Pastor Stephen Dedman

The fool has said in his heart, 
“There is no God.” 
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; 
There is none who does good.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭53‬:‭1‬

Question
In what area of your life might God be calling you to stop relying on yourself and start trusting Him again?

Context
Psalm 53 mirrors Psalm 14 and was written in a time when moral decay was evident among God’s people and surrounding nations. David isn’t merely addressing unbelief, living as though God does not see, care, or act. This kind of thinking leads to corruption because when God is removed from the center, everything else begins to unravel.

Application 
Saying there is no God doesn’t always come from our lips but it often shows up in our lives. We do it when we ignore His Word and rely solely on our own wisdom. A life lived without God’s authority and presence drifts toward emptiness and chaos.

Today, examine your heart honestly. Are there areas where you’re living as though God isn’t involved in your time, your finances, your relationships, or your worries? Invite God back into every space. Wisdom begins when we acknowledge Him not just with our words, but with our trust and obedience.

Truth For The Day
A wise heart doesn’t deny God; it depends on Him.

Pray
Lord, forgive me for the moments I live as if You are not at work. Search my heart, restore my trust, and help me live each day aware of Your presence and truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you giving God your best, or simply giving Him what is convenient?

Context
Hebrews 11 highlights men and women who lived by faith and Abel is mentioned first as an example. Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” Abel’s offering was accepted because it came from a heart of faith and obedience. Cain gave an offering out of routine, but Abel gave God his best with sincere worship. Though Abel’s life was cut short, his testimony still speaks today.

Application
God is not only concerned with what we give Him, but how we give it. He desires hearts that trust Him completely. Faith is more than words or outward actions. Faith is revealed in surrender, obedience, and worship. Abel teaches us that even a simple act done in faith can leave an eternal impact.

Sometimes we feel unnoticed in our service to God. We may wonder if our faithfulness matters. Yet God sees every act of obedience, every prayer, every sacrifice, and every moment of worship offered from a sincere heart. A life lived by faith will always leave a testimony behind.

Truth For The Day
Faith is not measured by the size of the offering, but by the sincerity of the heart behind it.

Pray
Lord, help me to live by faith and worship You with a sincere heart. Teach me to trust You fully and give You my very best in every area of my life. Let my life be a testimony that points others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What is one thing that may be competing with God for your attention, trust, or affection today?

Context
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He addressed worship. Exodus 20:4 is not merely a forbidden command against carved statues; it is a warning against creating substitutes for God. The Israelites would soon struggle with this very issue when they fashioned a golden calf and worshiped it instead of trusting the God who had delivered them.

Application
While most people today do not bow before carved images, it is still possible to create idols in our hearts. Anything that takes God’s place with our affection, trust, or devotion can become an idol. Careers, possessions, relationships, hobbies, and even ministry can become dangerous when they receive the worship that belongs to God alone.

God desires a relationship with us that is based on faith, not on objects we can control or manipulate. He wants us to know Him as He truly is rather than reducing Him to something that fits our preferences or expectations.

Truth For The Day
God will not share His rightful place with any idol.

Pray
Lord, reveal anything in my life that has taken Your place. Help me to worship You alone and to trust You above all else. Remove every idol from my heart and draw me closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.