Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Trust

In The Line Of Fire

Faith, Trust

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
I Peter 4:16

There are times when we are caught in the crossfire of severe trials such as death, disease, pain… and even persecution for our faith. Because we live in a cursed and evil world, we are not immune to the sufferings of this world.

God never promised to keep us out of the crossfire, but He did promise that when we are in the crossfire, He would be there with us!

You might remember Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to compromise their faith and bow down and pray to the statue of king Nebuchadnezzar. These guys faced a fiery furnace. However, in the midst of the furnace they were not alone. God was right there with them.

Whenever you are caught in the crossfire of a trial or persecution for your faith, remember that the Lord Jesus is there with you. It may not always feel like He is with you, but He is. And He is working out His perfect plan for your life.

No matter what you are facing today or in the days to come, you have a Comforter that knows you and knows what you are facing. No matter how big or small the situation may be He is always there with you. Trust the promises of God. Place your faith in the One who knows all things. Live confidently in the hope of Jesus Christ.

Pray

Lord, I trust you are working everything out according to Your plan and purpose. I will trust You and honor You as my Lord. My full faith is in You.

Lead Me, O Lord

Faith, Trust

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭

David certainly had enemies that were plotting against him.  They had evil intentions and were manipulating him before king Saul.  King Saul was growing jealously aware that David could possibly steal his throne.  It was all false and made David look like the bad guy.

Can you can relate to this situation?  Have you ever had someone falsely accuse you of something or say something about you that wasn’t true?  

David responded with wisdom and reason.  He wanted God to lead him down the right path so he would not fail.  David wanted the tables turned and for his enemies to get what they were plotting for him. He wanted their own words to be their trap, to be caught in their lies so he could be cleared.

This still happens today. Even in the church, people gossip and slander each other. The Bible tells us that God hated this for David and hates it when we do this to one another or when people of the world do this to His children.

God hates wicked speech of any form.  The remarkable thing is that David displayed the mark of true discipline, the result of a God-centered life, following Him, His precepts and plan while seeking His purpose for his life.  

Walk in God’s righteousness and allow the Lord to lead you in the right path.

Pray

Lord, keep me in Your straight path. Give me wisdom and reason to respond righteously when I face evil people. Help me to seek Your righteousness.

Time To Pray

Encouragement, Trust

“So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1:4‬

When do you know it’s time to pray? Is it when things in your life are falling apart? Or when there is mass chaos all around? What has to happen for you to realize it’s time to pray?

Most of the time we wait till things get out of hand before we say, “I can’t do anything but pray that God does something.” If this is the case, we’ve waited too long.

Nehemiah received some news that deeply disturbed him. The Jews had gone back into their homeland to rebuild their city and temple, but the walls around Jerusalem were still in ruins. As you can tell in our Scripture verse today, Nehemiah was troubled in his heart.

His response to this terrible news was to turn to God with fasting and prayer. He knew he couldn’t do anything about it, but He knew God could.

Are there things in your life right now that are disturbing you? Are they out of your control? If so, it’s time to pray. When something lays heavy on your heart and you can’t get it off your mind, you need to turn to the Lord in prayer.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. The moment something troubles you, seek the Lord in prayer. Spending time in prayer with God will make a difference in your life. God will reveal special things to you and give you hope that something is about to happen.

Pray

Lord, I know You hear my prayers and You know my heart. I ask that You give me the solutions to my troubles. I seek You today for guidance and understanding.