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Praise to GOD who STIRS SPIRITS
“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah,
the LORD STIRRED UP the SPIRIT of Cyrus king of Persia,
so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.'”
Ezra 1:1-3
538 B.C., Cyrus was King of Persia. He was not a Jew. But, God stirred his heart and worked through him to accomplish His purposes. How? God STIRRED CYRUS’ SPIRIT. God moved his heart as the wind moves flowers and thistles. That which had been set, bowed under God’s stirring.
King Cyrus gave a proclamation allowing the Jews who had been taken captive and living in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. He gave them protection, money, and the temple articles Nebuchadnezzar had taken when he took them captive.
A non-Jewish king…used by the King of kings…to accomplish holy purposes. Can God do that? Did God do that then? Does God do that today?
God was in control over the kings of the earth. God is still in control. As we think about our Eternal King stirring Cyrus’s heart, we might prayerfully consider… are we praying God stir the heart of our President?
About what might God want to stir our spirit?
Do we live in anticipation of God stirring our spirit? What has God stirred our spirit to do? Are we doing it?
Heavenly Father, King of kings and GOD who STIRS SPIRITS, thank You for recording how You stirred King Cyrus’s spirit to do something You wanted accomplished. Stir our Presiden’ts spirit. Stir our spirits. May we be quick and faithful to respond.
*http://bit.ly/2fn0WLI
Why I’m Afraid to Stand Before Holy God without Jesus
It had been a silly difference of opinion. Well, not really silly.
It had been a difference of opinion. I’m a researcher. I study almost every day. I research topics as they relate to our body, mind, and spirit. I research both sides. I write, teach, and speak to appeal to people on the basis of God’s Word. So, when I express my opinion, needless to say, I set myself up for criticism.
But what does that have to do with being afraid to stand before holy God?
I can pour over the Scriptures. I can pour myself into others. But, the more I study the Word, the more I realize my sin.
For the second year, I focused my 365 DAYS of PRAISE blog post on God’s attributes. I, like perhaps you, enjoy reading that God is love and peace. He is patient, kind, and long-suffering. God is our comfort, help, and deliverer. And, even though it’s not as “touchy feely” or a verse we put on our Christmas card, we’re glad He is judge and vindicator.
But, I’ve been holding back from you, and a friend who isn’t a Christian nailed me on it. He said that Christians don’t talk about God’s wrath; that if they don’t follow Jesus, He sends them to hell.
I Have An Answer, Don’t You?
God doesn’t send people to hell. We’re already condemned by our sin nature. God offers a way out of condemnation and hell through Jesus; who willingly laid down His life and paid our sin debt. John 3:16-17
But, my friend made a point. In all honesty, I do speak more of the love of God. Perhaps that’s because I’m beyond grateful for His love. I do speak more of the mercy of God. Perhaps that’s because I’m so aware of my sin. I don’t write as much about the wrath of God and seldom teach on it.
But, to omit speaking of God’s wrath and righteous anger is to delineate God. It’s an attempt to make God fit our taste. For example, consider a cup of coffee. A child could ask me what I’m drinking and I could tell them water. They could watch me fill my Keurig with water; then press the “brew” button. They could watch me take the cup and drink it. But, if they look inside the cup, they’d see something different than clear water. They’d see black. If they took a sip, they’d taste something different than the water from the faucet. They might burn their tongue on the hot liquid. The taste would be strong; not mild. But, it’s water. The child may argue that they saw the water come from the faucet. Yes, but it’s more than water. Just because the child didn’t stand on tip toe and see the coffee being brewed with the water, it doesn’t change the fact that coffee is more than water.
Why am I afraid to stand before holy God without being forgiven of my sins? Because I’ve stood on tiptoes. I’ve peered over the counter and read Scripture. I’ve seen that God is more than Jesus’s love flowing into people’s lives. His righteous anger is real. God is love. But to limit His nature to love is as naive as to insist that coffee is only water.
