Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: God

A Forgiving Heart

Faith, Trust

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬

Is there someone you are having a difficult time forgiving? We’ve all had people that did something against us to makes us bitter.

Maybe it was a false accusation or someone stole something from you. Maybe it’s your spouse, a family member, a co-worker, an ex-employer, or even yourself. We must come to the point of forgiving that person and that offense.

We should know what the Bible says about forgiveness. But do we do it? The Bible says to forgive others just as Jesus has forgiven you.

How many times have you asked for forgiveness and recommitted the very same sin? Over and over we sin against God but He is gracious to forgive us.

The reason we must forgive others is to show the love of Christ that is living inside our hearts. When we don’t forgive we are storing up bitterness and anger which will eventually pour out like water.

If you don’t forgive that certain person you will eventually become a miserable person. Just save yourself the time and energy and start practicing forgiveness.

Sometimes forgiveness can be a difficult task. There are some very cruel people in our world that do cruel things. But here’s the thing… we cannot let someone else’s action dictate who we are or who we become. We cannot let a bad situation control our lives and make us live in agony.

The power of forgiveness is beautiful. It releases the turmoil that has been living in your soul and gives you freedom to live in peace.

Pray

Lord, help me to understand true forgiveness and mercy. Help me to have a forgiving heart that shows others Your grace. Forgive me of my sins.

The Power Of God

Trust

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:18‬

It’s a disturbing thought that someone could actually forget about where God has brought them from. But we are just like the Israelites. We need to be reminded that we cannot live without the power of God. 

The Lord blesses us because He loves us. He extends an over abundance of grace and mercy even when we don’t deserve it. He shows favor and forgiveness when we haven’t earned it.

The Lord does not operate on the same scale as humans. He does not do good things for us just because we do good things for Him. Neither does he withhold good things just because we have done bad things. 

God wants us to remember who He is even when we are in a season of dryness. When our life seems to appear that He has removed His blessings, He hasn’t.

If life was always rainbows and roses we would not need God and we would forget the need for God. This is what the instructions where about when Moses was telling the Israelites to never forget that He is the One who supplies our every need and blessing.

It is God who gives the abundance of everything. He should never be forgotten. God should never be viewed as a endless gift giver. He should be lifted up and honored at all times. We can never give back what He deserves. 

Have you considered all that God has done for you?  Have you shown thankfulness and gratitude towards God’s everlasting love?  His love will never end and His blessings prove it.

If you think that God is not blessing you, you need to evaluate all that He has done for you and you will change your mind.

Pray

Lord, I need you every hour of the day. I depend on you for my next breath. Thank you for your endless love for me.

He Is God

Faith, Trust

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”
Deuteronomy 7:9

Faithfulness is part of God’s character. He keeps every promise because He is faithful and true. If God were not faithful, we could not be saved nor would there be any reason to pray and have hope.

God has proved His faithfulness by staying true to His word. God will never let you down.

We live in a world of broken promises. There are people suffering from broken promises and unfulfilled commitments. A person’s word is no longer considered good enough to keep a contract. Unkept promises make for a frustrating life.

There are times in our life when we face trials so challenging that we tend to think that God has forgotten about us or that He doesn’t care about what happens in our circumstances. That is not God’s character.

God loves you and He is faithful in every aspect known to man. He knows and cares about what you are facing.

Sometimes we tend to have an earthly perspective of God. We almost try to bring God down to our level. That is a big mistake.

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8) The next time you face a difficult situation just remember that God is faithful to His word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will never give up on you. He will never let the enemy devour you. He will never stop loving you.

Pray

Lord, thank you for always keeping your promises. Your words are faithful and true. Help me to always remember that You will never fail me.