as they tell us that we need to stay on familiar ground and that we must not get ourselves into something that is too big for us to handle. Fear and doubt discourage us from stepping out in faith and furnish us with excuses to keep us from walking through the doors that God is opening for us. They paint a dismal picture and challenge every ounce of faith that God has birthed within our spirits. All the while, God continues to speak His fresh and new Word to us, "Enlarge, stretch forth, spare not, lengthen, and strengthen yourself, for I am getting ready to use you. Don't fear or be confounded, you are going to break forth on the right hand and on the left hand." What a mighty promise this is, but it comes with much responsibility. It is never in God's plan that we become stagnant in our relationship with Him or our ministry to others. As He instructed the Israelites to make their tents larger, God instructs us to get ready for His plan and purpose to be fulfilled in our lives. He desires to grow our faith and take us from glory to glory, but we must do our part. We must discard the negative words of the devil and stretch our faith to come into agreement with God's promise. We must make ourselves vulnerable in every way and allow His Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us for the task that is ahead. If we want to break forth into the new dimensions that God has prepared for us, we must take the initiative to enlarge the borders of our thinking so that we can experience His vision. +++ 7/6/21 CAREFUL HEARING Scripture: Mark 4:20 "Hear the Word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit." Mark gives an analogy of seeds that are sown in four different types of soil and compares them to the seed of the Word of God that is sown into the hearts of men. The first seed is sown on hard ground by the wayside and is snatched away and stolen by the enemy. The second seed is sown on stony ground and is unable to take root because of persecution and afflictions. The next seed is sown among the thorns and is choked out by the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things. Finally, the fourth seed is sown on good ground and brings forth a plentiful harvest; thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Notice that all of the seeds that were sown were good seeds. They all had the capacity to bring forth a harvest, but the condition of the soil or the heart made a difference and determined whether the seeds were able to live and bear fruit. The seed that bore fruit was the one that was planted in a heart that met two conditions. The heart had to hear and understand the Word and then it had to follow through by actually receiving the Word. Mark continued to say, "Be listening, and perceiving, and comprehending ... Be careful what you are hearing. The amount of attention that you give to the truth that you hear will be the same measure that comes back to you" (Mark 4:23-24). Your harvest totally depends upon how much thought and study you give to God's Words. If you are standing on a Word from God, continue to give thought and study to that Word. It may be awhile before you see results, so do not allow offenses of any sort to destroy or steal it’s potential from you. Seeds take root downward before they bear fruit upward. You cannot see what is happening under the earth, but the seed is working, growing, and pushing itself upwards. The dirt and darkness of the Earth may be overwhelming as they speak doubt and fear to the tiny seed. Even after the seed in your heart takes root and begins to grow, persecutions, afflictions, deceitfulness of riches, and the things of the world may try to choke it out. Therefore, carefully protect the Word and remain patient. Remember that something supernatural is happening in the spirit that you cannot see. Life is being created and growth is taking place in the unseen realm. You will find that as you mix faith with the seed that God has sown in your heart, it will profit and produce fruit (Hebrews 4:2). +++ 7/7/21 SEARCH ME Scripture: Psalms 139:23-24 (Living Bible) "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts ... Point out anything You find in me that makes You sad." Recently, as I passed my rose garden, I noticed that it had been neglected. The grass had crept into the garden area and weeds had grown at the base of the rose bushes. A wild vine had twined its way throughout the bushes, and the bushes themselves were suffering with dried broken branches. They were desperately struggling against the negative forces that were stealing their water and nourishment. This in turn was deterring their growth and destroying their beauty. Yet, regardless of all the negative distractions, the bushes still had a few roses that were radiant with color and some buds that promised new blooms. The rose bushes were making every effort to keep things going, but they would soon smother and die if left untended. They had no way of helping themselves or protecting and enhancing their hidden beauty. They desperately needed some extra care from their gardener. This scene pictures our lives at times. Little by little, we allow the enemy of our souls to invade our lives. At first, we may not recognize that we have a few problems. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are okay because our lives seem to be productive and prosperous. We are unable to see the weeds, grass, vines, and broken branches of our lives because we focus on the few roses that are still blooming. We fail to seek the Lord and to ask Him to search our hearts and point out anything in us that makes Him sad. However, if our lives remain untouched by the Master's hand, those things that make Him sad will soon steal our spiritual nourishment. They will destroy the beauty of our testimony before the world just like the scene that was happening with the neglected rose garden. God is the overseer and gardener of our lives. We can never escape His eternal presence. He is omniscient and knows everything about us, including the thoughts of our mind and the words of our lips before they are ever spoken (Psalms 139:2-7). God not only knows us, He understands us. We are given the awesome opportunity to commune with this wonderful God who