Pastor Stephen Dedman

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭14

Question
What would it look like for you to trust God more fully in the situation you are trying hardest to control?

Context
These words were spoken by Moses at a moment of intense pressure. Israel stood trapped between the Red Sea and the advancing Egyptian army. Fear was at an all time high. There were no other options. Yet God was not absent, He was preparing to act. Before the sea parted, before the miracle unfolded, God called His people to trust Him in stillness.

Application
Stillness is one of the hardest disciplines of faith. We are wired to fix, move, explain, and control. But God often does His greatest work when we stop striving and start trusting. Being still does not mean being passive; it means resting confidently in who God is and what He has promised. When we quiet our hearts before Him, we make room to see His power at work.

Whatever battle are you may be facing today, pause and surrender it to the Lord. Pray before you plan. Trust before you act. Let God fight the battles that are beyond your strength, wisdom, or control.

Truth For The Day
God is at work even when you are standing still.

Pray
Lord, help me to be still when fear rises and pressure mounts. Teach me to trust You when I cannot see a way forward. I place my battles in Your hands today, believing that You are faithful to fight for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬

Question
What “small thing” is God asking you to be faithful with right now?

Context
Jesus speaks these words while teaching about stewardship and trust. He reminds His listeners that faithfulness is not proven in moments of spotlight, but in everyday responsibilities. God watches how we handle what seems small because those moments reveal the condition of our hearts.

Application
The new year often tempts us to think big, big goals, big plans, big changes. While vision is important, Jesus draws our attention to the unnoticed moments: daily obedience, quiet integrity, and consistent faithfulness.

Most spiritual growth doesn’t happen in dramatic leaps but in steady steps. Praying when no one sees. Speaking truth when it would be easier to stay silent. Choosing obedience when it costs us comfort. These “small” decisions are where God does His deepest work.

God isn’t asking you to carry everything at once. He’s asking you to be faithful with what’s in front of you today.

Truth For The Day
Faithfulness today prepares you for greater responsibility tomorrow.

Pray
Lord, help me to value faithfulness over recognition. Teach me to honor You in the small, unseen moments of my life. Shape my heart to trust You daily and to walk in obedience, one step at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬

Question
What is one clear thing God has shown you to do that you have not yet acted upon?

Context
The book of James speaks directly to believers who possess knowledge of God’s truth but struggle to live it out. In James 4, the focus is on humility, submission to God, and resisting self-centered living. James confronts the tendency to make plans without seeking God’s will and reminds us that faith is not just about what we believe, but how we respond to what we know.

James 4:17 shifts the focus from ignorance to responsibility. The issue is not what we don’t know, but what we do know and choose to ignore. God’s truth always calls for a response. Delayed obedience, selective obedience, or convenient obedience is still disobedience.

Application
Today’s verse reminds us that sin is not only committing wrong actions, but also neglecting the right ones. Faithfulness is often revealed in simple, quiet acts of obedience that no one else sees. A faithful life is not marked by perfection, but by responsiveness to God’s voice.

Ask yourself where God has already made His will clear. Is there a step of obedience you’ve been postponing? A conversation you’ve been avoiding? A habit you need to surrender? Today is an opportunity to act on what God has already shown you.

Truth For The Day
Obedience delayed is obedience denied.

Pray
Lord, forgive me for the times I have heard Your truth but failed to live it out. Give me a heart that responds quickly and humbly to Your direction. Help me not just to know what is right, but to do it faithfully. Shape my life into one of obedience that honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.