So, Christian friends, maybe we need to be more forthright when speaking of God. Maybe we need to say we’re afraid to stand before holy God without our sins being forgiven through Christ’s death on the cross.
““Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” Romans 5:9
Believer’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and for Jesus taking my place on the cross. Help me live a more honest life and speak the truth in love to neighbors and friends.
Sinner’s Prayer
Lord God, I’ve rejected You. But, I know I’m a sinner. I’ve done wrong. I can’t stand in Your Holy presence and my sin not be exposed, so I’m afraid to die. I don’t understand everything. But, if You’re willing to forgive me because Jesus stepped up to the cross and took my place, I accept. I thank You. I ask Your forgiveness. I don’t understand Jesus being willing to do that, but I want to follow someone who would do that for me. Forgive me. Make me a new person. I need and want Your Holy Spirit to come and change me from the inside.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever calls on Him will not perish, but have eternal life, For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17.
Praise for God’s Voice of POWER
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
The voice of the Lord is upon many waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful.
Have you ever noticed how a child responds to one person’s voice…
but perhaps ignores another’s?
God’s voice is powerful. He speaks and when we turn around…
…we can’t help but ascribe to Him the glory due His name.
If we feel like we don’t hear God speaking, maybe it’s because we’re too preoccupied. Like the child engrossed with his toys, maybe we’re engrossed with our homes, work, even ministries. God’s voice is rich in love and power. If we feel we don’t hear God speaking, maybe we need to listen with our eyes.
Lord God, You are the VOICE OF POWER who spoke our world into existence and life into our spirits. We give You praise, honor, and glory!
© www.debbietaylorwilliams.com
Praise to the God of all WISDOM
“For the Lord gives WISDOM; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:6
Are you in the midst of making a decision? Do you wonder what the best course of action is regarding work, parenting, a relationship, or finances?
If ever there was a time to follow the path of wisdom, it’s now.
Wisdom for the road before us. Widsom for how to proceed.
Proverbs reminds us that the Lord is the source and provider of wisdom.
How blessed we are to be able to go to our Heavenly Father, read His ways, pray, and receive His wisdom. When we don’t know which path to follow, we can follow our hearts to His heart.
GOD OF WISDOM, we praise You that we can come to You for heavenly wisdom. Thank You for providing it when we seek You.
Praise to the UNIFIED GODHEAD
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the SPIRIT of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a VOICE FROM HEAVEN said, “This is my beloved SON, with whom I am well pleased.” ”
Can you imagine perfect unity among family members; where each member identifies with the other and exists for a unified purpose? So it is with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are unified. Jesus desires that their UNITY extends to believers. Prior to going to the cross, Jesus prayed, “I in them and You in Me; that they may be perfected in UNITY, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me,” John 17:23. As we look at the discord that exists among so many, we can praise God for the UNITY of the God-head and the invitation to be united with them.
LORD, I praise You, Father, Son, and Spirit. Thank You for the UNITY that exists between You and that You extend to us.
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
Praise to the UNFATHOMABLE Lord
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and UNFATHOMABLE His ways!”
Can you hear the passion in Paul’s heart as he spoke of God to believers in Rome? To the Greeks who boasted of their wisdom, knowledge, and ways, Paul said, “You think you have wisdom and knowledge? You can’t begin to comprehend the riches of God’s wisdom, knowledge, and ways. UNFATHOMABLE! That’s our God!”
Lord God, You who are UNFATHOMABLE, thank You for the UNFATHOMABLE riches that You’ve given us in Christ!
© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
Cry to Abba Daddy
Last week, I had two firsts.
By that, I mean I had two experiences that I’ve never had before. My sister, Linda McConnico, who is fifteen years older than me, has laughingly said that when she has a “first time experience” at her age, it’s pretty amazing. Since she said that, I’ve been paying attention to my “firsts.”
First Time to Eat Dinner at 11:30 P.M.
Keith arrived on a late flight into San Antonio last week. Rather than eat in San Antonio, we had planned to come home and enjoy cooking out and catching up. We ate at 11:30 p.m. That was a first.