loves us more than anyone else ever could. He is the only One who is able to properly tend the garden of our soul. We must commune with Him and ask Him to remove the grass, weeds, vines, and broken branches from our lives. As we yield ourselves to the Lord, He will search us and His Holy Spirit will convict us and purge us of all of those things that make Him sad. +++ 7/8/21 WASTED YEARS Scripture: Genesis 11:31 "Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son’s Abram’s wife, and they went out together from the Ur of Chaldeans to go unto the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there." It is so easy to catch the vision and set out to accomplish the goal, but completing the journey requires much more effort. It requires courage and determination. So many times we are like Abraham's father, Terah. Halfway through our journey we find a place of compromise and just settle there. Terah settled in Haran and never resumed the journey to Canaan, and he finally died there. After Terah died, God called Abraham to complete the journey. Despite the hardships along the way, Abraham eventually reached the land of Canaan. What dreams have we left undone because of our incomplete obedience? What gifts and talents lay dormant in our lives because of distractions or our lack of confidence? What hopes have we let die because we have faced discouragement? How many times have we allowed the enemy to stop us in our journey towards success on any level, whether it is a grand scheme or a meager project? So often, we get half way to our goal and then settle there. We find ourselves with unfinished songs and poems within our hearts, neglected rendezvous with friends, projects undone, and spiritual commitments unmet. Our good intentions and our potential are never fully realized. So much of life is made of wasted years. You may take some wrong turns or settle in wrong places along the way and it may be difficult to find God's good plan for your life. You may have a desire to do something special, but find yourself stuck in the land of Haran. Regardless of where you are today on your journey or how hopeless all of your dreams may seem, you must realize that the gifts and the callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). God does not take your gifts back. He wants to help you reach your destiny. He is the God of a second chance and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. God never settles in Haran or gives up on His dreams and His purposes for you. Philippians 1:6 says, "Be confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will bring it to completion." He will continue to work with you until Jesus comes back again. He is a faithful God, but you are the one who must make the choice to finish your course. You must face the obstacles and adversities with discipline and you must conquer every challenge with courage. You must put forth effort and endeavor to be completely obedient to God's call. You can start again today by moving out of Haran and heading towards your dreams. When you do, God will redeem your wasted years and help you reach your ordained destiny. +++ 7/12/21 THE POWER OF TWO Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:30 "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?" God ordained a strength and a power to be manifested when two people join together in unity. This stands true for husbands and wives, parents and children, friends, warriors, and even nations. Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us that "Two are better than one; because they have a better reward for their labor." Two can lift a larger load and carry a heavier burden when they join their strength together. Just think about how difficult it is to move a piece of furniture by yourself and how much easier it is when someone helps to share the load. When there are problems to be solved, the old saying stands true that "Two heads are better than one" because the wisdom of knowledge and experience is multiplied. King Solomon told us that two are better than one because if one falls, the other can lift the fallen partner up and if they become cold, the two can give warmth to each other. Unity ushers in the presence of the Lord, for Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” Unity brings answers to prayers, for He said, “If two of you shall agree on Earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 18:19-20). Jesus divided His own twelve disciples and sent them out in twos and later sent another seventy followers out, two by two. Unity produced supernatural power, for both of these groups preformed great miracles and witnessed deliverance amongst the people. Multiplication also happens when there is unity. When God created Adam, it was good, but Adam could not multiply in the earth as a single unit because multiplication can only come when there is more than one. One multiplied against any number does not increase that number. Adam needed a mate so God created Eve. God blessed Adam and Eve, told them to multiply, and gave them dominion in the Earth. Their union brought dominion and multiplication. Is it any wonder that Satan hates for people to be in unity with each other? Is it a mystery why he wants to destroy marriages, separate parents from their children, break up friendships, or cause confusion in relationships? Satan works against unity in any form because he knows that it will deplete his strength and ability. He sows discord because he is fearful of the strength and dominion that will result when men join together in one accord. He creates misunderstanding and offenses. He plants seeds of distrust so as to divide. He rejoices in broken relationships. He has even tried to annul the unity in the church of the Living God, but his goal was not accomplished. Regardless of our differences, doctrines, or denominations, we have remained One Body in Christ. Let us determine today to be discerning of the enemy's tactics. The devil's intentions are never good. He roams about as roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. His purpose is steal, kill, and destroy. Over and over we have seen in the scriptures that there is a power of two, for where there is unity, there is dominion, power, progress, added