Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Anger Makes You Foolish

Encouragement

Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9

People are entertained by conflicts. Especially when it’s reality drama. They are thrilled when someone gets what they deserve. It’s very sad but it’s true to say that some people like to watch others suffer. That’s why TV drama series are so popular.

It’s easy to get angry and lash out toward others. We see people act like fools because of their anger and bitterness. We must be careful that we never let our anger get the best of us.

As Christians we are called to be set apart from the rest of the world. However, if we fill our minds with the filth and garbage of reality TV, gossip, and drama, we tend to engage upon it.  There comes a point in time when the Holy Spirit urges us to stop feeding on the negativity and start feeding on positive thoughts and actions. 

Evil surrounds us in every direction and it will eventually entice us if we allow it. Evil thoughts and actions result from a heart full of anger and an unforgiving attitude.

But on the opposite spectrum, when we fill our hearts and minds with encouraging and uplifting spiritual things we produce holiness and righteousness. 

If you want to have less anger in your life you need to feed your heart and mind with grace and truth. The more you mature in the Word of God the more you will control your emotions of anger.

Instead of dwelling on the things that make you angry try focusing on the good things God has done for you. When you count your blessings one by one the things that make us angry will fade away.

Prayer

Lord, take my focus off the negative things of this world and allow me to see the great things You are doing in my life.  Help me to resist the temptation to sin in my anger.

In It To Win It

Encouragement

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7

This one verse is given as a message of hope. God’s design for human life is for us to succeed and not fail. However, fear will keep a person from accomplishing the best things God has to offer.

Satan uses fear and doubt to keep us from doing and witnessing extraordinary things.  Satan does not want us experiencing God’s power and love. Instead, he will try to paralyze our faith.

God gives us power, love and a sound mind to do things that will allow us to succeed.  We are capable of doing powerful things through Jesus when we put our faith to the test. Without Him we are nothing.

If we fall into Satan’s trap of fear we will give up and give in and Satan wins. God has given us everything we need to win. We have victory through our faith in Christ.

Is there any fear that is keeping you from living an extraordinary life? Is your unbelief keeping you from witnessing God’s great things? Remove that spirit of fear in Jesus’ name.

Prayer

Lord, I pray in the Name of Jesus to have all fear, unbelief and doubt removed from my mind and replaced with God’s power, love and truth. Give me the knowledge of what I can do through Jesus.

Do You Have Hope?

Encouragement

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬

There is so much power in the Word of God. Not only is the Bible for our learning, but it gives us the hope and assurance to face each day with confidence till the Lord returns. 

When we are comforted with Scripture we have assurance that everything will work out as God designs. The reason why a person wouldn’t have hope is because they are lacking in the area of hearing and reading the Word of God.

There is a story in Luke 24 about two disciples walking down the road to Emmaus. In their minds, Jesus had failed in His mission and everything was doom and gloom. He had been crucified, and He was gone. They had set their hopes on Him thinking He would redeem Israel. They were very disappointed that it ended so tragically.

As they were walking along the road, a stranger joined them. They didn’t know who it was, but it was Jesus.

Jesus asked them why they were so sad. So they began sharing Jesus with Jesus. And they weren’t doing a very good job of it. 

They said, “We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to redeem Israel”. Then Jesus gave them a summary of all the Old Testament passages that pointed to Him. As He spoke their hope was restored. And when they sat down to eat with Jesus, they realized it was Him. Then He suddenly disappeared.

So how did Jesus restore their hope? He comforted them through the Scriptures. Of all people, we who are followers of Jesus should be filled with hope and joy. Are you filling yourself with hope straight from the Scriptures? Are you rejoicing that one day you will be in the presence of Jesus?

Pray

Lord, give me hope through your word today. Give me a word that will set my heart on fire for you. Let me meditate on it and let it live in my heart.