Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Stephen Dedman

Living Large

Encouragement, Trust

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Apostle Paul lived his life to the fullest. He had a passion and purpose that was out of this world. His passion was strengthened with love and his purpose was unyielded with determination. He lived for Christ.

If we were to live everyday like Paul we would be living large. Everyday would be to glorify God in all that we do. As a Christian, we should be motivated and excited about the things that pleases Jesus.

However, we have a worldly problem that keeps us grounded from living large. Sometimes we live for ourselves or for other people. We tend to please ourselves and others more than we please the Lord. We can all admit we have been there.

Let me ask you, are you living large for Christ? Are you pleasing Jesus in all that you do? Are you living life to the fullest like Paul?

I want to encourage you through today’s scripture verse to live large for Christ. Start today being excited and motivated to serve and love others like Christ does. I pray you receive in return the joy of the Lord.

Daily Devotional


Happy New Year

Encouragement, Trust

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God has done great and wonderful things in 2019 but we anticipate even greater things for 2020. When we stop to think about the last year or even the last decade we can’t help but think of His wonderful attributes. Only God can do such wonderful things.

Are you anticipating great things for this new year? Are you hoping for wonderful opportunities to present themselves to you? We hope for the best to come and as a child of God we can rest assured the best is yet to come. Jesus is coming!

God wants us to experience His goodness. If we are not diving into His Word and devoting ourselves to His majesty we are living less than what we should. Strive to see how you can experience Him more now than ever before. The Scriptures tell us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…”‭‭ (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-14‬)

I hope you have a wonderful and happy new year and I pray that you find joy and peace that fills your heart and soul.

Daily Devotional

In The Secret Place

Encouragement, Trust

In The Secret Place

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭

 

When You Pray…

Do you have a quiet place to go into and pray?  If not, you should find a place that is your quiet place that you can get away and pray.  A place that is away from distractions and free from interference.  Everyone needs their special place where they can speak with God in prayer.

While Jesus preaches the famous “Sermon On The Mount”, He addresses the subject of prayer.  The idea behind finding a place to pray is so that you can keep your eyes on God and not anyone else.  Your place should be somewhere you can go and no one knows you’re praying.  Prayer time with God is not to impress anyone with big words or with impressive speech, but to impress God with a heart that is seeking His will and way.  Jesus goes on to say that we should not use vain repetitions.  If you are saved God hears your prayers.  There is no need to use key words that have more power or impressiveness.  Prayer is not the source of getting from God it is the act of becoming one with God.  When our prayers align with the will of God then we have answered prayers.  The Holy Spirit will teach us and instruct what to pray when we are controlled by Him.

When we pray we need to act like Jesus is in the room with us and we are speaking directly to Him.  Say what is on your mind and what is on your heart and communicate the things you want to say to Him.  This is when we can have the right fellowship with Him.

Prayer

Lord, I love you and seek you in all things.  Help me to stay in constant prayer and meditation with Your Word.