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The Great Provide
Have you ever felt desperate and cried out to God to help to do what He’s asked of you? No doubt, such was the case for Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
Although Abraham didn’t understand why God would ask him to do something so unthinkable, he had confidence in God’s goodness and told his servants, “We, not I, will return.
Abraham took the steps of obedience to which God called him one faith step at a time, not knowing how God would provide.
In the final moment, as Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice Issac, God stopped him. He provided a ram in the place of Isaac. Genesis 22:14 records, “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.’” (“Jehovah-Jireh” is the KJV’s translation of YHWH-Yireh which means “The LORD Will Provide.”)
In the act of Abraham being called to sacrifice his only begotten son we get a glimpse of what it was like for God to sacrifice His only begotten Son.
Jesus, like Issac, was laid on the wood, stretched out, but instead of being freed, died in our place. Jehovah-Jireh, God will Provide, provided Jesus as a substitute for us.
What will you do today…and every day to show your gratitude to the Father and to Jesus?
JEHOVAH-JIREH, You saw our need and provided Your only begotten Son to die for our sins. Jesus, thank You for willingly laying down Your life for us. We’re overwhelmed with gratitude and pray we daily reflect it by our lives.
Abraham demonstrated his love for and trust in God through his act of obedience. Our actions reveal whether we truly love, trust, and respect Jesus. To learn more, read this related blog post by Debbie.
Getting Away with Sin
Do you ever feel like things in life aren’t fair?
Have you wondered why some people get away with things with no apparent consequences?
Often, those questions are warranted. As thinking people, we can’t help but wonder about fairness. But when we question why certain people get away with doing wrong, we must quickly remember that in the end, no one gets away with anything. God sees everything.
Yes, God sees everything including what is in our heart. He knows our thoughts and even intentions and motives.
Most importantly, God is just, as Psalm 89:14 states, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne…”
If you’ve been upset and concerned because life isn’t fair, because wrong too often prevails over what is right, because our world’s justice system doesn’t always rule fairly, remember that God is just.
Also, remember that there is a day when every person will stand before the judgement seat of God. Hebrews 9:27
God weighs hearts and motives. He forgives repentant sinners. He renders judgment on unrepentant ones.
Set aside any vengeance you have toward another person knowing God will rule justly because that is His nature – just.
Lord, thank You that we can trust You for You are JUST.
TIP: Write God’s attribute that I highlight in every 365 Days of Praise devotional in Prayers of My Heart. Writing it on paper writes it on your brain. When you’re troubled, flip through the pages of your journal and thank God for who He is as you reflect on His nature. It will build your confidence, decrease your stress, and help you live a more joy-filled life. Click HERE to order.
Who Created God?
Where did God come from? Who created Him? What’s His origin? Who is the mastermind behind Him?
Have you ever asked that question or has someone asked you? It’s a question most people ask at one time or another.
Here’s the answer. In Exodus 6:3, God told Moses, “I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by my name, LORD, (JEHOVAH) I did not make Myself known to them.”
The answer to the question about where God came from is to understand that God is self-existent.
God told Moses that His name is Jehovah, which in the Hebrew language means self-existent One or “the existing One.”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
What does that mean?
Scholar Charles Ryrie explains, “It is a name of the relationship between the true God and His people and when used, emphasizes God’s holiness, hatred of sin, and love of sinners.” 1
In other words, God didn’t “come from.” He IS.
God is a self-existing God who is holy, hates sin, and loves us. We won’t fully comprehend God until we get to heaven and probably won’t even then. In the meantime, we can lift our hands and praise Him.
Lord God, JEHOVAH, we praise You and thank You that You love us and have provided salvation for us.
The Apostle John confirms God’s self-existing nature in John 1:1-2 by writing, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” To learn more, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 1 HERE or listen to it HERE.
1 Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update (Chicago: Moody Press, 2008), 2057.
Hellooooooo! Are We Listening?
When Moses first asked God what His name was, He replied, “I AM.” Then, after the Israelites “played the harlot” by worshipping a golden calf, the LORD made it clear that we are to live for Him and Him alone.
In Exodus 34:11-12, 14 God states, “Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day… Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst…. for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—”
God clearly says that His name is Jealous. It is not okay to put things and people before God.
Ouch! Does that hit close to home because other things slip in before God? How do we know if that’s happened?
One way is to look at our calendar. What is our priority every day? Is it to check the news, social media, or is it to check in with God by hearing from His through His Word and worshipping Him?
Another way is to check our bank account. Where are we spending our money? Do we give first to God’s kingdom work knowing He will provide for our needs?
A third way to check if we are putting things before God is to consider what preoccupies our mind.
Yes, our thoughts, time, and money show God and us who and what we worship. When something or someone slips into God’s place, it is important we correct, not ignore, it.
Heavenly Father, You are a JEALOUS God. May we always worship You above all else.
As believers, we can often find that we want to put God first, but we struggle against our own human nature and habits. The Apostle Peter, who struggled more than once with his human nature, boldly encourages us that we have everything we need for life and godliness in 2 Peter 1:1-4. To listen to Debbie’s teaching on the subject, click HERE.