strength, and multiplication. For that reason, we must protect all of our relationships. We must count them as sacred gifts and make every effort to keep them intact. In Moses' writing, he told us that if one can chase a thousand, then two can put ten thousand to flight. Let us join together in the power of two so that we can put ten thousand enemies to flight. +++ 7/13/21 JOY THAT GIVES STRENGTH TO ENDURE Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 "... Because of the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross." There is a race that is set before each of us. We are instructed to gain strength and courage by keeping our eyes upon Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith in this race. Jesus set a great example for us when He endured the pain of the cross and all of its shame. He could have called ten thousand angels to come to His aid and deliver Him, but Jesus chose not to give up in the middle of His race. Instead, the Lord kept His mind on His ministry to mankind and His eyes upon the goal that was set before Him. The joy of that goal brought Him enduring strength. Most of us have short-term and long-term goals. Yet often, right in the middle of the race, hopelessness tries to overwhelm us. The race may seem too long and too hard and we may feel the urge to give up and let it all go. There might be a financial goal that we have established. We may be desperately trying to work ourselves out of debt, yet disappointments come when emergencies delay this plan. There may be goals in our relationships that are diverted by situations that we cannot control. Our ministry goals may be challenged by circumstances and setbacks. Our zeal and endurance may wane with every hurdle that we face. Yet Paul said, "Run to obtain ... and press towards the prize." We should never allow outside distractions to cause us to drop out of the race. We must endure to the end and finish our course. Jesus was able to endure the cross because of His joy, and this is the same ingredient that we need in our life to find the same enduring strength that He had. Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." To make it to the finish line, we must have joy. Like Jesus, we cannot allow the pain of the moment to steal our joy. If we do, it will also steal our dreams and visions. When we allow the enemy to come in the door, he takes what is in our house. We must protect ourselves by not opening the door and lingering on the non-essential distractions. We must look to the future that God has planned for us and not the place where we are right now. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, for He is the only one who can impart true joy into our spirit. The joy of the Lord will shine as a light in the darkness that surrounds us. His joy will comfort us in our grief and disappointments and drive away the confusion of the conflict. Joy will give us great peace in the midst of the storms and strength to endure our personal cross just as it did for Jesus. +++ 7/14/21 EVIL FEAR VS. GODLY FEAR Scripture: Psalms 27:1 "... whom shall I fear? ... of whom shall I be afraid?" Fear is a strong emotion and is also a great influence in our lives. Our fears may be justified or just imagined, yet, when we are experiencing fear of any kind, it is very real. A simple symptom in our lives can cause fear even though the symptom may not be an indication of the true facts. Fear will tell us that our children are on the road to failure or that we may face the dreaded layoff that is rumored in the office, but these words may not be true. Fear tells us that we are on the edge of financial ruin because of what our investment records dictate, but it disregards the truth that God is our financial source. We may fear that we have a deadly disease because the pains in our body are speaking so loudly to us that we are unable to consider the voice of God, our Healer. Fear is fear, which comes to us in all stages of life and we will be forced to deal with it. The question that we face is the same as David posed, "Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?" We have a choice, for there are two entirely different kinds of fear that are presented to us. One is a fear that is to be shunned because it gives in to the torments of the devil and the other is a fear that we should embrace because it wraps itself around the awesomeness of a holy God. Unholy fear is provoked by the evil that surrounds us, but reverential fear is cultivated by receiving a revelation of the wonder of God. There is a fear that brings bondage and hinders our good decisions but there is also a fear that brings wisdom and causes us to act in freedom and discretion. There is a fear that is clouded by darkness and there is a fear that illuminates our spirits with eternal light. The fear that is healthy and holy is the reverential fear of the Lord. It is not a tormenting fear, but a fear that causes us to worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness. This fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). It is to be embraced because the more we reverently fear God the more likely we are to obey His commandments. When we obey God, we gain confidence because we know that our hearts are right before Him. This strong confidence creates a place of refuge for us (Proverbs 14:26). It hides us in the presence of the Lord and regenerates our spiritual strength, which gives us boldness to stand in the midst of adversity and false fear. We must always remember that fear has two positions. There is a battle that rages within us and we must personally decide whether we will take; flight and run from evil or bow and give reverence to the Lord who is greater than any evil that pursues us. It is evil fear verses Godly fear and our decision will govern our destiny. +++ 7/15/21 GOD'S TIMING Scripture: Luke 5:5 "At Thy Word I will let down the net." Jesus told His Disciples to launch out into the deep water and to let down their nets, and then they would catch a lot of fish. Peter's response was similar to what ours would be in this situation. He said, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing." Peter was saying, "Jesus, you just don't understand the situation." Peter was a