Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Faith

God Is Good To Those Who Wait

Faith, Trust

“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:25‬

Jeremiah was a prophet who preached the Word of God to an ungrateful people. They mocked him and ridiculed his sermons. No wonder Jeremiah was considered the weeping prophet.

While he preached the need for God’s grace, his fellow Israelites searched for other people and other things to satisfy their soul. They gave up on God because He didn’t answer their prayers instantaneously.

Needless to say it didn’t turn out so well when they started worshipping other gods and turned their back on God. Their punishment came in the form of captivity and removal from their land for 70 years.

Jeremiah penned these words, “The Lord is good to those who wait on Him.” This is a verse that many of us should write on a sticky note and put it somewhere it will remind us to wait on the Lord.

If you are like me, sometimes it’s difficult to wait patiently on the Lord. When we pray we want God to answer immediately. But sometimes it’s best for us to wait on the Lord.

When we pray and God doesn’t answer immediately, we must not give up. We must keep praying and keep seeking Him. It’s natural for us to think that God either isn’t listening to our prayers, He doesn’t care, or that He is punishing us. God hears our prayers and will answer in His timing.

Good things come to those who wait on the Lord. Don’t get impatient with God. He knows all things. He’s working all things for His glory.

He has a plan and His plans are much better than ours. When we take matters into our own hands, destruction will happen and things will fall apart. Some of us know first hand what happens when we act as if we are God and take control. It doesn’t turn out so good does it?

Keep praying and keep seeking the will of God. He will ultimately come through at the perfect time. He is not limited to time or resources and will do mighty things for those who remain faithful.

Pray

Lord, I seek You for all things. I have faith that You will answer my prayers at the right time. Give me courage to wait on You.

Are You Serious About Jesus?

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Can you say you’re serious about following Jesus? Many people make a decision to place their faith in Jesus for salvation but few make a serious commitment to follow Jesus closely.

Jesus doesn’t require you to follow him, it’s your choice. But when we whole heartily follow Jesus, we are part of the vine and we bear good fruit. People don’t have to wonder if you are a Christian because you reflect the light of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes our words and actions do not reflect the life Jesus expects from his followers. This happens when we don’t put Jesus first. When we don’t take our walk with Jesus serious we allow the devil to step in. There’s no place for the devil when you’re filled with the Spirit. If you’re filled with the Spirit, where can the devil go? He has no place.

True followers are made in a day, but proven over a lifetime. We are matured and tested for as long as we live. If you genuinely treasure Jesus, God’s still working in your following. With His help, we will go wherever he calls, knowing that he knows best and anything we lose or leave behind will be repaid a hundredfold or more.

What’s keeping you from truly following Jesus? Is it your job? Is it a secret sin? Possibly a lack of knowledge? Make a commitment today to take your relationship with Jesus a priority. The first step is repentance. You must confess your sins. The next step is to yield. You can start by asking Jesus to guide and direct you today. I promise you will see a difference. It’s simple but not easy. You have to take the first step.

Pray

Lord, I don’t want to just know of you. I want to be close to you. I want to feel you near me. Help me to remove anything that is keeping me from being a true follower.

The Word Is Truth

Faith, Trust

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
John 17:17

Just before He was taken away from His disciples, Jesus prayed the most beautiful and profound prayer known to man. With suffering and death on His mind, He prayed to the Father for His disciples who He loved so dearly. He prayed that they would be sanctified in the truth, set apart and made holy unto Him.

Sanctification is a specific act of the Holy Spirit. Once a sinner is saved by grace, the ongoing process of becoming holy takes place in the heart of the believer. It’s an ongoing process that is completed once we are in the presence of God in Heaven. Until then we are increasingly conformed in the likeness of Jesus Christ. It’s a life long process.

Everyone who trusts in the Lord for salvation is sanctified the moment they receive the Holy Spirit into their heart. But every believer must go through the process of maturing in their faith. Day by day we progress into the image of Jesus Christ Himself.

We are enriched with truth through the power of the Word of God. The truth of God sanctifies us and separates us from evil. As we meditate and on the Word of God and study its powerful promises, the truth is planted in our hearts. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we trust our heavenly Father to complete a good work that He started in us on the day of salvation.

Have you allowed the Word of God to work in you? The work we do for Jesus is because of our faith in Him. We steadily and boldly work towards being the person God has called us to be. It’s not an easy to be a Christian but it is rewarding. Set yourself apart from the world today and proclaim the goodness of our Lord in your words and actions.

Pray

Lord, thank You for choosing me. You loved me before I loved You. You have set me apart for Your good work and I am up for the challenge.