Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Someone To Talk To

Encouragement

…and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor…
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭

The prophet Isaiah spoke of Jesus over 700 years before He was born unto man. Isaiah said His name shall be called “Wonderful Counselor”.  And what a Wonderful Counselor Jesus is.

There are times in our life when we need to turn to wise counsel. Sometimes we have to make hard decisions not knowing what the outcome or impact might be. This is when we trust the Lord for His infinite wisdom.

We should always turn to the Lord first and seek His counsel when we need answers or just need someone to talk to. He is always available. There is no appointment needed and there is no charge for His services. Why would we seek any other counsel?

Jesus has everything we need. If we need financial help He is our Financial Advisor. When we need marriage advice, He is our Marriage Counselor. If we need help deciding a career, He is our Guidance Counselor. He is a Counselor of all things. We need to turn to Jesus first before we turn to anyone else or to anything.

As a Wonderful Counselor, He will not condemn you. He will listen as One who cares and understands what you feel. He is there to support you and help you every step of the way.

He is a friend in time of need. Not only will He give you the truth you need to hear but He will supply the needs that you have. There is only One who can do all things. There is only One who knows all things. He name is Jesus and we call Him “Wonderful Counselor”.

Do you need to talk to the Wonderful Counselor today?

Pray

Lord, You are my help in time of need. You are my rock and salvation. Help me to talk to You about all my troubles and I will listen for Your advice.

Faith That Pleases God

Encouragement

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5

There are only a few verses in the Bible that mention a special man by the name Enoch. Genesis 5:18-24, Hebrews 5:6-7, and Jude 1:14-15 are the only passages of Holy Scripture that reference Enoch and his close walk with God.

The most interesting thing about Enoch is that he pleased God so well that he did not die but was taken up to heaven.

Enoch is described as a man of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Faith brings glory to God and faith in Jesus is what saves a person from sin.

Enoch is a beautiful picture of the church that is to be raptured up by Jesus Christ. Just as Enoch was raptured up before the judgment of the flood waters, so the church will be raptured up before the judgment of God is poured out on the earth in the seven years of tribulation.

We may not know the day or hour that Jesus will come but we need to walk in daily fellowship with God so we are prepared for such an event. Jesus will come in the clouds with a loud trumpet sound and everyone will know it.

In the meantime it is faith that pleases God the Father. It is faith in His Word and walking in close fellowship with Jesus that pleases God. One day we will be talking to Jesus in prayer and all of a sudden He will appear in the sky and we will meet Him in the air and forever be in His presence.

Does your faith today please God?

Pray

Lord, thank You for sending us Jesus to take away our sins. Help me to live by faith alone. Help me to be strong in my weaknesses and increased by faith.

Comfort Me, Lord

Encouragement

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
Psalms 107:28-29

What do you do when you are in distress? Psalm 107 describes five stories of people who were in distress and God rescued them. Each story has a common theme of redemption.

Verse 28 says the sailors cried out to the Lord when they were in distress. That is the first thing we should do when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm. God not only calmed the waves, but He brought them to safely to land. (vs. 30)

We often sail in stormy waters. We need God’s help when we are in circumstances that are beyond our control. This is when we can witness what only God can do.

It’s good for us to endure struggles and distress. It shows us how small we are and how big God is. Distresses prove to us that we need God to help us.

There are people who think they can go through life without the help of God. It is so sad to witness people who will not call on God for help. We need not to hesitate to cry out to God in our distress.

Jesus calmed the waves on the Sea of Galilee for the disciples. He spoke and the wind and waves obeyed. It is amazing to watch how God can speak to nature and it listens.

Praise God for helping you in your time of distress. Rejoice in knowing that as a child of God we have a Father who will take care of us and place us safely on dry ground. Can you give thanks to God for His goodness and mercy?

Pray

Lord, I call upon Your great name. You have the power to give me peace and comfort in the time of my distress. Comfort me in Your word.