Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: daily devotional

Faith Leads To Action

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew‬ ‭16:16‬

What we choose to do and say today proves what we believe to be true about Jesus. Our faith in Jesus speaks louder than words. If our faith is weak, our life choices reflect it.

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:13‬) He wasn’t asking this question because He didn’t know the answer, instead He was asking to make the disciples think.

So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?””‭‭ (vs.14-15‬) Then Peter responded with the most profound statement of his life. “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

Jesus asked this question while in the distance behind him was a landscape of false gods and idol worship. Caesarea Philippi was a region that was said to be the birthplace of the god Pan, the god of nature. There was also a temple built of white marble to the godhead of Caesar.

It was if Jesus intentionally sat against the background of various religions and demanded the disciples to declare Him as the One True God. And that is exactly what Peter did.

We have the same opportunity today. In your backdrop of life is a mixture of idols and false gods that compete with Jesus Christ. And it is as if Jesus is demanding for you to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You may not say the words but your actions prove what you believe.

We can look at our bank account ledger and notice what we believe to be most important in our life. The way we spend money and what we spend money on prove to be a major factor of what is most important.

We can say with words that Jesus is the One True God but the way we live out our faith is what matters most. Are you living our your faith in Jesus Christ? Do you trust Him to be your One True God? Do you serve Christ in a way that points others to Him? Let’s be like Peter and declare that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

Pray

Lord, I believe in You as the One True God. Remove any and all idols that stand in the way of serving you only. I trust You and know you are in control of all things.

God Is Good To Those Who Wait

Faith, Trust

“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:25‬

Jeremiah was a prophet who preached the Word of God to an ungrateful people. They mocked him and ridiculed his sermons. No wonder Jeremiah was considered the weeping prophet.

While he preached the need for God’s grace, his fellow Israelites searched for other people and other things to satisfy their soul. They gave up on God because He didn’t answer their prayers instantaneously.

Needless to say it didn’t turn out so well when they started worshipping other gods and turned their back on God. Their punishment came in the form of captivity and removal from their land for 70 years.

Jeremiah penned these words, “The Lord is good to those who wait on Him.” This is a verse that many of us should write on a sticky note and put it somewhere it will remind us to wait on the Lord.

If you are like me, sometimes it’s difficult to wait patiently on the Lord. When we pray we want God to answer immediately. But sometimes it’s best for us to wait on the Lord.

When we pray and God doesn’t answer immediately, we must not give up. We must keep praying and keep seeking Him. It’s natural for us to think that God either isn’t listening to our prayers, He doesn’t care, or that He is punishing us. God hears our prayers and will answer in His timing.

Good things come to those who wait on the Lord. Don’t get impatient with God. He knows all things. He’s working all things for His glory.

He has a plan and His plans are much better than ours. When we take matters into our own hands, destruction will happen and things will fall apart. Some of us know first hand what happens when we act as if we are God and take control. It doesn’t turn out so good does it?

Keep praying and keep seeking the will of God. He will ultimately come through at the perfect time. He is not limited to time or resources and will do mighty things for those who remain faithful.

Pray

Lord, I seek You for all things. I have faith that You will answer my prayers at the right time. Give me courage to wait on You.

What Has God Done For You?

Encouragement

‘For You, Lord , have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.’
Psalms 92:4

The New Living Translation says, “You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me!” The psalmist unashamedly proclaimed how God’s wonderful works made him glad. God delights in making us glad.

What has God done for you lately? It doesn’t take long to inventory the blessings that God has graciously given to us. Sometimes we just need to pause for a minute and reflect on all that the Lord has done for us.

It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity of the world and only ponder the bad things that are happening around us. So just stop what you are doing and think about the good that God has done and watch how He makes you glad.

With gratitude and thankfulness we praise the Lord. God gets all the honor and glory. This is what delights the heart of God. God is glorified when we “triumph in the works of His hands.” Those who are thrilled by God have a vibrant sense of joy. They easily sing unto the Lord.

Don’t ever be ashamed to speak up and speak out for the wonderful things that God has done. We need to hear more testimonies of how God is working and moving in the lives of His people. We need to hear about the good things that God is doing and how He is working all things out.

Pray

Lord, You thrill me everyday. Every breath I take and every moment I live is for your glory. Use me today to make a difference in someone’s life.