Pastor Stephen Dedman

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What are you trying to accomplish in your own strength that you need to surrender to God today?

Context
Romans 8:3 points us to the heart of the gospel. The law was good, but it could not save us. It could reveal our sin, expose our need, and show us God’s standard, but it could never transform our sinful nature. What the law could not accomplish, God accomplished through Jesus Christ.

Application
There are some things we simply cannot accomplish on our own. No matter how hard we try, our human nature keeps reminding us that we are incapable of making ourselves right with God.

God sent His own Son in human form to deal with the problem we could never fix ourselves. Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that we could experience forgiveness, freedom, and reconciliation with God.

That means our relationship with God is not based on how perfectly we perform. It is based on what Christ has already accomplished.

We often spend too much energy trying to prove ourselves to God and others. But the gospel reminds us that we don’t have to earn what Jesus freely provides. Our responsibility is to trust Him, surrender to Him, and live in the freedom His grace gives us.

Truth For The Day
What I could never do for myself, God accomplished for me through Jesus Christ.

Pray
Lord, thank You for doing what I could never do for myself. Thank You for sending Jesus to deal with my sin and provide the salvation I could never earn. Help me stop relying on my own strength and learn to trust Your grace more completely. When I am weak, remind me of what Christ has already accomplished. Help me live today in the freedom and victory You have given me through Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What situation, relationship, or circumstance do you need to surrender to Christ and allow His peace to rule today?

Context
Paul is writing to believers who have been made new through Christ. In Colossians 3, he explains what that new life should look like by putting away the old ways and putting on Christlike character. He calls believers to compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. Then he tells them to allow Christ’s peace to “rule” in their hearts. When conflict, anxiety, or disagreement arises, Christ’s peace should have the final say.

Application
Peace doesn’t mean that everything around you will be peaceful. There will be difficult people, unanswered questions, unexpected problems, and moments when you are tempted to react instead of respond. But followers of Jesus don’t have to allow circumstances to control their hearts.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is pause, pray, and surrender to Christ. Peace may not change the situation, but it can change how you walk through it.

Truth For The Day
When Christ rules your heart, His peace can rule your response.

Pray
Lord, help me to let Your peace rule in my heart today. When I am frustrated, anxious, offended, or tempted to react in the wrong way, remind me that I belong to You. Give me the humility to pause, the wisdom to respond with grace, and the strength to pursue peace with others. Help me remember that I am part of Your body and that my words and actions affect those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What do you desire most right now, and does that desire draw you closer to God?

Context
Psalm 37 was written by David as encouragement to God’s people who were watching wicked people prosper. David reminds them not to become jealous, frustrated, or discouraged by what they see. Instead, they are to trust the Lord, commit their lives to Him, and delight themselves in Him. Psalm 37:4 is not a promise that God will give us everything we want. It is a promise that when God becomes our greatest delight, He begins to shape our desires around His will.

Application
It is easy to make our happiness dependent on getting what we want. We think, “If God would just give me this job, fix this situation, change this person, or open this door, then I would be happy.”

God wants us to find our joy in Him, not merely in what He can give us. When we delight in the Lord, our relationship with Him becomes more valuable than our circumstances.

And something beautiful happens: God begins changing what we desire. Our hearts become less focused on getting our way and more focused on knowing Him, honoring Him, and accomplishing His purposes.

The greatest blessing isn’t getting everything on our wish list. It is discovering that when we have God, we have what our hearts ultimately need.

Truth For The Day
When God becomes your greatest delight, your desires begin to align with His desires.

Pray
Lord, help me to delight in You above everything else. Forgive me for the times I have allowed my happiness to depend on getting what I want. Shape my heart and transform my desires so that I want what You want. Teach me to find my greatest joy not in circumstances, possessions, or answers to prayer, but in knowing You. May my desires honor You and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.