Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Faith

You Are In Good Hands

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:23-24‬

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel defeated and discouraged? Yes, we all have. Maybe you’re feeling that way right now. Just know that the enemy is the one who is trying to discourage you, not God. As today’s scripture promises, God upholds you with His hand. As the insurance commercial states, You’re in good hands.

David wrote Psalm 37 while he was in a desperate and discouraging time. He was reflecting back on when he was in a similar situation and leaning on the promises of God. David knew God would never forsake him. He had a close relationship with God which gave him confidence. He knew that if he stumbled, God would be there to pick him back up. God is a loving Father who wants the best for His children.

The devil wants to make you feel that you are disqualified and rejected once you make a mistake. Sadly even some Christians criticize one another in the like manner. We must encourage one another and lift each other up. You can find plenty of negative people around you but how many are positive and encouraging?

Don’t ever believe the lies of the devil that you are disqualified when you mess up. In fact, most of our mistakes give us profound wisdom and understanding. We must learn from our failures and get up and make a difference. Some of the best people to receive counsel from are those who have encountered similar failures and made a difference moving forward. You may be the perfect person to give spiritual advice to someone who is suffering today.

Good people fall everyday but God will uphold you. You’re not defeated. You may feel discouraged or battered, but today is a new day. The first step of getting back up is reaching out for help. Reach out to God for what you need and He will not let you down. Keep a positive attitude and wait for God.

Pray

Lord, help me be an encourager to those who are discouraged. You are my Rock and Shield. Give me strength to endure.

The Meaning Of Church

Encouragement, Faith

‘But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.’
Jude 1:20-21

For many, church is just a building or a religious organization. The church is not about religion. It is not just about preaching, teaching and singing. The church is much more than traditions, rituals, or observances. The church is the Gospel of Jesus Christ lived out through believers.

The church is active in serving and sharing the gospel through acts of kindness and love wherever Christ followers may go. As we each have our own testimony and message of Jesus Christ, the church becomes a deployment opportunity in every community. The church is more than just words, it’s action.

When we build each other up in the faith, we are living out the gospel in our world. Living in a fallen and broken world is not easy, and that is why we need each other. We thrive off of each others faith in Christ. Strong faith keeps people going in difficult situations.

One way we can build each other up in faith is through prayer. As we are told in today’s scripture, “pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.” As we pray, the Holy Spirit gives us boldness and courage to be messengers both in word and in action.

Pray for the people who surround you. Pray for the people who lead you. And pray for God to use your life as an example of Christ’s love.

Pray

Lord, help me to live out the gospel of Jesus in this evil world. Let the light of Jesus shine and give encouragement to others. I lift up my brothers and sisters in Christ to be bold and courageous.

A Different Perspective

Faith, Trust

“When the Philistine (Goliath) arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:48‬

The story of David and Goliath is one of the greatest underdog stories of all time. It has motivated children and adults alike to face their biggest fears and claim victory over life’s toughest challenges.

David’s approach was so courageous that it seemed ridiculous to those who watched in awe. For 40 days the arrogant, loud mouth giant taunted the Israelites. The Israelites were scared to death. But once David heard what Goliath was doing he responded in faith.

David had a different perspective towards the problem. He had a God-perspective. While everyone was saying how big the giant was David was saying how small he was compared to God. Everyone was saying Goliath was too big to hit while David was saying he was too big to miss.

We all face challenges that test our courage and faith. How we respond depends on how we view God. When we respond to challenges with fear we are ultimately telling God He is not big enough or strong enough to take care of us. That’s not the right approach. Instead we need the courage like David had so we can face our fears with faith.

God wants to show us what He can do for us and through us. When we don’t give Him the chance to move in miraculous ways. We tend to down-size His majestic power and minimize His great blessings.

If you want to experience great victories, you’re going to have to place your faith and trust in God for all things and gain a God-size perspective for all your challenges.

Pray

Lord, give me courage to allow You to work in and through me. Show me what You are able to do. Thank You in advance for what You are going to do.