Pastor Stephen Dedman

“The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Is there an area of your life where you know what God has said but have been reluctant to obey?

Context
The religious leaders confronted Jesus, demanding to know by what authority He taught and performed miracles. Rather than answering immediately, Jesus asked them a question: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” Their response revealed their hearts. Instead of seeking the truth, they calculated the political consequences of every possible answer. Fearing the people more than they feared God, they finally replied, “We do not know.”

Application
Jesus exposed a sobering reality: it is possible to know the facts about God while refusing to submit to His authority. The leaders were not confused by the evidence. John the Baptist had clearly pointed people to the Messiah. Their problem was not a lack of information but a lack of willingness to believe.

We can fall into the same trap. When God’s Word confronts our lives, we must decide whether we will accept His authority or justify our own desires. Faith is more than acknowledging truth, it is surrendering to it. The Lord is not looking for people who simply admire His wisdom; He is looking for those who will obey Him.

Truth For The Day
God’s authority calls for more than intellectual agreement, it calls for wholehearted surrender.

Pray
Lord, forgive me for the times I have resisted Your authority. Give me a heart that values Your truth above the opinions of others. Help me to trust Your Word, submit to Your will, and follow You with wholehearted obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Is there anything in your life that is stealing the joy of your walk with Christ?

Context
Psalm 51 is David’s heartfelt prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba was exposed by the prophet Nathan. Although David had experienced God’s forgiveness before, he understood that sin had robbed him of the joy and fellowship he once enjoyed with the Lord. Notice that he did not ask for his salvation to be restored, but for the joy of his salvation to return.

Application
Even as believers, unconfessed sin, spiritual neglect, or misplaced priorities can leave us feeling distant from God. While our salvation is secure in Christ, our joy can fade when our hearts wander. The good news is that God delights in restoring those who come to Him with genuine repentance. He not only forgives but also renews our desire to walk faithfully with Him.

Truth For The Day
God is always ready to restore the joy of those who humbly return to Him.

Pray
Lord, thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness. When I drift from You, draw me back with Your loving grace. Restore the joy of my salvation and give me a willing spirit that delights in obeying You. Help me to walk closely with You each day so that my life reflects the peace and joy that only You can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
‭‭I Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Is there a dried-up brook in your life that God may be using to move you into a deeper place of faith and dependence on Him?

Context
God had sent Elijah to the Brook Cherith during a severe drought. There, the Lord miraculously provided water from the brook and food through ravens. But in time, the brook dried up. This wasn’t because God had abandoned Elijah, it was because God was preparing to move him to the next place of provision: the widow’s house in Zarephath.

Application
Sometimes the “brooks” in our lives dry up. A job changes, a ministry shifts, a relationship ends, or a season of comfort comes to a close. Our first instinct is often to panic, but a dried-up brook does not mean God has stopped caring for us. Often, it is His way of leading us to trust Him in a new season. God never intended Elijah to live beside that brook forever. The drying brook became the signal that it was time to follow God’s next direction.

Truth For The Day
When God closes one source of provision, He is already preparing another. Don’t cling to yesterday’s brook when God is calling you to tomorrow’s blessing.

Pray
Lord, help me trust You when familiar places and comfortable seasons come to an end. Give me faith to follow wherever You lead, knowing that Your provision never fails. Keep my eyes on You instead of my circumstances, and remind me that every change is an opportunity to experience Your faithfulness in a new way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.