One blanket. Two blankets. Three blankets. Four. Keith and I sat in front of the fire trying to get warm. The winter storm had brought a temperature of 3 degrees that felt like minus 11. If only we had power and water. We had neither. 

The winter storm continued, and our driveway was too icy to get down. If you’ve lived in an area affected by winter storms, you know how devastating the cold can be, especially if you run out of wood, which happened to us. We couldn’t complain, though. We had a comforter. A comforter that we had once taken for granted, we now deeply appreciated. 

So, too, our spiritual Comforter, who 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes as the God of All Comfort, is a blessing when we are experiencing life’s storms. Yes, when a person’s crisp tongue chills us to the core or the howling wind of despair blows through our heart, the God of all Comfort comforts us like none other. Why? 

The Greek word for comfort means “to call to one’s side, speak to in the way of exhortation, console, teach.” God gives believers the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, never become threadbare, and never leave us. The more we blanket our lives with His teachings, the more we’ll know the warmth of His abiding presence.¹ 

Heavenly Father, You are the GOD OF ALL COMFORT. Please comfort those who are suffering. Give them Your wisdom. Strengthen them as only You can. 

Would you like to abide more in the warmth of God’s presence? Grab a copy of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional to help you spend more time in God’s presence and learn more about His incredible attributes. Purchase your copy HERE. 

¹ Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, page 67. Copyright Howard Publishing 2006, Debbie Taylor Williams, Monroe, LA

Some time ago, a person sent me a video titled, “How Big is the Milky Way?” Watching it prompted me to realize that I need to think bigger about God.

The word, “God,” first used in Genesis 1:1, is the Hebrew word ‘ĕlōhîm, a generic word for deity. It means “strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.” It is a plural noun but singular in meaning; consistent with the teaching of the Trinity throughout the Bible. 

Isaiah 54:5 personalizes the God of Israel saying, “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.” 

Yes, God is the God of Israel, but think bigger. God is the God of all the earth, as John 3:16 affirms. “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” 

We still need to think bigger. Jeremiah 31:35 helps us do that, writing, “Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name.” 

Yes, the video, “How Big is the Milky Way?” prompted me to once again be amazed and worship the God of the universe and beyond. What prompts you to be amazed and worship Him? 

Lord GOD, forgive me when I think too small of You and take You for granted. Open my eyes to Your grandeur and my heart to worship You more reverently. 

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Does life ever seem dull or your days dreary? If so, give yourself a vacation by setting your thoughts on the glorious splendor of the Lord (Psalm 145:5).

“Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:13).

“For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,…to rebel against His glorious presence” (Isaiah 3:8).

“…I shall glorify My glorious house” (Isaiah 60:7).

“Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses …” (Isaiah 63:12).

“Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation” (Isaiah 63:15).

“‘But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne’” (Matthew 25:31).

“…His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him” (Luke 13:17).

“‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall come'” (Acts 2:20).

“…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).

Lord Jesus, You, Your name, presence, house, arm, throne, might, and coming Day are GLORIOUS. I rejoice and praise You.

Want to learn more about the glorious day of the Lord? Click HERE to watch a clip from Debbie’s teaching on Acts 2.

Have you been with someone when they died? I was with my mother, father, and mother-in-law when they went to be with Jesus. 

Webster defines death as “the irreversible cessation of all vital functions, especially as indicated by the permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity.” 

That is what happened to Jesus as a result of the horrific scourging and crucifixion He suffered. The Roman soldiers who oversaw His death were skilled in their profession. They pronounced Jesus dead. But, as we know and Romans 4:17 explains, God “gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” 

What seemed final when Christ died on the cross was not final. God, who gives life to the dead, gave life to Jesus. Similarly, God has given life to our loved ones who have gone to Him, and He will give life to us after our bodies cease to function. 

How does it make you feel to know that God will give life to you after you die, just like He gave life to Jesus? 

Heavenly Father who GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD, I praise and exalt Your name! Thank You for Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. Thank You for raising my loved ones to eternal life. Thank You for the resurrection life I will one day experience. I love and praise You! 

Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podbean!

Do you ever feel like you “can’t breathe” because you have so much weighing on you? Or maybe you’re running so fast through each day you feel like you “can’t catch your breath.” Perhaps you’ve felt like you had “the breath knocked out of you” because of financial, physical, emotional, or relational blows. What can we do if we experience any of these difficulties? We can turn to our Heavenly Father. 

Isaiah 42:5-6 says, “Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it, I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.”  

What comforting words. God gives us His breath and His spirit so we can walk through our day. He holds us by the hand and watches over us. He has appointed us as a light to the nations. 

Our identity, comfort, and purpose are God-breathed. On difficult days when you are trying to “catch your breath,” hold your Bible close to you. Breathe deeply of the Spirit.

Lord, who GIVES BREATH and Your Spirit to me, use me as a light to the nations.

Do you feel like you’ve had the breath knocked out of you due to life’s disappointments and unmet expectations? Get a copy of The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World to discover how to take charge of your thoughts and let God reignite your hopes and dreams.

Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows. A gift tag with your name on it. Someone holding a gift and offering, “Take it. I bought it for you.” 

