Pastor Stephen Dedman

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Praise The Lord

Encouragement

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6

It is estimated that the average person takes an average of 23,000 breaths a day. Every breath you take is important. If you were to stop breathing… death is near.

Breathing is not something you have to think about unless you are having a hard time breathing. Our lungs naturally inhale and exhale and most of the time we don’t even notice the action.

Here is the point of today’s message. We are given 23,000 opportunities to praise the Lord. We should praise God for every breath He gives us.

Let’s praise the Lord for every breath we take and with every breath let’s praise the Lord!

Do you praise the Lord 23,000 times a day? With the mindset of praising God for giving us our next breath we can. But don’t wait until you can’t breathe to be thankful for each breath.

Take a deep breath right now and consider what happens when your lungs fill with air (oxygen) and you exhale the converted air (carbon dioxide). The 3 to 5 seconds that it took to breathe in and breathe out is amazing. The oxygen you inhale contains vital nutrients for blood to carry nutrients throughout your body to live.

Interestingly enough, you exhale carbon dioxide that provides sufficient nutrients for plants to survive. And in return plants give off oxygen for humans to survive. God works in mysterious ways!

How many times you can praise the Lord today?

Pray

Lord, thank You for every breath I take. Thank You for the clean air that I breathe and the plants that provide oxygen for me to breathe. Help me to realize that every breath I take matters and is an opportunity to praise You.

Remember The Cross

Encouragement

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

Most all of our problems are due to sin. Some of our problems cause us great suffering. But sometimes our problems are so severe they can lead to death. 

We all have somewhat similar problems. However, some of us have more serious problems than others. But praise Jesus, there’s a great promise given to us from the Scriptures. 

The message of the cross is the power of God for us who are being saved. What that means is the cross that Jesus died on was a burden that Jesus overcame for you. It was for your sin, which causes problems. The cost has been paid. And it’s been paid in full. 

The next time you think about a problem you are facing just think about the cross. Think about the cross and the victory that Jesus had on the cross. 

The message of the cross is that Jesus defeated sin and conquered death. This means that Satan will not and cannot have any power over us as Christians. Jesus has all the power! 

Your problem is never too big for God. Don’t let your problems of this world get the best of you when God gave His best for you. 

Pray

Lord, there is no problem that I have that you can’t handle. Take my worries away. Take my burdens away. Let me focus on what you want me to be focused on today. 

Be Strong And Do Not Fear

Encouragement

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
Isaiah 35:4

Isaiah prophesied about a time of judgment that would bring the nation to their knees but then God would strengthen them, raise them up, and save them. The people of Judah had committed adultery against God but God wanted to reveal His love to them.

Always remember God only chastises those whom He loves. He straightens our crooked paths and puts us back on track. He does this because He wants what is best for us. 

Hebrews 12:12-13 says, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”The writer of Hebrews quoted Isaiah 35 while driving home the point that after God’s chastisement there is hope and healing. 

Just like ancient Judah, we need hope and healing in our country today. We need God-fearing believers to be strong and courageous. We strengthen ourselves when we walk closely with the Lord.

Even in our present trials we have the hope of Jesus Christ to help us overcome our fearful hearts. The hope that we have is in the confidence that God will save us and redeem us.

Are you progressing in your walk with the Lord today? Are you strengthening yourself in the Father’s love? God is actively seeking you to do His great work.

Pray

Lord, I need your strength today to do fulfill Your great will. Help me to overcome my fears and failures with Your hope and healing. Help me to encourage others to progress in their Christian walk as well.