fisherman by trade and he knew how to fish. He knew when to fish and he also knew when not to fish. They had just come from the lake and the fish were not biting. He was trying to tell Jesus who was a carpenter, that this was not a good time to fish. In essence Peter was saying, "Jesus, you can do carpenter work anytime. The hammer, saws, and nails will always work with the wood, but in the fishing trade you have to have the cooperation of the fish. We have fished all night long and this just is not a good time to fish." Although Peter and his partners were exhausted, they did not ask if they could go home and rest a few hours. They responded to Jesus even though it meant that they would have to clean their nets again when they finished, regardless of whether they caught any fish this time or not. Although the timing seemed against his better judgment as a fisherman, Peter submitted himself to the Lord and said, "Nevertheless at Thy Word I will let down the net." Had they postponed God's timing, they may have missed their miracle altogether. Yet, when they acted upon Jesus' Word, they gathered a multitude of fish so great that their nets began to break and they had to ask the other boats that were surrounding them for help to bring the fish in. Jesus gave Peter and his men a direct Word with a promise. He said, "Let down your nets for a large catch of fish." When Jesus spoke these words, He meant exactly what He said. Peter and his men were to expect a great haul of fish. Like this story, when God tells us to do something, He means what He says and will stand behind each and every word. His word to us will always be productive and effective, and will accomplish His purposes. Yet, the Lord will only fulfill His promise when we submit to Him. We must obey and not lean upon our own understanding, realizing that God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. When the Lord speaks, we must act in obedience and not wait until it is more convenient, for His timing is just as important as His calling. +++ 7/16/21 WISDOM OF EXPERIENCE Scripture: Genesis 30:27 "I have learned by experience ..." Jacob had served Laban, his father-in-law, for many years and Laban had become prosperous because of the favor and blessings of God that were upon Jacob's life. Jacob did not have to call Laban's attention to this fact because Laban recognized it himself. Laban told Jacob, "I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake." The voice of experience is very powerful. There is a saying; "The man with knowledge is always at the mercy of the man with experience.” Unproven knowledge is no match for the voice of experience, for experience speaks with great wisdom and authority. Experience is quick to warn others who have yet to learn what it has learned. Even strangers will listen and heed your words when you speak of your experience. For example, the other day I stopped to get gas for my car, but the particular pump that I chose to use did not work properly. First it would not start, then it pumped slowly, and finally it stopped altogether. I informed the attendant who told me that it had not worked properly all day. While I was using another gas pump, several cars stopped at the broken pump. Even though it was none of my business, I felt compelled to tell each one of them about my experience. I did not try to influence them in any way. They were total strangers to me and could have disregarded my words, but instead, they moved to another pump. They listened to the voice of experience. We have experienced so much of God's Kingdom. We have received His eternal grace and mercy on a daily basis. He has healed our bodies and restored our souls. He has provided for our needs and put food on our tables. God has kept us from many dangers and delivered us from evil when we fell into temptation. He has taken our sorrows and given us joy. He has delivered us out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into His Kingdom of Light. He has exchanged our confusion and given us peace in its place. We need to speak into the lives of others with enthusiasm and tell them that God has done these things for us. Our voices of experience could be the turning point for those who are going in the wrong direction. Our life experiences could save them from wasting their own lives because the changes that we made in our own lives could be the same correction they need in theirs. Our experiences of victory over sorrow and grief could bring comfort and hope to those whose hearts are broken. Experience is valuable and it is a great teacher. We need to continually share the wisdom that we have learned and the treasures of our experiences with others. +++ 7/19/21 THE GOOD OLD DAYS Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:10 (Living Bible) "Don't long for the 'good old days', for you don't know whether they were any better than these!" Often we look back on life and may wish that we could return to the "good old days." We remember the times that our children's laughter filled our homes, but now they have homes and families of their own. They may even live in distant cities and we rarely get to see them. Possibly, we recall our own youth and long for the love of our mothers and fathers or loved ones, which are no longer with us. We remember a time of freedom from the tremendous burdens of responsibility of adulthood that we now face. Maybe we think of a more prosperous time or a time of better health than what we are experiencing at this current season of our lives. Whatever the case, time has a way of changing things and regardless of our desire, there is no way to turn back the hands of time. Life goes forward. King Solomon, in all of his wisdom, instructs us not to long for the former days or to wonder why they seem so much better than today. He said it is not wise for us to look back because we do not know for sure that the former days were better than the day that we are now living in. We are to live this day to the fullest, cherish every moment, and celebrate each experience. We are to recognize that all things may not seem to be good at the moment, but that good can come from all things. This is God's promise to us. Our attitude of faith is what makes the difference. God