Video Devotionals
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Keep Moving
| 1:02 READ TIME |
Life transitions create uncertainty in us. We’re currently in a season of transition dealing with the present problems. Perhaps you’ve had other transitions in life. Maybe you’ve lost a job, or a loved one or had a financial setback or some other difficulty. This season creates lots of challenges.
David experienced many transitions in his life. As he penned the twenty-third Psalm, David reflected on his days as a shepherd. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4, NIV)” He recognized that, just as he helped his sheep to navigate transitions, God would help him navigate the valley he was walking through.
As God helped David navigate his valleys, He will also help you navigate your valleys. Valleys are temporary places of transition. God will guide you through.
Decide today to resist fear. Have confidence in God. He is your Good Shepherd. He will help you get through your valleys to new pastures of blessings.
Pastor Dale
Monday, May 4, 2020
Fear is Real
| 1:23 READ TIME |
Whenever we experience difficult or uncertain situations, we can feel a range of emotions. A common emotion we can feel during challenging times is fear. Fear is an unpleasant feeling caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous or will cause us pain. Even though we can feel fear at different points in our lives, the good news is we can overcome fear.
David was familiar with the feeling of fear. In a time when he is fleeing for his life from his own son Absalom, David wrote Psalm 23:4 (ESV), “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” This verse is about fear. David was passing through a valley at this point in his life, and the valley generated fear for this man of God.
Though David acknowledges he’s battling fear, he declares in faith that he will overcome fear. His declaration is not based upon his own power and might, but by the presence and power of God in his life. David gives us an excellent example of how to deal with our fears. Just like David, even though we may experience the emotion of fear, the Lord is our Shepherd and He can empower us to overcome it.
If you’re feeling fear today, I encourage you to make the decision to acknowledge it and give it to God. Invite God’s presence and power to enable you to overcome fear in your life.
Pastor Dale
Friday, May 1, 2020
It’s Common Sense!
| 0:55 READ TIME |
Imagine with me that we are outside in a parking lot holding a ball. If we were to throw the ball into midair, common sense says gravity will bring the ball back down to the ground. We don’t have to wonder or ask God if that’s true. We know it’s true. It’s common sense.
One of the ways God wants to guide us is through what I’ll call sanctified common sense. We all have been gifted with a brain and common sense. God uses the Bible and the Holy Spirit to inform and shape our thinking.
One of the struggles we all face at times is allowing our emotions to guide our decisions. God wants us to think before we make decisions. Proverbs 13:16 (NLT) gives us vital insight, “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.”
Don’t let your feelings be your guide. Today, allow God to sanctify your common sense. He will empower you by the Holy Spirit to make better decisions!
Pastor Dale
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Alternate Route Available
| 1:20 READ TIME |
In today’s culture, to arrive somewhere you’ve never been before, you need to use a navigation system. Navigation systems, if functioning correctly, will guide us to the right place. But not only that, navigation systems have the capability to show us traffic spots so we can avoid them and take an alternative and more effective route.
In our life journey, there are many decisions that we need to make. For example, What job should l take? Who should l marry? Which church should l attend? Which school should l let my children attend? Taking the wrong turn in any of these areas can cause us many problems. God wants to guide us, and He has given us a heavenly navigation system to provide us direction to His intended destinations.
Two essential aspects of God’s navigation system for us are the Bible and the Holy Spirit. The Bible is God’s Word to us. The Bible gives us guidance for right living. The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and makes it alive to us in the moments when we need to make decisions. He helps us apply the Bible to our lives. Psalms 119:98 (NLT) says, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.”
For God’s navigation system to work in your life, you must choose to trust it and use it daily. Engage with God’s navigation system and navigate safely through life!
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Check Your Alignment
| 1:32 READ TIME |
Driving a car is much easier when all four wheels are aligned. Sometimes when going over bumps or potholes, a car’s wheels can come out of alignment, making the vehicle more difficult to guide or steer. Alignment is essential to safely and enjoyably drive a car.
The same is true in our walk with God. If we want God to guide us, we have to be aligned with God in our thoughts, words, and actions. Listen to the words of Psalm 32:9-8 (NIV) “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” God desires to instruct and guide us, but we must be aligned with His heart to receive the blessings He has for us.
What are some ways in which we can bring ourselves into alignment with God’s guidance? We can humble ourselves before Him by submitting ourselves to His wisdom. We can remain teachable, allowing God to guide us by His principles. We can be attentive to His voice, revealed to us through Scripture. We can be faithful to what He has already given us before looking for other things in our lives. We can be patient, learning to wait for God’s instruction.
Today, make the decision to be guidable by bringing your heart into alignment with God’s heart. Ask Him to guide and instruct you, and commit to being humble, teachable, and attentive. Know that as you are faithful and patient, He will bring about what’s best for your life.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Need Directions?
| 1:22 READ TIME |
Why should we value God’s guidance? The reason we need to value God’s guidance is that every day we’re confronted with a vast number of decisions that will have an impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.
As human beings, we face some unique challenges. To have the right response to those challenges, we need direction. Without it, we tend to stray, to wander away from God’s Word and will for our lives. And this is especially true in difficult times such as we are living these days. In Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV), Jesus Himself warns us about entering the wide road. If we don’t follow directions carefully, we will get on that path and head down deception and our destruction, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
If you happen to be struggling today with lack of direction, then Scripture is a great place for finding guidance—God’s guidance; and the words you read will be a great blessing through hard times.
No matter what circumstance you are facing, you can always rest in the fact that God is worthy of our wholehearted, unquestioning trust. He will take care of every detail of your life, lead you, guide you, and shepherd you. We can fully rely on His guidance!
Pastor Dale