Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: bible

Someone To Talk To

Encouragement

…and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor…
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭

The prophet Isaiah spoke of Jesus over 700 years before He was born unto man. Isaiah said His name shall be called “Wonderful Counselor”.  And what a Wonderful Counselor Jesus is.

There are times in our life when we need to turn to wise counsel. Sometimes we have to make hard decisions not knowing what the outcome or impact might be. This is when we trust the Lord for His infinite wisdom.

We should always turn to the Lord first and seek His counsel when we need answers or just need someone to talk to. He is always available. There is no appointment needed and there is no charge for His services. Why would we seek any other counsel?

Jesus has everything we need. If we need financial help He is our Financial Advisor. When we need marriage advice, He is our Marriage Counselor. If we need help deciding a career, He is our Guidance Counselor. He is a Counselor of all things. We need to turn to Jesus first before we turn to anyone else or to anything.

As a Wonderful Counselor, He will not condemn you. He will listen as One who cares and understands what you feel. He is there to support you and help you every step of the way.

He is a friend in time of need. Not only will He give you the truth you need to hear but He will supply the needs that you have. There is only One who can do all things. There is only One who knows all things. He name is Jesus and we call Him “Wonderful Counselor”.

Do you need to talk to the Wonderful Counselor today?

Pray

Lord, You are my help in time of need. You are my rock and salvation. Help me to talk to You about all my troubles and I will listen for Your advice.

Comfort Me, Lord

Encouragement

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
Psalms 107:28-29

What do you do when you are in distress? Psalm 107 describes five stories of people who were in distress and God rescued them. Each story has a common theme of redemption.

Verse 28 says the sailors cried out to the Lord when they were in distress. That is the first thing we should do when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm. God not only calmed the waves, but He brought them to safely to land. (vs. 30)

We often sail in stormy waters. We need God’s help when we are in circumstances that are beyond our control. This is when we can witness what only God can do.

It’s good for us to endure struggles and distress. It shows us how small we are and how big God is. Distresses prove to us that we need God to help us.

There are people who think they can go through life without the help of God. It is so sad to witness people who will not call on God for help. We need not to hesitate to cry out to God in our distress.

Jesus calmed the waves on the Sea of Galilee for the disciples. He spoke and the wind and waves obeyed. It is amazing to watch how God can speak to nature and it listens.

Praise God for helping you in your time of distress. Rejoice in knowing that as a child of God we have a Father who will take care of us and place us safely on dry ground. Can you give thanks to God for His goodness and mercy?

Pray

Lord, I call upon Your great name. You have the power to give me peace and comfort in the time of my distress. Comfort me in Your word.

Experience His Fullness

Encouragement

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16

John chapter 1 introduces us to the humanity of Jesus Christ, which means Jesus was God in human flesh.  He is eternal God who became part of creation.  God came to this earth to live among mankind in human flesh.

The Apostle John declares to us the Word became flesh and dwelt with mankind.  John is writing in first person because he saw Him, touched Him, and heard Him.  John wants us to know that Jesus is the living God.

In verses 14-18 John wants us to know about Jesus’ glory and grace. These two words help us to understand the person of Jesus.  When we receive His grace we can then see His glory.  

It takes grace for our spiritual eyes to be opened that we may see Him for who He is.  That is why the world does not know Him.  The world cannot know Jesus because they have not experienced His grace.  In essence, unbelievers are spiritually blind.

John says in verse 16, “because of His fullness we have received grace upon grace.”  The fullness that John is speaking of is the fact that Jesus fulfilled the law and became the spotless Lamb that permanently took away our sin.  The Old Testament sacrifice was only temporary but the fullness of Jesus is everlasting.  It is because of this fullness that we all receive grace upon grace.

Are you experiencing unending grace through Jesus Christ?  God wants us to experience His grace and see His glory now before we ever get to Heaven.  He wants to reveal Himself to you.  Take time today to look for His grace and enjoy life.  Paul said it best, “His grace is sufficient!” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Pray

Lord, thank You for Your grace. Your grace is all that I need. Help me to understand the fullness of Your never ending grace and love.