Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

God Is On Your Side

Encouragement

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬

We have a promise from Jesus that we are overcomers. We can overcome any stressful situation we face. We can overcome any negative circumstance we are dealing with. We can overcome because we have God on our side.

It doesn’t take long after experiencing a hardship that you start to feel overwhelmed. In today’s verses, Paul gives us hope for a new joy. He says you will have times when you feel like giving up because you feel stressed to the max. But don’t give up.

It seems like everyday we hear of people getting bad news. Bad news that someone is sick. Bad news that someone we know has suddenly passed away. Bad news that someone has just divorced. Bad news that someone just lost a good job.

How can someone see that brighter days are ahead? It’s tough now but there is coming a day that joy will be restored.

We have faith in God that we belong to Him and we are in His hand. He knows what we are facing and He cares. Paul’s words of encouragement to us prove that we may be crushed or persecuted be there will be a brighter day ahead. There will soon be a day that we can have our joy restored.

The most effective way to have your joy restored is to have a positive outlook on life. Thinking positive gives us hope. But when tough circumstances arise it’s hard to be positive all the time. This is when we should consider what we are doing for the Lord.

Are we glorifying Him in all that we do? Are we searching the scriptures for hope and encouragement? The Bible promises that when we seek after God, He will be found and He will pour out His love.

Another way to be encouraged is to do something out of the ordinary that displays the love of Jesus. Helping someone else always brings joy. When we are doing the work of Christ, it satisfies our soul and lifts our spirits.

Pray

Lord, You promise in Your word that you will lift me up and encourage me. Today I pray that you encourage me and allow me to express love to someone else.

A Test Of Your Faith

Encouragement

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭13:4‬

Have you ever confused human reasoning with obedience to God? Sometimes what seems reasonable might not necessarily be what God commands. We must be very careful when we decide to choose what makes sense over obeying the Word of God.

A wonderful example of this occurs in Genesis 22 when God instructs Abraham to do something that goes against human logic or reasoning. “He (God) said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.“”‭‭ (Genesis‬ ‭22:2‬) How would you respond? Would you substitute human reasoning with obedience?

Abraham responded with complete obedience. “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.”‭‭ (Genesis‬ ‭22:9‬)

Abraham knew the importance of obedience to God and he was rewarded or blessed. “Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis‬ ‭22:17-18‬)

Our test of faith and obedience may not be so extreme, but we will be tested in ways that strengthen our faith.

Will you tell the truth when it seems logical to lie in order to protect someone’s feelings?

Will you give to the poor although you feel they would not use your gift wisely?

Will you go out of your comfort zone to share Jesus with a complete stranger?

Will you obey even when it might not make sense?

Pray

Lord, I will obey your voice even when it doesn’t make sense. Give me wisdom and understanding. Help me to discern what you require of me.

Every Word Of God

Encouragement

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30:5‬

Reading and studying the Bible daily takes a real commitment. You must be intentional everyday. A careful plan will help you thoroughly read and apply the truth of God’s word.

When we allow other sources to dictate truth, we can easily be misled. Many things in our life compete with the Bible. The only way to know the real truth is to align our theology (what we believe to be true) with the Bible. Our lives should revolve around the Bible.

People are searching for the truth. With technology at our fingertips, we desire to know what is true and what is not.

However, the problem arises from the source of where the truth is searched. You can find all kinds of fascinating information on the internet, but it’s not all true.

We have full confidence and conviction through the Holy Spirit of God that the Bible is 100 percent true. God gives us the truth through His written word. God speaks life into us when we study and obey His commandments.

Do you turn to the Bible as your source of truth? Do you align your life according to His written commands?

Pray

Lord, help me to study and obey Your word. Give me knowledge and wisdom to understand Your principles. Thank you for giving me hope and joy.