Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: faith

Keep The Faith

Encouragement

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Psalms 125:1

Those who fully trust in God are unmovable in their faith. Nothing can shake up the one who puts full trust into the Lord. Are you unmovable and unshakable?

Psalm 125 is written with the concept that the people surrounding Jerusalem were on their way to celebrate and take part of the annual feasts of Israel. They would be marching in as families and anticipating a wonderful time with the Lord. They were eagerly excited to travel into the city of David.

Some scholars believe that this could have been part of a chant that took place as they were walking and had Mount Zion and the temple in their view. They knew that very soon they would be worshipping God with thousands of others who trusted in the Lord as well. One can only imagine the intensity and joy.

We, who place our trust in the Lord, are promised security and life everlasting. His love never fails and He never gives up on the ones who belong to Him. Stand firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Be unmovable and unshakable all the days of your life.

Your faith in the Lord is going to get you through every trial and tribulation you encounter. Your faith, if it’s unshakable, will see you through to some of the best experiences this side of heaven. Keep the faith!

Pray

Lord, I know You are with me and will never leave me. Give me joy in understanding how You alone deserve all of my trust and faith. Fill my heart with peace and love.

The Eyes Of Your Heart

Encouragement

“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Bible uses the word “heart” to refer to the center of the whole person, the place of all desires.  

The heart is seen as the seat of the will, intellect and feelings. “Character”, “personality” and “mind” are also terms used for the Bible’s meaning of heart. As you may have already discovered, the Bible has much to say about the heart. 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We must allow the eyes of our heart to be opened to the spiritual things of God. When our heart is set on God we see things in a spiritual realm and not physical. We need to allow God to speak to our heart so we can see who He is. Is your heart prepared to receive the riches of His glory?

Pray

Lord, open the eyes of my heart so that I may see You in all your glory. Fill my heart with joy and peace that I may have hope. 

The Works Of Jesus

Encouragement

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:34‬

What are your top priorities today? Is it making it to work on time, making sure the kids behave, or completing a task that has been lingering for some time? 

Whatever it is, it has your attention and your focus. Your focus becomes your priority and your priority becomes what you do. 

Throughout the Gospels we can read and understand the focus and priorities of Jesus.  We also see the priorities of His disciples.  Jesus was more concerned with the spiritual needs of people and the disciples were most concerned with their physical needs.  

Many examples throughout the gospels prove that Jesus’ focus was on people knowing and believing Him. Everything Jesus did pointed people to God. The disciples were learning from Jesus what the most important priorities should be. 

In the beginning verses of John 4, Jesus met with a Samaritan woman at the well.  The disciples left to go get some food and came back to give some to Jesus.  When they asked him to eat He said these words, “My food is to do the will of God and to do His work.”  Again while Jesus’ mind was on spiritual matters the disciples were thinking about feeding the flesh.  Jesus was giving the woman at the well eternal life while the disciples were more interested in being fed and satisfying themselves. 

Jesus entrusts us to do His work.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus and need to be concerned with the spiritual needs of others as much as we are trying to meet their physical needs.  Sometimes we neglect sharing the truth with those who need it and concentrate on making sure they have something to eat.  

We should always make sure that we are giving the “bread of life” to those who are lost and hungry.  Giving someone something to eat and not offering them Jesus is missing out on a great opportunity to witness.  We need to be about our Lord’s business and make new disciples.

Pray

Lord, send someone in my direction and allow me time to share the truth of Jesus Christ with them. Let my priorities prove that my love for you is authentic.