rewards those who trust Him and who do not murmur and complain. In Philippians 4:11-12, the Apostle Paul teaches us this same concept. He tells us to be content in all things. We are to learn how to be abased when we suffer lack and how to abound when we have plenty. We are not to long for the 'good old days' or wish for a better future day. We are to count each day as a blessing and a gift from God. God is using each day and every circumstance in our life to mold us and make us into His special vessels. We must trust Him and not look back or long for the past. God has made today for us and given us breath to experience it. It should be an adventure and we should "rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24). +++ 7/20/21 UNANSWERED PRAYER Scripture: Matthew 6:8 "Your heavenly Father knows what things you have need of before you ask." God knows our needs and desires even before we ask, but like all good fathers, He is faithful to give us only what is best for us. In the spring, my son and I fertilized the yard just before the predicted abundant rain was to come. Each day we got just a little rain, but never the good soaking rain that was needed. One afternoon, I came home from the store and unloaded my purchases from the trunk of the car. Several times throughout that afternoon the sky would cloud up and I prayed for the much needed rain, but the rain never came. I was disappointed that it did not rain and also that my prayers were not answered. Later that afternoon, I discovered that I had left the trunk of my car open. Thank God that He did not answer my prayer right away, for if He had allowed it to rain, the trunk of my car would have been flooded. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts, neither are your ways like my ways. But My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Our thoughts and ways are as far apart from God's thoughts and ways as the Heavens are from the Earth. We are here on Earth surrounded by our immediate circumstances. We can only see what is just ahead of us or on each side of us as we try to find our way in this spiritual maze. God, however, sits in Heaven looking down upon us and our situations. He hears our prayers but sees the entire picture and knows what is best for us. He gently tries to lead us by His Spirit to help us get through the maze and obtain the victory, but we often go to the left or right and run into the walls. We then pray for the walls to come down, and sometimes even rebuke them in Jesus' Name. Yet, in reality they are the best things for us at that time because God has put them there for a reason. God wants us to pray and present our needs to Him, but He also wants us to trust in Him that He will do what is best for us. He does not want us to be anxious over the situation. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to lean upon our own understanding but to acknowledge God in all of our ways. If we do this, God will direct our paths. The answers to our prayers depend upon two things when we are submitted to God. 1) God's power and His love. His power gives Him the ability to give us anything that we ask for, but His wonderful love restrains Him. 2) God's wisdom and His holiness. He knows our desires, but His wisdom will only grant us answers that are in line with His righteousness and His will. +++ 7/21/21 THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD Scripture: Psalms 25:12 (NIV) "Who is the man that fears the Lord? When we speak of the fear of the Lord we are not talking about being afraid of Him as though He were a mean and hateful God, for the Lord is not vicious or abusive in any way. Instead, God is defined as love and all that He does is motivated by the love that is within Him. Even the Lord’s correction shows His love for us. He corrects us because He hates sin and His chastisement is meant to keep us from further sin. It was because of God's great love that He made the ultimate sacrifice and sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sins. He paid a great price for us and that indicates that is He is for us and not against us. God does, however, set righteous standards for us. He wants us to be so full of His Holy Spirit that we emulate Him in our person and His Kingdom in our principles here on the Earth. The Lord wants us to show forth His glory to all mankind. When the Word speaks of the fear of the Lord, it refers to a holy reverence towards the Lord and a respect for the things that He represents. Proverbs 8:13 tells us that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Then it goes on to list some of the evil things that God hates, such as pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech. If we truly fear or reverence and respect God, we too will hate the evil that He hates and we will shun the evil temptations that come against us. We will refuse to allow ourselves to be involved in evil because God's Spirit lives within us and evil is against His holy nature. If we love God, we will obey His commandments. Psalms 25:12-14 lists several things that belong to you when you choose to fear or reverence the Lord. 1) God will instruct you in the way that has He has chosen for you. 2) You will spend your days in prosperity. 3) Your descendants will inherit the land. 4) The Lord will confide in you and you will know His secrets. 