Pastor Stephen Dedman

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬

Question
How closely are you walking with Christ today?

Context
Jesus connects two powerful realities in this verse: abiding and asking. Many people focus on the promise of answered prayer but overlook the condition that comes before it which is remaining in Christ. To abide means to stay, to dwell, to live connected to Him daily. It is a relationship marked by trust, obedience, and dependence.

When Christ’s words abide in us, our desires begin to change. Our prayers are shaped by His heart, His will, and His purposes. Prayer then becomes less about convincing God to do what we want and more about aligning ourselves with what He already desires to do. Out of that alignment flows a life that experiences God’s provision, peace, and power.

Application
Take time today to examine your connection to Christ. Are you listening to His Word, obeying His voice, and trusting His timing? Bring your requests to Him, not out of desperation, but out of relationship. Ask boldly, knowing that a life rooted in Christ can trust God with both the answer and the process.

Truth For The Day
A full life of prayer flows from a faithful life of abiding.

Pray
Lord, help me to abide in You. Let Your Word shape my heart and guide my prayers. Teach me to ask with faith and trust You fully with the outcome. I want my life to bear fruit that brings glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬

Question
Where is God asking you to trust Him today, even though the next step isn’t fully clear?

Context
Hebrews 11 was written to believers who were experiencing pressure, persecution, and fatigue in their faith. Some were tempted to turn back or rely on what was familiar rather than continue trusting Christ. The writer reminds them that faith has always been the way God’s people live, by trusting His promises even when they cannot yet see their fulfillment. Hebrews 11:1 serves as the foundation for the entire chapter, defining faith as confident trust in God’s unseen but certain promises.

Application
Faith requires action. Today, choose to obey God in the areas where He has already spoken, even if you don’t yet see the outcome. This may look like continuing in prayer, extending forgiveness, remaining faithful in service, or stepping forward in obedience despite fear. Trust that God is working beyond what your eyes can see, and let faith guide your decisions rather than doubt.

Truth For The Day
God’s promises are certain, even when they are not yet visible. Faith rests in who God is, not in what we see.

Pray
Lord, strengthen my faith today. Help me trust You when I cannot see the outcome and walk in obedience even when it feels uncomfortable. I choose to place my confidence in You, not in what I can understand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭5‬

Question
What area of your life do you need to trust God to make new?

Context
Revelation is often associated with judgment, mystery, and the end of all things. Interesting though, it is a book of hope. In this moment, God speaks from the throne, not words of destruction, but words of renewal. He does not say He will destroy what is broken; He says He will make it new.

Application
This promise reaches beyond the future and into today. God is still in the business of restoration, renewing hearts, healing wounds, and redeeming what feels beyond repair. What feels final to us is never final to Him. The same God who will one day renew creation is already at work renewing you.

When tomorrow feels heavy with yesterday’s failures or today’s uncertainties, remember: God’s work is not finished. His words are “trustworthy and true,” and His renewal is certain.

Truth for the Day
God’s power to renew is greater than the past or present struggles.

Pray
Lord, thank You that You are seated on the throne and still at work. I trust You with what feels broken in my life. Renew my heart, restore my hope, and help me live today in the confidence that You make all things new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.