Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Be On Your Guard

Encouragement

And he (Jesus) said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:15‬ 

Many people foolishly believe that what matters most in life is how much they own. It may be money or things that can be acquired. The misunderstanding comes from thinking that having more of what we desire will make us content. But according to the Bible, only God can satisfy our every need. 

It’s so easy for us to direct our attention toward earthly pursuits and lose our eternal perspective. Worldly ways produce greedy and covetous attitudes. But Jesus taught the things of this world will all pass away while the things of Heaven are eternal and more meaningful. 

Jesus made it very clear that His Kingdom is not based upon fleshly desires or the pursuit of pleasures. If we were to be honest, we all desire a life of luxury and ease. Even the people that Jesus ministered to had the same desires. 

We are encouraged to be on guard against covetousness and greed.  Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark‬ ‭8:36‬)

If we spend our life focused on the things of this world and coveting the things we don’t have, we are wasting our life. The life that we lose here will be rewarded with much gain in Heaven. Jesus said to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew‬ ‭6:20‬) 

Our life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions but of the treasures that we have stored up in Heaven. 

Pray

Lord, keep me from selfish desires and envying what others may have. Help me to live for Christ today and produce fruit that proves I belong to You. 

God Will Fight For You

Encouragement

You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:17‬

The godly king of Judah and his nation were under attack by three kings and their armies. It was three against one. It wasn’t a fair fight by any means, but God revealed to the king of Judah that a miracle was on the way. 

God said to the king of Judah, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your position… Don’t be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

The next verse states the king’s response. “Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.”(‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:18‬) 

The next day the armies started closing in and the LORD destroyed them and great fear came upon every nation surrounding Judah because the LORD was on their side. What a great victory!

This Old Testament event proves that the Lord wants to fight your battles for you. He just wants you to get into position to receive a miracle. We face a powerful enemy that desires to destroy us, but God is more powerful and has already gained the victory. Raise your head up and allow God to show you what He can do for you.

Do you let the Lord fight your battles? When you get discouraged, do you set your mind on Heaven? When you get disappointed do you turn your eyes to Jesus? 

When life gets you down, let God fight your battles for you. He’s waiting for you to surrender. It takes you getting to the point that you can’t do anything on your own.

Pray

Lord, I surrender to Your almighty power and wisdom. Fight my battles today and give me rest. Forgive me for not trusting You.

Say The Blessing

Encouragement

Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Matthew 14:19

Praying before a meal is a beautiful testimony of our faith and thankfulness. Jesus gave the perfect example as He prayed over the bread and fish just before it was distributed among 5,000 men. It was a blessing indeed as some would say. 

Do you say grace before you eat? Do you ask the blessing at mealtime? Or do you return thanks before you dig in?

Praying over a meal is called many things and can be expressed in many ways. It is a sign of gratitude from the heart. The most important thing is that we are thankful for the blessings of God.

We are given another example of Jesus praying and blessing the bread before He broke it and ate with the disciples the night before He died on the cross.

It should never become a mindless habit nor should it be an inconvenience. Praying and thanking God for our food should be a pleasure and an expression of our heart’s gratitude. We should teach our children to bless the food and show them the importance of giving thanks for God’s provision. 

Those that do say grace on a regular basis might be tempted to repeat the same phrases or chants from memory. Maybe it’s time to find a fresh way to thank God for our blessings. Think outside the box and identify a couple of things to thank God for. 

Mealtime prayers should not be the only prayers offered up to God. Paul instructs us to pray without ceasing. Let your prayer time be meaningful. And if you are uncomfortable praying with people who don’t pray, let it be your testimony. Don’t ever be ashamed to pray!

Pray

Lord, I am so thankful for all the many things You have given to me. Let my heart be overflowing with gratitude and let my example of saying the blessing be a testimony to others.