5) The Lord will make His covenant known to you. God is not blind, deaf or naive. He knows the ones who truly fear Him just as an earthly father knows when his own children respect and reverence him. One of the virtues of God is that He is not a man who will lie or deceive. You can depend upon every Word that He has spoken. If God said it, it will come to pass. You can be assured that He is watching for those who fear Him and He will reward them accordingly. +++ 7/22/21 A TRAIL CALLED ISHMAEL Scripture: Genesis 17:18 “And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee." God made a promise to Abraham that his seed would be as the stars of the heavens and that he would become the father of many nations. Abraham believed God, but as time passed, he grew impatient. He allowed himself to be persuaded by his wife, Sarah, to take action that would bring the prophecy to pass in the natural. Instead of waiting for God to fulfill His promise, Abraham took Sarah's maid, Hagar, and together they had a son whom they named Ishmael. God's Word eventually came to pass as He had promised, and Abraham had another son with his wife Sarah. They named this son Isaac. Isaac was the fulfillment of God's promise. Yet, Abraham's interference with God's plan and timing brought heartache and despair to all concerned. Ishmael's name meant wild man and he became a source of conflict to Isaac (Genesis 16:12). The descendants of Ishmael, the Arabs, still plague the world today. How many times has God spoken a word to us, but in our haste to receive the promise, we have acted as Abraham did? We have not waited on God but have chosen to go down a trail called "Ishmael" in an effort to make the word come to pass in the natural. It is a trail that leads only to heartache, confusion, and remorse. The mistakes that we make in life set up circumstances that plague us for many years. In our struggle we cry out to God to make our bad choices work out for the good. We plead for prosperity in spite of our financial mismanagement and ask that our transgressions be overlooked. We also try to keep our private dreams alive, which are designed to satisfy our own personal desires and lusts. Like Abraham, we cry out to God and say, "Oh, that my plan or my ‘Ishmael’ may live before You." Eventually we acknowledge the error of our choices. The consequences may seem irreversible, but God is merciful, and He is a God of another chance. The Lord is able to restore all that has been stolen from us. When we repent of our own doing and submit our lives to Him, He looks beyond our faults and begins to work on our behalf. He is like any loving father whose heart is touched by their children's needs. He is a God of miracles, and nothing is too hard for Him. He can restore the years that the locust has eaten and the cankerworm has devoured" (Joel 2:25). When we return to God's original plan, He will cause the latter years of our life to be greater and more productive than the former. We must wait on God and not be hasty as we trust in Him with all of our heart and agree with His plan. We are not to seek that our Ishmael may live, but that God's will be done in our life, here on Earth as it has been planned in Heaven. Then, and only then, will we experience God's greatest destiny for our life. +++ 7/23/21 CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST Scripture: Romans 12:3 "For I say ... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think." The Apostle Paul addressed the church at Rome and told them that they were "the called of Jesus Christ, the beloved of God, and those called to be saints." He also declared that "their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world" (Romans 1:6-8). These folks were believers who loved God just like you and me and were doing their best to serve the Lord with all of their hearts. Yet, the Apostle Paul felt it necessary to warn them not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. He knew the enemy well and knew that this would be an easy trap for them to fall into. This warning is for us today regardless of our calling or the depth of our faith. It is like a spiritual pendulum within our souls that can swing to the right or all the way to the far left. We can either be confident because we know that God is with us and working through us or we can become dependent upon our own self-sufficiency. Often it is a difficult matter for us to discern which direction the pendulum in our life is actually swinging. Sometimes our confidence in God is misread by others because our boldness in the Lord and our faith in His Word comes across as being arrogant to those who lack spiritual understanding. Then, there are other times when we are self-deceived. We think that we are being confident in the things of the Lord when we are actually being confident in our own selves and presumptuous. It is an issue of our heart and we must ask God to help us make a distinction concerning which spirit we are allowing to rule. An arrogant spirit has an exaggerated opinion of itself and is overly convinced of its own superiority. It is proud, lofty, and presumptuous. It stands alone and says, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Revelations 3:17). This scripture continued to tell us that when we say that we have need of nothing, we do not realize that we are actually "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." This is a pitiful state to be in. The bottom line is that the spirit of self-sufficiency does not know how little it really has and how much it really needs. Confidence, on the other hand, does not try to stand alone. It declares, "Without God, I can do nothing" (John 15:5). Confidence understands that it is a branch that can only function because it is attached to the vine of life, who is Jesus Christ. Confidence has faith and relies upon that which has been placed within us by God. It is knowing that the Spirit of the Lord within us is greater than the spirit that is in the world. Jesus was the Son of God and had confidence in who He was, yet He never acted in presumption or relied upon His own strength. He only did what the Father showed Him to do and what the Holy Spirit empowered Him to do. Our confidence should reside in our belief that God is with us and our actions should mirror those of Jesus. We should not attempt to do anything unless the Father shows us and the Holy Spirit empowers us. Instead of saying "I have need of nothing", our confidence should declare the words of Philippians 4:13 (Amplified). " I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me, That is, I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency." +++ 7/26/21 SALT AND LIGHT Scripture: Matthew 5:13 & 14 "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world." Our greatest purposes on Earth is to glorify our Heavenly Father. Jesus made a declaration of several godly characteristics that we are to maintain in our daily lives in order to accomplish that purpose (Verses 3-11). We call these characteristics the beatitudes. We are to be poor or humble in spirit, mournful or able to feel and be stirred, meek or