Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Faith

Abide In The Shadow Of God

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

Has there ever been a time that you felt the Lord abandoned you in a difficult situation?  Rest assured that He has never left you nor has He ever forsaken you.  He can’t and He won’t.  

As long as we belong to Him this promise remains forever.  His love is too great to abandon us.  He desires for His children to rest in His presence.  

He is the One to turn to when in we run into trouble.  He is our safe place as this 911 verse promises.  The word “dwell” means to to take up residence. We live in the presence of God and seek Him as our shelter.  

The shelter of God is our protection.  This verse reminds us that He is continually looking over us and keeping us safe.  In the shadow we find relief from the heat.  Staying in His shadow guards us from disastrous elements.

Remember that as a child of God you will never walk alone.  Even though your struggles may seem hard and heavy, you still have the stronghold of God Almighty at your side.  Your difficulties are strengthening you for your next assignment from God.  

The entire chapter of Psalm 91 is packed full with the power of God.  It reminds us that He faithfully works all things together on behalf of those who love Him.  Allow God to fight your battles and use your circumstances to make you stronger in your faith.

Pray

Lord, help me to rest in Your presence and seek Your protection in all my situations.  Place me right where You want me to be. I will praise You in my storms.

He Will Make It Happen

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:11

As Christians we seek God’s will to be done here on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10).  In fact we pray for God’s will to be done in our lives.  There is no stopping the will of God nor is there a chance that we can change the will of God.  

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be God?  We are so thankful that God is who He is.  There is none like Him nor is there anyone or anything that can compare to Him.  There is one God and He is our God!

As He says in today’s verse, “I have said it and I will make it happen.”  Only God can fulfill those words and keep the promises that He speaks.  The reason He can make all things happen is because He plans and purposes all things.  

We need to grasp this concept and adapt it into our daily living.  God will use all things to work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

We pray and seek God’s will to be done but do we consider the bad things to be part of God’s will as well.  We tend to blame the bad things that happen on Satan.  Sometimes God’s will may allow us to go through trying times and through muddy waters before we receive the great reward.

God purposes and plans all things because He is in control of all things.

Pray

Lord, help me to know that You alone are in control and Your will is being purposed in my life. Give me peace and comfort of knowing that You love me and everything will be just as You have planned it.

The Heart Of Jesus

Encouragement, Faith, Salvation

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”
John 4:34

All through the Four Gospels we see the priority or the heart of Jesus.  We also witness the priority or the heart of the disciples.  Jesus was most concerned with the spiritual needs and the disciples were more concerned with the physical needs.  

Jesus stressed in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then everything else will be added to your life.  Jesus promised that God would always meet peoples needs.  The disciples always had what they needed, exactly when they needed it.

In the beginning verses of John chapter 4, Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well.  The disciples went to get food and returned to give some to Jesus.  When they told him to eat He said, “My food is to do the will of God and to do His work.”  

Again while Jesus’ mind was on spiritual matters the disciples were thinking about feeding the flesh.  Jesus was giving the woman at the well eternal life while the disciples were more interested in feeding their bellies.

Here is the point… Jesus entrusts us to do His work.  We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to be concerned with the spiritual needs of others as much as their physical needs.  Sometimes we neglect sharing the truth with those who need it and concentrate on making sure they have something to eat or that their bills are paid.  

We should always make sure we are giving the “bread of life” to those who are lost and hungry.  Giving someone something to eat and not offering them Jesus is missing a great opportunity to witness.  

Witness to someone today and let them know that God loves them.

Pray

Lord, send someone in my direction and allow me time to share the truth of Jesus Christ with them.  Thank you for sending the person who helped me to know Jesus.