Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Celebrate God

Encouragement, Faith

‘And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord ; It shall rejoice in His salvation.’
Psalms 35:9

Do people believe that the most important thing to you is God? It’s one thing to say that God is the most important thing; it’s another to prove it.

We must celebrate God in front of everyone we know. We should never hide the fact that we belong to Jesus. People should hear you speak about the One who gives you life and life eternal.

Do you take your relationship with God serious? If you say yes, how much time do you spend with Him? More importantly though, would God say you take your relationship with Him serious?

David took his relationship with God very serious. He promised that his entire being would be given to honor God. He truly celebrated and rejoiced in knowing God.

It makes a difference when we can rejoice in His salvation. It’s not our salvation. Salvation belongs to God and is given to us through the blood of Jesus Christ. That is something to celebrate about!

When you know you are saved and redeemed you can’t help but let others know it. You can’t hide it under a bushel. Let the whole world know who you belong to.

Pray

Lord, I praise You and honor You as my Lord and Master. Give me courage to never be ashamed to tell others that I love You. May my life prove that love You more than anything in my life.

Three Blessings

Encouragement, Salvation, Trust

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:11‬

There are many mysteries concerning the things of God.  But there is one thing that is for certain.  He wants to reveal Himself to us and He desires for us to know Him in a close relationship.

David reveals three blessings for those who trust in the Lord.  First, David not only found the path of life, he also found the path that leads to eternal life.  David didn’t come up with his own path of life, God revealed it to him.  

David knew he was a sinner and that God was holy.  David knew God had a special purpose for him.  

The next blessing is the fullness of joy.  David knew God was the One who supplied his joy.  David had many ups and downs but he never lost the source of his joy. He searched the Lord to find true joy and contentment.  

The third blessing is within the pleasures of life.  David didn’t seek God for physical pleasures but for spiritual pleasures.  He trusted God for eternal pleasures that awaited him in Heaven.

As you meditate on this verse today, understand that the path of life is made known by God, the fullness of joy is found only in the presence of God, and eternal pleasures are for those who fully trust in Him.

Are you seeking God for the things of this world or for the things that are eternal?

Pray

Lord, I seek You to know You and to serve You.  You are all that I need and all that I desire.  Thank you for loving me and saving me.

God Is Bigger Than Our Problems

Faith, Trust

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
1 Samuel 17:45

We all have our problems.  How we deal with our problems is what makes a difference.  Some people ignore their problems and hope they go away while others face them head on and attack them with full force.  Whatever the case may be, our perspective of God is what makes our problems look small.

Notice how David acknowledged that Goliath was coming at him with full armor but it didn’t stop him.  David was experienced in the area of facing problems head on.  He had experience with beating off wild animals with bare hands.  Fighting the Philistine was nothing compared to the other animals he killed.  

David had something that most people don’t.  He had spiritual optimism.  David knew he had God on his side and that’s all he needed.  He knew God was bigger and better than any problem he faced.

David couldn’t ignore Goliath because he knew the power of God was with him.  He was prepared to have victory with just one throw of a stone.  We too, have the power of God to withstand any problem that comes our way.  

If we focus on the size of our problems they will seem very overwhelming.  But if our focus is on God our problems will seem pretty small in comparison.  Arm yourself in the name of the Lord.

Pray

Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that You give me victory over my problems today.  Your name is great and wonderful to be praised. Keep me in Your hand.