teachable, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart; peacemakers, and also have the ability to endure false accusations and persecution for righteousness' sake. Think of these "beatitudes" as the attitudes that we need to be. We are challenged on a daily basis to respond to life situations, and sometimes we may react differently than what Jesus set forth in the beatitudes. When this occurs we need to make an attitude adjustment and allow God to change our heart. Jesus taught that in all situations we are to react as He did and not as the situation demands because we are to be as salt to the earth. Salt causes thirst. When people see our responses and notice that our actions glorify God, it becomes like salt to them and makes them thirst for the inner peace and joy that we have. When we fail to display the examples that Jesus set forth, however, our lives become as salt that has lost its savor or saltiness. Jesus said that salt in this condition is good for nothing. When our lives do not have spiritual flavor, they become worthless and do not bring glory to God our Father. Jesus also said that we are to show forth His light in our lives. Our light is to shine in our own houses as we display a private and personal witness to those closest and nearest to us. Our light should also be as a light on the hill that shines before men who are in the market places and around the world. Yet, we cannot manufacture or create our own light. Our light will only shine as bright as the light of God's life that is within us. We have an awesome responsibility as we live before others. If we allow the salt in our lives to be compromised or fail to display the light of the Lord, it will be as though our witness is hidden under a bushel. Salt causes thirst and light draws men out of darkness. We must keep watch over our attitudes so that we can be the vessels that God has ordained us to be. When our life is as salt and we are full of God's light, our lives will glorify God and lead others to Him. +++ 7/27/21 WISDOM Scripture: Proverbs 2:6 "For the Lord gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding." Someone once said, "Worldly wisdom is a futile attempt to know more and more about less and less until one finally learns everything about nothing." This may be true about worldly wisdom, but there is a higher wisdom that God gives. God's divine wisdom, knowledge, and understanding cannot be bought with money or obtained by mere human effort or ability. Instead, it is gained by hearing the words that come from the mouth of the Almighty God who is full of wisdom. True wisdom begins with having a reverent fear of the Lord. Proverbs 2:1-5 tell us that there are several things we must do to gain wisdom and emphasizes that "if" we do these things, "then" we will understand the fear of the Lord. We must search for wisdom as we would search for a hidden treasure, leaving nothing unturned. We must seek for it as silver, making every effort to obtain it just as we would do to earn a paycheck. This means putting pleasures aside and showing up at God's throne daily to seek His wisdom with diligence and energy. Our voice must cry out to God, expressing our desire for knowledge and insight. As God begins to share His wisdom and understanding, we need to incline our ears and pay close attention. We must receive His Words into our hearts and not become like those whom Jesus spoke about in the scriptures who have ears, but do not hear. God's Words must also go beyond hearing and receiving. When we hear and receive His Words, we must then apply our hearts to understand. We must allow God to direct our thoughts and minds so that we can make effective use of the wisdom that He shares with us. Finally, we must hide God's Words and wisdom in our heart so that they are there when we need them. Proverbs 4:8 declares that wisdom and understanding will preserve, promote, and bring honor to you. Others will notice wisdom in your life because it will be like an ornament of grace and a crown of glory upon you. Wisdom will also be life and health to all of your flesh. This is God's desire for you. Listen to God’s Words so that you may obtain His wisdom and then receive His promises that wisdom creates. +++ 7/28/21 GIFTS AND CALLING Scripture: Exodus 31:1-4 (NRS) "The Lord spoke to Moses: See, I have called by name Bezaleel ... to devise artistic designs ..." We recognize the name of Moses, a man who was chosen by God for a special work, which was to bring God's people out of their bondage in Egypt. This exodus and mighty deliverance was a journey that lasted forty years and everyday they experienced miracles, wonders and supernatural provisions. Yet, most of us would not recognize the name of Bezaleel who traveled with Moses and this entourage of millions of people. Because Bezaleel's name only appears a few times in the scriptures, we may think that he was insignificant, but the truth is that he was also chosen and called by God to do a special work. God not only called him but also filled him with His Spirit and gave him great wisdom, ability, and skill to construct the Tabernacle and everything that it contained. Bezaleel even made the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 37:1). We hear much about the Ark of the Covenant, but little if any about this man who actually made it. God was so particular with the design for the Tabernacle and the things within it that He called Bezaleel by name to make sure that he would be the one to devise the artistic designs. God chose Bezaleel and then validated his call and assignment to Moses. Can you imagine how Bezaleel must have felt as he left Egypt and wandered around the wilderness? He may have thought that his artistic gift would never be used again. Yet, God had a wonderful plan for him and used him to create beautiful things to be used in worship even in the midst of the wilderness experience. God commissions all of us for particular works and it is not our place to second-guess His choices. We may think that His gifts and calling only include the spiritual things like preaching, teaching the Bible, or being a missionary. Yet we see in this scripture that God also anoints artists for His purposes because God loves art and beauty. In fact, God