Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

What Do You Do When…

Encouragement, Trust

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:2

What do you do when you feel helpless? When life seems to spiral out of control, what do you do?

Helplessness can turn to hopelessness if you don’t know where to turn. At some point in time we all need assistance. We all experience situations in life that stretch our abilities and resources to the max. It is at this point when we ask, “Where does my help come from?”

God will allow difficult circumstances in our lives for us to turn to Him for what we need. When we face impossible situations we have a choice to make. We can continue to feel helpless and hopeless or we can turn to God.

We don’t ever need to think that God is not wanting to help us or that we have done something so bad that God won’t come through for us. We all make mistakes and we all need God’s help.

That is what makes God an awesome God. He forgives and He extends grace to those who don’t deserve it.

Obviously the psalmist was facing some very stressful circumstances that required the Lord’s assistance and he knew God was going to do something for him.

Most of the time we ignore the signs of needing God and we try to accomplish difficult tasks in our own strength and wisdom. But wouldn’t you rather have the One who created the heavens and the earth to help you?

God knows what you need and knows how to help you. He is just waiting for you to say, “Help!”

Don’t wait until you have exhausted all of your abilities and resources. Immediately when you realize you need help just ask God. He will be ready to give you comfort and hope.

More than anything we need to know that God cares for us and is desiring to show us how much He loves us. God loves you and will be your help.

Pray

Lord, I need you today. Help me in my time of trouble. You are my rock and my shield. I trust You and know You are doing something about my circumstance right now.

The Lord Is With Me

Encouragement, Trust

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4

When you read the first verse of Psalm 23 you will notice that David is talking about the Lord. He says, “The Lord is my Shepherd… He makes me to lie down… He leads me… He restores my soul.”

Then in verse 4 there is a change. He transitions and begins speaking to the Lord. He says, “You are with me… Your rod and staff comfort me.” David is getting personal with the Lord.

Sometimes it takes valleys of darkness to make us get personal with God. When everything seems to be going great we don’t get very personal with God. But the moment we enter into a dark, lonesome valley, we let the Lord know we mean business.

It’s in those times of being in the valley that we turn to Him for help and comfort. And He is always there for us! God wants to be close and personal to us.

How often do you get personal with God? In other words, when do you turn you situations over to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through? Most of the time it is late in the game when we are down and there is no way out.

Instead, we should be personal with God everyday and with everything. We shouldn’t wait until we are in a deep valley of despair to seek Him. We need to seek Him daily and openly.

We need to understand that God wants to be in every detail of our life. Not just the bad but the good as well. We praise Him when things are good and we praise Him when things are not so good. If we keep a personal walk with the Lord, we will know He is always with us.

Pray

Lord, forgive me of my sins. Bring joy into my heart today. Let me see your glory in every direction I go.

God Has No Limits

Encouragement

‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ‘
Ephesians 3:20

Paul’s desire is that we fully understand the riches of God’s grace and love. We may never know the entirety of God’s goodness until we get to Heaven. Paul wants us to grasp that God is able to do things that we cannot even imagine.

God only wants what is good for us. However we must trust that God is able to do things in our life that is supernatural and miraculous. God is all-powerful and all-knowing!

Paul uses a unique word to describe God’s greatness in power. Some translations of the term include “immeasurable”, “above and beyond”, and “infinitely more.” Ultimately there is no limit as to what God is able to do for us.

When was that last time you were blown away by an answered prayer? Did God not prove His love for you in giving you more than you asked for?

One might argue that the reason we don’t witness great and awesome things of God is because of our lack of faith and disbelief. God wants us to trust in Him for all things.

Jesus revealed to men what God is able to do if only we place our faith in Him. Only a few followers witnessed the glory of God through His Son. God wants to show us what He is able to do in our lives.

Take a little time today to experience God’s goodness. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Ask God to reveal some supernatural things to you.

Pray

Lord, You are completely amazing. Words cannot even describe what You are able to do. You do it all because You love me and want what is good for me. Thank You, Lord!