Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: jesus

God Desires Your Heart

Encouragement

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:39‬ 

There is one thing God desires from His people (Christians). There is only one thing that we need to give Him and that is our heart. He desires our whole heart. And when we give our whole heart to God, we are giving Him our all. 

Have you given your whole heart to God? God is concerned about our hearts. 

When we give our heart to God, in return we gain His wisdom, power and riches. Through the Holy Spirit we gain wisdom to make better choices and find the right words to speak. We receive divine power to overcome temptations and strength to get through tough times.

I think you can agree that giving your heart to God is better than giving Him anything else we have. Giving our heart to Jesus gives us eternity in Heaven. In order to give your heart to God we must die to ourselves and find new life through Jesus Christ. 

When we give our heart to Jesus he makes us a new person. He puts new desires in our heart, desires that glorify Him. Have you opened the door of your heart and let Jesus come in?

Pray

Lord, I give you my heart and want you to make me new. Fill me with your goodness and joy. 

Happy New Year

Encouragement

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,
“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭16‬, ‭18‬-‭19‬

It’s a brand new year! Great things are going to happen this year. Are you ready to be blessed?

You say, “How do you know great blessings are coming my way?” Because I’m expecting them!

You say, “How do you know what the future hods?” I don’t but God does. I know that God loves you and wants to see you be blessed. If you belong to the Lord you are a blessed child.

We may face difficult days, trying times, and challenging circumstances but God is with us every step of the way. He is already working it out according to His will.

What is your perspective for this year? Are you expecting to be blessed beyond measure? Will you be ready when the blessings come?

God is doing something new in your life. The past is gone and the new is here. He is shining new light and new direction for us to follow. Let’s look forward to some new exciting things.

Keep 2 Corinthians 1:20 on the forefront of your mind. Paul says, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

I pray you have a happy and blessed new year!

Pray

Lord, I thank you for giving me the greatest blessing I could ever receive and that is Your salvation. I am ready to do Your work and anticipate great things happening. To You all glory is given.

Are You Ready For 2023?

Encouragement

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:5

As we approach a new year let’s remember that each new day brings about new opportunities. New opportunities to serve and glorify the Lord. If we live each day to the fullest we know we’ve done all that we can do.

Now that 2022 is finished what would you do differently? What would you not have done?

I remember when we were entering into a new century and we didn’t know if the lights would stay on or if we would have running water the next day. I remember thinking what if the ATM machines didn’t work. I remember thinking what if the VCR’s quit working. How silly of a mindset was that. We’ve definitely grown in wisdom.

I hope we have grown in biblical wisdom as well. Now more than any other time in history, we need to be walking in wisdom toward those who are not Christians. Our faith in Jesus should be a witness to others especially those who do not believe in Jesus.

Over the last year we have realized the sad condition of our nation. We are a divided people in all areas of life. And because we are divided, we are losing our status as a Christian nation. People all around us are falling away and not growing closer to Christ.

Make 2023 be a year of growing closer to Jesus. Set goals for this new year to spend more time in the Word of God. Pray more than you’ve ever prayed before. Spend more time focusing on the things of God than on the things of this world. Make every effort to redeem the time because before you know it, we will be counting down to 2024!

Pray

Lord, I know I have let many opportunities slip pass me. Give me wisdom to use every opportunity You place before me to serve You and to share my faith with those who needs hope and salvation.