Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: God

Do You Want The Blessings Of God?

Encouragement

One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
Acts 13:2-3

On this certain day, the Holy Spirit got a hold of these men. They were in a position to hear from the Lord. They were ready to receive a word from the Lord. The text says that they worshiped and fasted and then they fasted and prayed. Sounds like a lot of fasting was going on.

Presumably, they fasted because they were seeking God in a specific way. According to the text, it’s possible that they were seeking God for a direction to go and spread the Gospel. Their desire was to please the Lord.

God will use people who are committed to prayer. The Holy Spirit will speak to our hearts when we focus on the things of God to the point of desiring nothing but His presence.

The act of worship is necessary for our souls as well as pleasing to the Lord. True worship will change our hearts and align our thoughts for the things of God. Worship is a sincere way to seek the heart of God.

If we want the Lord to speak to our hearts we must worship Him. Worship entails praising, praying, listening, and honoring God. Sometimes people will lift their hands up high in worship because they are surrendering themselves to God.

What are you seeking God for today? If the Lord is not answering your prayers you need to consider worshiping and fasting and then fasting and praying. This is the process of positioning yourself to the blessings of God.

Pray

Lord, I want to hear from You. I seek you today to answer my prayer. You know my heart and You know my desires. Allow me to worship You will all of my heart today.

The Change Of Seasons

Encouragement

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Watching the seasons change is such a beautiful wonder. When the trees start to show their vibrant colors we know winter is just around the corner. The changIng of seasons can teach us a lot about life.

Some seasons are much more enjoyable than others. And we must remember that while a season may seem to last forever, it’s only just a little while until something new comes along.

Some seasons of life are troublesome while others times of joy. They come and go. They are temporary times.

Most of the time we can’t wait for the next season to arrive. Sometimes we hate to see the current season come to an end. Either way, it is good that we go through seasons of change. It is good for us to understand that God intended for us to adapt to different things.

We must recognize that God has given us the gift of time. God is not restrained to time as we are. God is always in the present. That’s hard to comprehend because we base everything we do around the calendar or clock.

Time can be wasted or it can be used wisely. Time can go by slowly or it can go by quickly. One thing is for sure though, time will never stand still. Time keeps going if we want it to or not.

Our time on earth is to be appreciated. We should look back in time when we experienced good things and bless God for those great memories. We should also look back and remember when God brought us through some of the hardest times of our lives. And thank God He did.

Today’s verse reminds us that everything happening this very moment will not last forever. “This too shall pass” is what some say when they face difficulties.

Whatever you may be facing today may not be the case come tomorrow. You may land a new job that allows your financial worries to disappear. You may have an event take place that sets a new course for how or where you live your life. You never know what tomorrow holds. But God does.

We rest in the fact that God has all things worked out in advance. His provision gives us the necessary essentials to get through what we are facing. His grace is sufficient! We need to trust that God will provide and that God has a plan.

Just remember that as we witness the seasons change we need to be aware that God is changing us into His image.

Pray

Lord, help me to understand what I am going through right now. Allow me to see Your glory through everything I encounter. May Your name be exalted above all.

What Are You Seeking?

Encouragement, Trust

For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭2:13‬

Why would anyone ever forsake the Lord?  Could there be anything better than the Lord?  

God can only give good and perfect gifts and could never cause any evil on anyone.  Sometimes we encounter times in our lives when we drift away from the Lord and seek our selfish ways.

Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)  Jesus wants to give us an endless supply of fresh living water.  A water that will last for eternity.  A living water that gives all.  

Why would we ever seek for anything else but what the Lord has to offer?  God said, “My people have created their own water pots that can’t even hold water.”  This is so true when we try to rely on our own power and strength.  Without God we are nothing and can do nothing.  God desires to give us the best that He has to offer.  The problem is when we think that we can do something bigger or better than God. There is nothing in this entire universe that could ever out do God.

Think about the things that you are seeking in your life today.  Are they the things of God or the things of your own desires?  Be careful not to forsake the fountain of living water that God has to offer.  His ways are much better than our ways.  His provision is much healthier and will sustain us for eternity.  If you are encountering a dry spell in your relationship with the Lord, the problem is not with God.

Pray

Lord, Your promise is that we I seek You, I will find You.  When I draw you close, You draw unto me even closer.  Let me experience Your power today.