As difficult as it may be for us to understand, this is what God the Father and Christ offer us—the gift of salvation. It can only be received, not earned or bought. Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Yes, in spite of our sin, the Lord offers us the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Did it cost Him? Yes. It cost our Heavenly Father His only begotten Son’s life. It cost Jesus pain, humiliation, suffering, and death. 

When we open God’s gift of eternal life, the first thing we see is forgiveness, which gives us such joy and freedom. Then we see the gift of His Holy Spirit and are overwhelmed. Also included in the gift of eternal life is heaven, eternity, glory, peace, joy, and so much more! 

Each day we realize there’s more of God’s gift to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise. 

Lord God, thank You for being giving and for the incredible GIFT of eternal life. I love and praise You. 

Our mission at Hill Country Ministries is to spread the Word and love of Jesus. We want others to know Christ and receive the gift of eternal life. Help us by sharing 365 Days of Praise using the social media icons, below, or by forwarding to a friend through email. You can also help by subscribing to Debbie’s YouTube channel. Having more subscribers allows us to reach more viewers.

When you think of Jesus, do you think of Him as being gentle? In Matthew 11:29, it’s one of the ways He describes Himself. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” 

What does Christ mean when He says He is gentle? The Greek word for gentle is defined as mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. I once heard it defined as “power under control.” 

Although I don’t fully understand this great combination of attributes, I see them in my husband, Keith. He has great strength of character, yet he stoops down to pick a tiny flower amidst a field of grass in order to gently hand it to me on our walks. 

Christ, while holding infinite power, has a gentle heart toward us. Jesus tells us to walk closely with Him and learn from Him.

Who in your circle of friends or family needs to see Christ’s gentleness in you? To the degree we walk closely to Christ we’ll be able to walk in gentleness with others. 

Lord Jesus, You are strong yet GENTLE. Help me walk by Your Spirit and show gentleness to others as You do with me. 

God has so many wonderful attributes that we can praise Him for! The Prayers of My Heart prayer journal is a great way to record your praises and prayers. Grab a copy HERE.

Who are you counting on to guarantee you go to heaven when you die? Are you depending on yourself? Are you depending on another person? Or, are you relying on Jesus as your Savior? 

I hope you said Jesus. Why? Because we’re all going to die one day and Jesus warns us that He alone is the way to eternal life in heaven (John 14:6).

In spite of the fact some people claim that there are many ways to heaven, Jesus says, “Not so,” describing Himself as the gate into heaven. 

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). 

We are responsible for who we believe—a person, or the eternal resurrected Lord Jesus. I choose to believe and follow the One who demonstrated His heavenly love and power rather than believe and follow a person who teaches things contrary to the Word of God. What about you? 

Lord Jesus, I praise You, the GATE by whom I can enter into heaven and be saved. 

To learn more about Jesus as the gate to eternal life in heaven, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 14 HERE or listen to it HERE.

What makes a friend? How would you define “friend”? 

Urban Dictionary defines “friend” as “someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest. A friend is loyal.” 

Merriam-Webster defines “friend” as “one attached to another by affection or esteem.”  

How did Jesus define “friend”?  

We find the answer in John 15:14 when He said, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” 

Jesus’ definition cuts through any pretense. It’s not what we say or sing. It’s what we do that demonstrates if we love, respect, and trust Jesus. 

Has Jesus earned our love, trust, and respect? Most certainly. 

Does Jesus deserve our love, trust, and respect? Without question.

Whether or not we are Jesus’ friend is revealed by our actions—whether we obey or disobey Him. 

What better time than now for us to show Jesus how much we love Him by obeying Him? 

Jesus Christ, wonderful Savior and FRIEND, I pray to show You that I am Your friend by my obedience to You. 

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Do you enjoy pleasant fragrances? Did you know that God does, too? Did you know you can be a pleasant fragrance to God? Ephesians 5:2 explains how we can be a sweet aroma. Paul writes, “…walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” 

Christ’s sacrificial love and life were a fragrant aroma to God. In like manner, we can walk in love, sacrificially, and be a sweet aroma to God. 

What if we haven’t been walking in sacrificial love, but rather been selfish or unloving? We can acknowledge our sin, repent, and be filled with the sweet Spirit of Christ. 

When writing my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, I used my daughter’s puppy as an example of how we carry the fragrance of whatever we hold close to our hearts. Bailey, her puppy, had a distinct puppy odor. After holding her one day, I noticed her odor remained on me. It wasn’t pleasant so I showered and changed clothes. Just like a dog has an odor, so does sin. If we’re clinging to a “pet” sin or living for ourselves rather than sacrificially for God, He gets a whiff of our selfishness. 

What can we do to rid ourselves of the unpleasant odor of sin? Change, as I changed my clothes. Put the sin aside. Bathe in God’s forgiveness and grace. Serve the Lord and you will be a sweet aroma to Him and others. 

Christ Jesus, I praise You for walking in love and giving Yourself as an offering and sacrifice to God; a FRAGRANT AROMA. Help me to be a fragrance of You to God and others. 

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