Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Faith

The Wilderness Class

Faith, Trust

‘So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord . ‘
Deuteronomy 8:3

Have you ever been at a place where you couldn’t turn to anyone but God? You had nothing else and no one else to count on? This is how God humbles us.

God humbled Israel as He brought them to a place where all they could do was depend on Him. The wilderness was a classroom of learning to be humble. God was teaching Israel a lesson on dependency.

Israel had no other option but to rely on the Lord. They were allowed to hunger so that they could experience the goodness of God. For some, this doesn’t make sense but it’s how God works.

The lesson in the wilderness was to teach the Israelites to trust God in His word instead of trusting in material things. We too must learn that the word of God is our food and substance where we find life. Obedience to the Word of God is a place of joy and blessing.

It’s okay to be in the wilderness. The wilderness is a place where we can truly count on God. It’s a place where God allows suffering for our own good. The place where we experience the grace and goodness of God. A place of blessings indeed.

Pray

Lord, I want to trust in You and You only. Guide me through the wilderness if I need to go through it. Humble me now before I pride myself into destruction.

Listen For God’s Voice

Encouragement, Faith

‘And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ‘
Isaiah 30:21

There is nothing like knowing you are in the sovereign will of God. Your life is much more peaceful when you’re listening and following the voice of God. It’s comforting to hear His voice and sense the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It’s reassuring to a child when they hear the voice of their mother or father. And it is the same for every child of God when we hear Him speak.

Do you listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go? It seems that we tend to separate our spiritual lives from our everyday routines. We tend to lean towards God for the most important decisions but not in every decision.

It takes an intentional effort to listen for God’s voice in everything we do. We make a special effort to listen for God’s voice when we go to church or when we read our Bible and pray. But what about the other times when we think we have it all planned out?

The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17) When you hear the word of God spoken do you hear the voice of God? What is He speaking to you today? But God doesn’t just speak through His word, He also speaks through His Spirit, circumstances, and even other Christians. It’s important that we discern the voice of God and allow Him to reveal Himself to us.

The Bible is full of examples of how God spoke to His people. He still speaks to us today. The problem is that we tend not to be listening or ready to receive what He has to say. Most of the time God’s voice is just a small whisper. You really have to listen for it. You have to be ready for it. You have to be in position to hear it.

Free yourself from sin and listen for His voice. Tune out the world and tune into His word. Pray and practice the art of listening for the still small voice of God. He has much to say and we have so much to learn.

Pray

Lord, speak to me today. Allow me to pay attention to the things that surround me and to discern what is true and what is false. I need You to teach me and give me wisdom.

You Are Not Alone

Encouragement, Faith

‘Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should abe alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” ‘
Genesis 2:18

After God created man, He said, “it is not good that man should be alone.” God wants us to love others and to be loved by others. It’s important that we have social interaction with others and feel a sense of community and fellowship. Maintaining healthy relationships with others is vital to a healthy lifestyle, physically and spiritually.

There are some negative effects of loneliness that could have an impact on your health. Studies have shown that those who feel lonely or isolated choose more unhealthy food options and are less motivated. Loneliness can also lead to depression.

The devil tries to isolate you and make you feel like a prisoner in solitary confinement. He tries to eliminate your community and fellowship with others. But God provided a solution to the problem and created other people.

He told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. (Genesis 1:28) After the flood He told Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply. (Genesis 9:1) He told Jacob to be fruitful and multiply. (Genesis 35:11) God wants us to be with and around other people.

We have become a society that avoids people and personal, social contact. We even have a fear that contact with others will cause sickness and the spread of viruses. We need to use caution but we still need personal interaction with others.

Do you know someone who lives alone? Have you noticed someone close to you not being as social anymore? Reach out to that someone today and let them know they are loved by you and loved by God.

Are you feeling a sense of loneliness? As a Christian you are not alone. Christ is living inside of you and He is with you. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Comforter. Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

Pray

Lord, give me peace and comfort through Your Spirit today. Help me to notice who is lonely and share Your love and comfort with them. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us.