First Time to Cry Out “DaDa” to God
On the way to pick up Keith at the airport, I listened to Timothy Keller’s podcast, “Praying in the Spirit.” In it, he explained what I’d been taught years ago – that “Abba” means Daddy. But, then, he explained that it really means Dada. Its one of the earliest word infants say. “Dada,” they call, reaching for their father’s neck. “Dada,” they cry when they’re hurt. “Dada” they call when their daddy comes into the room.
Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words explains “Abba Father” in this way:
“Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; “father” expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.”
Romans 8:15 explains that the believer’s relationship with God is that of Father and child. God has adopted us. He’s an “up close” personal, loving Father. We should not think of our relationship with Him as if He were a taskmaster and we are His fearful slaves. “…you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father!”
Dada! Father!
For the first time this week, rather than praying, “Heavenly Father” or “Lord,” I opened my prayer, “Dada.” I know it sounds funny, and I have no idea why I felt led to share this with you. But, there’s something sweet and intimate about calling, “Dada, Father!”
Dada! Father! I love You
Dada! Father! I need You
Dada! Father! help me. I don’t know what to do
Dada! Father! forgive me
Dada! Father! take care of my loved ones
Dada! Father! comfort and heal….
Dada! Father! help me stand against temptation
Dada! Father! use me for Your purposes
Call On Abba Father
Have you ever called to God, “Dada! Father!” It’s sweet. It’s personal. It’s between just you and Him. No one ever has to know. But, you could try it.
Maybe sometimes, we need to put aside our formality. Maybe sometimes, we need to grasp the reality that we have a spiritual Father; that we are His children.
Jesus opened His arms to children and blessed them. Can you imagine your Heavenly Father’s arms wrapped around you?
Call out, “Dada! Father!” Confess your love to Him. Tell Him your needs.
Our Dada, Abba Father, we adore You and love You. May we run to You with arms full of love and hearts full of trust. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Praise to Jesus, a TESTED STONE
“Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a TESTED STONE, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’”
Jesus wasn’t just a “man of God.” He did what no other person has done – stood against every temptation. He never gave in; never sinned. We’ve been tried and tested, but fallen for Satan’s deceptions. We’ve given into our fleshly nature. Jesus was tested in the fire of temptation, suffering, and human agony, and He shone as pure gold. Why? How? Because He is pure God. And, because He is, we’re to build our lives on Him. Say “no” to humanistic and passing social religious views. Say “yes” to Jesus – God’s TESTED STONE.
Lord Jesus Christ, once again we’re reminded of the joy and privilege it is to call You our God. You are foundational to all we believe; a pure and holy TESTED STONE. We praise and worship You!
© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
Praise to God the SPIRIT
“Now the Lord is the SPIRIT, and where the SPIRIT of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
There is much about God that we will never grasp or understand until we get to heaven. However, Jesus has explained God. In John 4:24, Jesus teaches us, “God is SPIRIT, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.” In John 14:16-17, He describes the SPIRIT as another Helper, likening the SPIRIT to Himself. Later, He inspired Paul to write to the church that believers are to walk and live by the SPIRIT; (Galatians 5:16, 25) therein finding true liberty. For more information on my conference, Listen UP! 31 Points About the Holy Spirit, click HERE.
I praise You, God the SPIRIT. Thank You for Your presence and the liberty we have in You!
Praise to the Lord, My SHEPHERD
“The Lord is my SHEPHERD, I shall not want.”
This is probably one of the more familiar ways in which we know God: SHEPHERD. We say the 23rd Psalm at weddings and funerals. We love this psalm because it comforts us to know that God is our SHEPHERD. He’s leading us. He’s protecting us. He’ll take us through life, death, and home to heaven. For what better reason could we praise Him?
Lord God, You are my SHEPHERD, and I praise You!
*Remember to record God’s attributes in your Prayers of My Heart journal. As you do, praise Him for all He means to you.
CLICK HERE for MORE encouragement in your WALK with GOD!