Pastor Stephen Dedman

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬

Question
What is Jesus preparing you for right now that you may not fully understand?

Context
In John 16, Jesus is hours away from the cross. The disciples do not fully grasp what is coming… betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, fear, and scattering. Jesus is not reacting to events, He is preparing His followers ahead of time. He tells them about rejection, persecution, and hardship, not to discourage them, but to sustain them. Jesus knows the pressure that comes when faith is tested. He knows how quickly disappointment can turn into doubt. So He speaks truth in advance. He prepares them before the storm hits.

Application
Sometimes we only understand God’s words after we’ve walked through something difficult. But what if today’s Scripture is preparing you for tomorrow’s challenge? You may be misunderstood, face opposition, or experience loss. When it happens, remember that Jesus already spoke about this. Hardship is not proof that God has left you. It may be proof that He has prepared you. So instead of asking, “Why is this happening?” Ask, “How has Jesus already prepared me for this?”

Truth For The Day
Jesus prepares His people so they will not be caught off guard.

Pray
Lord, thank You for speaking truth before I even know I need it. When challenges come, help me remember that You have already prepared me. Teach me to trust that Your words are steady ground beneath my feet. Strengthen my faith today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬

Question
Are you trying to earn a love that God has already freely given?

Context
John writes to believers about the nature of true love. In a world where love is often reduced to emotion, attraction, and romance, John defines love in something deeper. He doesn’t point first to human affection. He points to divine sacrifice.

Application
Valentine’s Day celebrates love and rightly so. God designed love. He created marriage. He created companionship. He is not against romance; He designed it. But the greatest love ever displayed was not written on a card. It was written in blood.

Before you ever loved Him, ever sought Him, or ever chose Him. Human love can disappoint but God’s love never will. Human love can fluctuate but God’s love remains steadfast.

Today, remember that you are fully loved. Let the love you’ve received from Christ overflow in your heart and mind.

Truth For The Day
You don’t earn God’s love, you receive it.

Pray
Lord, thank You for loving me first. On this Valentine’s Day, remind me that Your love is greater than any human affection and deeper than any emotion. Help me reflect Your sacrificial love to those around me. Anchor my heart in the unchanging truth that I am fully known and fully loved in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬

Question
Where are you relying on your own strength instead of resting in the power that keeps you?

Context
Peter wrote to believers who were facing persecution, uncertainty, and suffering. These Christians were scattered, pressured, and misunderstood. Yet instead of focusing on their vulnerability, Peter reminds them of something stronger than their circumstances: They were kept by the power of God.

Application
Some days may feel uncertain. The economy shifts. Health fluctuates. Plans change. People disappoint. But Peter says your salvation is not resting in your grip on God. It is resting in God’s grip on you. You are not held together by your strength. You are guarded by His.

When anxiety rises today, remind yourself: “I am kept. I am guarded. I am not alone.” Stand on the promise that God’s protection is active, even when invisible.

Truth For The Day
You are not surviving on your own strength. You are being guarded by the power of God.

Pray
Lord, thank You that my security does not depend on my performance but on Your power. When I feel uncertain or weak, remind me that I am kept by You. Guard my heart, steady my faith, and help me rest in Your protection today. In Jesus’ name, amen.