paints every sunrise and sunset, which are new and fresh each day. He also creates the magnificent colors of the rainbow and the glorious silver lining behind the clouds. Even the beauty and wonders of the moon and stars at night are credited to His awesome artistic handiwork. God has gifts and callings available in every category of life and He can use the least of us for His glorious purposes for He is the artist of our souls. We need to prepare ourselves and be willing and obedient to answer when He calls. We must not allow our current circumstances or our lack to dictate our God ordained destiny. We must understand that God is in control and that His gifts and callings are without repentance (Romans 11:29). At some point, even in the desert wilderness or place of hopelessness, God will validate our gifts before others and He will call us out by name to do the work that He has designed for us to do. +++ 7/29/21 THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT Scripture: Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Physical battles are not won when we are engaged with the enemy in combat. Instead, they are won long before we reach the battlefield. It is the preparation and training season that makes the difference in the outcome of any battle. If a soldier wants to be the victor in battle, he must become familiar with his weapon, understand the battle strategy, and know his enemy well. He must also be aware of his own strengths and weaknesses in order to be victorious over the strengths and weaknesses of his enemy. Spiritual battles are the same. They are not won as we are engaged in conflict with the enemy of our soul but rather when we are on our knees in prayer before the Heavenly Father. For it is only in the presence of the Lord that we are able to gain the strength that we need to conquer the enemy. Like the military soldier, we too must be familiar with our spiritual weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty and with them we can pull down the strongholds of the devil. We must understand that our battle strategy, or fighting the good fight of faith, is "not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6)." We must also know the enemy of our soul well. He appears to us as an angel of light, but in reality, he is the spirit of deception, seeking whom he may devour as he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Finally, it is important to be aware of our spiritual strengths and our spiritual weaknesses. The weakness within us will turn into strength when we rely upon the supernatural power of the Lord. What is your particular battle today? Is it in your health, finances, relationships, or in the workplace? Whose armor have you put on to engage in that battle? Are you relying on your own knowledge or are you putting on God's belt of truth? Are you standing in your own self righteousness, which is as filthy rags, or have your put on His breastplate of righteousness? Are you trying to work out your own solutions or are you walking in the Lord's shoes of peace and wearing His helmet of salvation? Or are you holding up God's shield of faith and using His Word as your sword of the Spirit? Your faith must be in God and not in yourself or your own abilities, for without the Lord, you can do nothing. Your only weapon is the Word of God, for it alone can stop the voice of the enemy. When we come to understand these things about spiritual warfare, we will become more than conquerors because we will realize that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God supplies us with spiritual armor, but we must put it on. When we use what God has provided, we will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. +++ 7/30/21 HIDDEN IN GOD Psalms 31:20 "You shall hide them in the secret of Your presence ..." God makes the provision of His presence available for those who fear Him and trust Him. This is a precious promise and true at all times, but we often do not realize it until we face the most difficult seasons of our lives. When we are desperate and find ourselves separated from all human props and are forced to lean only upon God and God alone, His presence becomes very clear. God takes away our treadmill of existence, our schedules and routines, and our set patterns of thinking. He brings us into a new mysterious place where we are unable to analyze and calculate our efforts and plans. All of our old thoughts fall to the side, and with no human direction, He brings us into a place of total surrender. All we know is that God is with us, leading us, and that we must stay close to Him to survive. In the hardest of places, God makes His presence known and we discover His sufficiency and greatness. In the dry barren desert, we find that He is The Living Water who will quench our thirst. In our spiritual famine, He is the true Manna and The Bread of Life. In the midst of all of our confusion and darkness, He manifests Himself to us as The Way and The Light. In material need, He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider. In sickness and disease, He is our Healer and River of Life. In danger, the Almighty God covers us with His feathers and hides us under the shadow of His wings. For every need, He is our Fountain of Miracles. These truths are real, but there are conditions to finding and experiencing God's presence. For God to hide you in His presence, it is necessary for Him to separate you from your distractions and isolate you to Himself. This is a hard season, but when you find that you have nothing to hold on to, He becomes more precious than silver and gold. He becomes your life and all that you will ever need. You come to discover that His very presence is your survival kit. As you search diligently for God, He allows you to find Him. When you knock, He graciously opens the door and invites you to come in to fellowship with Him. When you draw near to the Lord, He draws near to you. This is His promise. He surrounds you with His love and draws you closer into Himself. He is the God of all comfort and He is always near to hide you in the secret place of His presence. +++ Copyright © 2021 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
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