Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Stop Running

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31:5‬

There is a story of a lawyer who was trying to deliver an important document to a man. Thinking it was a subpoena, the man avoided the attorney at all cost. But this was a very persistent attorney, and he wouldn’t give up.

This went on for many years, until the man ended up in the hospital, dying of a serious illness. As he was lying on his death bed, the lawyer walked up next to him with the document in hand. The man said, “I can’t run from you anymore. I’m dying. Just give me the subpoena.”

“What subpoena?” the lawyer asked. “I have a document here to prove that you’ve inherited $20 million dollars!”

That is how it is when we run from God. We’re saying, “Get away from me, God, I don’t want your forgiveness, your love, and your mercy. I don’t want your blessings. I want to live the way I want to live.”

People run from God for all kinds of reasons. Maybe it’s because we think God has abandoned us. Or maybe we run from God because of pride and rebellion. Some run because they’ve been hurt. Others run because they’re scared. The reason we run is because we believe the lie that God’s presence is not best for us.

Instead of running away from God we need to run to Him. God loves you and wants to help you. God forgives you and extends mercy and grace when we don’t deserve it. Don’t be like the man in the story who ran for so long that he ended up missing out on a great blessing. Don’t miss out on the best things God has to offer.

Pray

Lord, I run to you and you only. Into your hand I commit my spirit. Forgive me for not trusting you more.

Time To Transition

Encouragement

‘The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.’
Psalms 14:2

When God looks down from heaven, one thing He looks for is if there are people who understand His heart and seek after Him for righteousness sake. He’s not looking for people who are smart enough to figure Him out. He looks to see who has a moral and spiritual awareness.

As we transition from Christmas celebrations to New Year’s resolutions, it’s fair to say that we look forward to something new. 2021 will definitely be a year of transition. We will be transitioning from old ways and developing new methods.

We have the opportunity to set our hearts toward God. Once we seek after the heart of God we can be certain that God will align our paths and keep us in His perfect will. God notices those who seek after Him.

Let this be a time of transition. Transition your heart from what’s not important to the things that matter most to God. Allow God to speak to your heart about the things that need to happen for His glory.

Pray

Lord, I know you see my heart and You know my mind. Help me to establish behaviors that bless Your name. Keep me in Your ways and purposes.

Stephen Dedman

Do You Worship, part 2

Encouragement, Trust

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:25-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Have you ever worshipped and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit?  Have you ever had “God” bumps go up your arm while worshipping. There is an amazing effect that worship has when we are focused on worshipping Him. True worshippers get God’s attention. 

Paul and Silas were put in the inner prison with a guard watching to make sure they didn’t escape. They were imprisoned while they were traveling around preaching when they encountered a demon-possessed fortune-teller who was working as a slave. After commanding the demon out of her, the men who were profiting from her work knew their crooked business was over and sought to have Paul and Silas taken away. They were beaten and chained up.

While in prison, they didn’t cry and complain, they worshipped. They sang hymns to God. They were praising God while they were suffering. And suddenly it happened. The foundations began to shake and the doors were opened and the chains fell off. They worshipped and got God’s attention. God set them free. God fought their battle. They worshipped during a time that most people could not.

True worship has a lasting effect on the world. True worshippers make a difference. When we find ourselves in difficult and disastrous situations we need to turn our eyes to God and worship Him. God can change the whole situation and turn it around for His glory. God seeks to find people who are true worshippers.

Lord, make me a true worshipper. Give me a heart of praise and joy. Help me to know I can turn to You when I’m in trouble.

Daily Devotional