Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Remain Positive

Encouragement, Trust

For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:24-25‬

We hear a lot of bad news on a regular basis. We expect the news sources to keep us informed with what’s happening around the world but most of the news is negative. After hearing so much bad news and negativity for so long we can start to grow numb to it.

The Bible teaches us there is a day soon approaching when Jesus will come for His bride, the Church. The dead in Christ will rise from their graves and all Christians still living will meet Jesus in the air before entering into Heaven. This future event is called the Rapture.  

We see events unfolding everyday that leads us to believe the Rapture could happen at any time.  Violence and crime will continue to get worse and persecution of Christians will soon be like it was in the first century.  But don’t worry, there is hope.

The good news is given to us through the Word of God. The nightly news may be doom and gloom but God’s Word brings peace and comfort to those who believe it.

It is important to saturate ourselves with the Good News of Jesus Christ.. This dark world needs the positivity of the church until we leave this world. The Church should be the light that brightens the world.

What can you do today to brighten someone’s day? Can you share a compliment, extend a helping hand, or pass a smile to someone who is down. Positivity starts with you. You can make a difference in someone’s life today.

Pray

Lord, thank You for growing your church throughout the world. Help us be a part of spreading your good news. Keep me positive and grounded in Your truth.

Are You Praying?

Faith, Trust

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33:3‬

What are you praying to God today? Do you pray expecting God to answer in a mighty way? Sometimes we pray for something so big to happen but in the back of our minds we have so much doubt.

When we pray we have to realize first and foremost, who we are praying to. We pray through Jesus, who is our mediator. Jesus takes our requests to God.

That is why we end our prayers with, “in Jesus name,” or “in Christ name.” We pray to the Son of God who knows what we need before we ask. He can part waters, move the stars, heal, mend, forgive, and He can change any situation you’re facing.

Second, we must know what we are praying for. Sometimes we ask for things to happen for our good but essentially it’s not for God’s glory. When we pray we seek the Holy Spirit of God to put on our hearts what we need to pray. He will answer the prayers of the righteous because their hearts are in tune with God.

You may be praying for a different job, a person to marry, or even a change of circumstances, but is what you’re praying for going to bring glory to God? We pray for God’s will to be done, not ours.

Third, we must know why we are praying. We are praying because there is something on our heart that we want to see happen.

We want to see the sick be healed, we want to see the poor and needy have what they need, we want to see peace in our lives, we want to live worry-free. We pray because we desire the things of God to happen on earth as it is in Heaven. The real reason we pray is because we know God answers prayers.

Pray

Lord, I seek you with my whole heart. Cleanse me and forgive me. Reveal to me what I need to know today.

Tell The Good News

Faith, Trust

And He did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:19‬

Mark 5:1-20 is a dramatic miracle of Jesus healing a demon possessed man.  As an outcast and mad man, he was chained hand and foot in a nearby cemetery.  Everyone was scared of this man because of his uncontrollable strength and reckless behavior.  He was a beast!

But when he saw Jesus, everything changed. He ran and fell down and worshipped Him and the demons begged to be cast into a large heard of swine.  Jesus gave the command and instantaneously the two thousand demon possessed pigs ran off a mountain and drowned in the sea.

The people who saw this dramatic event were terrified and demanded Jesus to leave their town.  As Jesus got in the boat to leave, the man who had been possessed begged to go with Him but Jesus wouldn’t allow it.  

Instead Jesus told the man to go home and tell all his family and friends about what had happened. Verse 20 says he did and everyone marveled. They were amazed because he had been made new.

Later in chapter 6 Jesus was able to return and was greatly welcomed.  He performed many other miracles because of one man’s testimony of how much the Lord had done for him.  

There is power in sharing what the Lord had done for us.  You never know what kind of impact it will make. Just by telling someone what the Lord has done for you may change their life.

Pray

Lord, put someone in my path today that I can share the many things You have done for me. I am so thankful for all that You have done. Let my attitude prove my thankfulness.