Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Are You Spiritually Disciplined?

Encouragement, Trust

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:11‬

What are your personal spiritual disciplines? Have you disciplined yourself in God’s Word?

Spiritual disciplines are similar to dieting. When we are selective and mindful of the nutritional foods we eat, the results are beneficial to maintaining good health. Eating healthy food produces a healthy body.

Indulging on junk food may satisfy you temporarily but it’s not going to return good health. In fact many Americans are overweight and unhealthy because we are not disciplined with what we eat.

Maybe you have great self-control when you see a warm, freshly baked chocolate cake with chocolate icing sitting on the counter next to a glass of ice cold milk. (The struggle is real!)

We may not be tempted in the same way but you know what tempts you to steer away from healthy eating habits.

In the same way we must be disciplined to feeding our souls. We are tempted spiritually everyday. The devil will do whatever he can to make you stumble. Especially when you’re not spiritually disciplined.

Spiritual disciplines help us to maintain righteous living and be healthy servants for God. When we pray without ceasing, we are mindful of the things of God. When we meditate day and night on the Word of God, we feel closer to God. When we worship regularly with other Believers we are more aware of other’s needs than our own. Giving and serving produces joy in our hearts.

The Bible has no comprehensive “spiritual disciplines” list we should practice, but it does give us commands to do certain things on a regular basis. And when we do, they produce good fruit in our lives.

Pray

Lord, help me to stay spiritually strong and keep me from evil desires. Help me to create healthy spiritual disciplines that will incorporate Your standards into my life.

What Do You Do When…

Encouragement, Trust

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:2

What do you do when you feel helpless? When life seems to spiral out of control, what do you do?

Helplessness can turn to hopelessness if you don’t know where to turn. At some point in time we all need assistance. We all experience situations in life that stretch our abilities and resources to the max. It is at this point when we ask, “Where does my help come from?”

God will allow difficult circumstances in our lives for us to turn to Him for what we need. When we face impossible situations we have a choice to make. We can continue to feel helpless and hopeless or we can turn to God.

We don’t ever need to think that God is not wanting to help us or that we have done something so bad that God won’t come through for us. We all make mistakes and we all need God’s help.

That is what makes God an awesome God. He forgives and He extends grace to those who don’t deserve it.

Obviously the psalmist was facing some very stressful circumstances that required the Lord’s assistance and he knew God was going to do something for him.

Most of the time we ignore the signs of needing God and we try to accomplish difficult tasks in our own strength and wisdom. But wouldn’t you rather have the One who created the heavens and the earth to help you?

God knows what you need and knows how to help you. He is just waiting for you to say, “Help!”

Don’t wait until you have exhausted all of your abilities and resources. Immediately when you realize you need help just ask God. He will be ready to give you comfort and hope.

More than anything we need to know that God cares for us and is desiring to show us how much He loves us. God loves you and will be your help.

Pray

Lord, I need you today. Help me in my time of trouble. You are my rock and my shield. I trust You and know You are doing something about my circumstance right now.

Words Of Truth

Encouragement

‘Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. ‘
Ezekiel 3:10

The Bible was written not just to inform us but to change us. Real life change comes from spending time with God. No one can truly meet with God and not be changed. When we read the Scriptures we need to let them sink deep into our heart as Ezekiel 3:10 states.

How do you hear God’s voice? How do you know He is speaking to you and it’s not just your own thoughts or worse, the devil? The best way to know you are hearing the voice of God is to engage in the Scriptures on a daily basis.

The best way to allow the Word of God to sink into our hearts is to meditate on the Scriptures. Allow the words to marinate in your mind and hear them as you read them. Most of the time there will be a word or phrase that leaps off the pages of the Bible and makes a difference in your life.

Take that word or phrase and allow it to change your life. Watch how it changes your mind, attitude, or heart. Try to remember that word or phrase from the Scripture and reflect on it all day.

For example take today’s verse and ponder the words, “Listen, carefully.” Those two words can change your life. They can speak truth through the day. Every time you think of the words you will be reflecting on what you need to listen carefully to, or who you need to listen to. Try it and see for yourself.

Pray

Lord, speak to me through Your Word today. Let Your words make a real change in my life. Help me to meditate on Your Word.