Pastor Stephen Dedman

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What have you been hesitant to ask God for because you are unsure how He will respond?

Context
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches His followers about the importance of prayer. Just before this verse, He encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. He then uses the example of an earthly father. Even imperfect parents understand the desire to provide good things for their children.

Application
Sometimes we hesitate to bring our needs before God. We may wonder if He cares, if He is listening, or if our requests are too small. Jesus reminds us that God is a loving Father who invites His children to come to Him. This does not mean God will give us everything we want, but we can trust Him to give what is truly good and what we genuinely need. His wisdom is greater than ours, and His love never fails.

Truth For The Day
You can trust your heavenly Father. He hears you, loves you, and always knows what is best for you.

Pray
Lord, thank You for being a good and loving Father. Help me to trust Your heart, Your wisdom, and Your provision. Give me the confidence to bring every need and concern to You, knowing that You always desire what is best for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭49‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Where are you placing your confidence: in temporary things or in the eternal promises of God?

Context
Psalm 49 reminds us that wealth, status, and earthly success cannot save us from death. No amount of money can purchase eternal life or redeem a soul. Rich and poor alike will eventually face death. The psalmist’s confidence was not in his possessions, accomplishments, or power. His hope was in God.

For believers, this truth finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has conquered the power of sin and death. The grave is not the end for those who belong to Him. God has redeemed us, and one day He will receive us into His presence.

Application
It is easy to place our confidence in temporary things such as our finances, health, possessions, or plans. Psalm 49:15 reminds us that our greatest security is found in God alone. Everything in this world will eventually fade, but our relationship with Christ is eternal.

When you face uncertainty, remember this: you have been redeemed by God, and death does not have the final word. Your future is secure in His hands.

Truth For The Day
What you cannot save yourself from, God has the power to redeem you from.

Pray
Lord, thank You for redeeming my life through Jesus Christ. Help me not to place my hope in the things of this world, but in You alone. When I face fear and uncertainty, remind me that You hold my life and my future in Your hands. Thank You that death is not the end and that one day You will receive me into Your eternal presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What might God be asking you to leave behind so you can move forward in faith?

Context
Deuteronomy chapter 1 begins with Moses reminding Israel of their journey from Egypt toward the Promised Land. God had brought them to Mount Horeb, where they received His law and witnessed His power. But Horeb was never meant to be their permanent destination. After a season of preparation, God told them, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”

Application
What mountain have you been living on too long? Perhaps it is a past failure, a painful experience, fear of the future, or even the comfort of what is familiar. God may be calling you to leave behind what was and step into what He has prepared next.

Sometimes we can become comfortable in places God only intended us to pass through. Even good seasons can become places of delay when God is calling us forward.

Moving forward does not mean forgetting the lessons of the past. It means trusting God enough to obey Him in the present. The same God who sustained you at the mountain will guide you on the journey ahead.

Truth For The Day
God never calls us to move forward without promising to go with us.

Pray
Lord, thank You for every season You have used to teach and shape me. Help me not to remain where You are calling me to move on. Give me the courage to leave behind fear, regret, and comfort, and to follow You wherever You lead. I trust that You have brought me this far and will faithfully keep guiding me forward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.