Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: jesus

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.

Do You Have Compassion?

Encouragement

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
I Peter 3:8-9

The phrase “be of one mind” refers to unity. It means to be one with with Christ. While we are not all the same, we are to be like-minded in Christ.

Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus said people will know that you belong to Me if you have the same mind and same love as Me. Do people know that you belong to Him?

Perhaps the greatest challenge in loving others is when we are wronged. This is when we need the love of Christ in our hearts, right?

The human side of us wants to return evil for evil. The flesh tells us to defend ourselves and to help others by showing them what they did to us. But that is not what Jesus taught.

Peter learned from the best. He studied under the best Teacher known to man. And yet even Peter had to keep himself in check.

When you are challenged with loving others keep in mind the kind of love that Jesus had for all people, even those who persecuted Him. It’s a kind of love or “mindset” that we are to have for all people.

The best way to be of “one mind” in Christ is to keep yourself centered in the love of Christ. Keep focussing on how much Jesus loves you and it will be easier to love others who have wronged you.

Pray

Lord, keep me in Your arms. Let me see how You love others and how I am to love them the same. Help me to understand how much love You have for me.