How to Know God Exists Since You Can’t See Him
“You can’t see God, so how do you know He’s there?” people sometimes ask. I think one of the best responses is found in Romans 1:19-20 where Paul writes:
“…because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Paul acknowledges that God is invisible to our eye. However, he points out that God’s existence is clearly seen by how God has and continues to express Himself through creation.
Look at the glory of the sunrise, sunset, and heavens. Consider the majesty of the mountains. Inspect the tiniest flower. Count the sizes, shapes, and colors of animals. Marvel at the miracle of the human body.
God may be invisible, but His handiwork is clearly visible. Our privilege and calling is to give credit where credit is due for God’s creation, eternal power, and divine nature that is clearly displayed. Join me in the following chorus of praise.
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17
King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE God, we praise You and thank You for the glory of Your creation and for making Yourself clearly seen through Your handiwork. May our lives point people to You.
If you enjoyed this content and want to watch video teachings by Debbie, consider subscribing to her YouTube channel. Go HERE and click the subscribe button to be notified of new teachings.
Someone Knows Your Heart, God’s Will Is Being Your Go Between
When God says something one time, we need to pay attention. When He says it twice in the same breath, we need to sit up and pay attention. Romans 8:26-27 is just such a case. Note how these two verses describe God the Spirit.
26 “Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”
27 “and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Did you note how God the Spirit is described two times as One who intercedes for us?
Yes, first, Paul explains that the Spirit helps us by being an intercessor between us and God the Father.
Second, he explains that the Spirit searches our heart and as our “go between” intercessor prays for us according to the will of God.
If you ever have times you are burdened, confused, or at a loss about what to pray, quiet your heart in God’s presence.
Rest assured that the Holy Spirit, who is in you, will take the reins and intercede for you with groanings too deep for words.
Holy One, what joy and peace there is knowing that You are our INTECESSOR. Thank You for searching our hearts and INTERCEDING for us with groanings too deep for words.
The Holy Spirit is an intercessor and a helper for believers. To deepen your understanding of the Spirit, listen to Debbie’s podcast teaching: “Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.”
When You Question God’s Goodness
Have you questioned God’s goodness when He didn’t answer your prayers, or didn’t answer in the timing you wanted? If so, it helps to meditate on Isaiah 40:28 which reminds us of how much higher God’s ways are than ours. “The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.”
What does that verse have to do with God not answering our prayers, or not in the way we want?
Isaiah points out that God’s understanding in inscrutable. The New International Version of the Bible states, “His understanding no one can fathom.” The New King James Bible states, “His understanding is unsearchable.”
In other words, when we pray and God doesn’t answer in the way we want or the timing we want, it has nothing to do with God’s goodness. Rather, it’s important to remember that God’s understanding of what we’ve prayed about is beyond our understanding, but not God’s. His understanding is “inscrutable;” limitless.
Trust and faith are essential not only in our profession of faith but also our daily walk and prayer life. We can trust God, whose understanding is inscrutable, beyond what we can understand. Will you trust Him today, knowing He is good?
Lord, Your understanding is INSCRUTABLE, beyond what we can fathom. Help us look to you in faith, trusting in Your goodness.
Are you facing disappointment or struggling with 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.
What to Do with Cat Clinging Guilt
Have you ever felt guilty? I have and It’s a horrible feeling. What do you do with guilt? You can’t hide it, shake it, or bury it. It clings to you like a cat with nails dug in, determined to not turn loose.
However, there is One who never experienced guilt…until He took ours upon Himself. Hebrews 7:26 says about Jesus, “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;”
Innocent. The description of Jesus in Hebrews 7:26 hangs in mind. It reminds me of an infant nestled in their mother’s arms or a toddler giggling; one unstained by the world.
The word for innocent, akakos, which describes Jesus in Hebrews 7:26 means without guile or fraud, harmless; free from guilt.
Jesus was the opposite of we who have known the right thing to do, yet not done it. We have opened pandora’s box. We have crossed the line. We have had thoughts and said words we wish we could take back.
Have you ever tried to imagine what it was like for Jesus to be innocent and then experience your guilt; to feel dirty? That’s what Jesus did for us. Never question His love… “while we were yet sinners, He died for us,” Romans 5:8.
Instead of languishing in guilt over sin, Psalm 32:5 shows us the way to get rid of any cat clinging guilt: acknowledge and confess our sin.
Lord Jesus, INNOCENT Savior, thank You that when we acknowledge our sins to You and confess them, You forgive the guilt of our sin. We love and praise You.
Jesus demonstrated the greatest love when He died on the cross for our sins, bearing our guilt and shame. To learn more about His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 19 HERE.
Are Your Feet Dancing?
Can you imagine being told that a distant relative passed away and left you all his money? “That’s nice of Uncle Fred,” you say, thinking of his modest clothing and car. Then, the executor of the estate continues, “Congratulations. You’re a billionaire.” Stunned, you realize that you never knew how much Uncle Fred possessed.
Believers may be like that in relation to our inheritance in Christ. If so, consider how David recognized the Lord as his inheritance in Psalm 16:5, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.”
David is mindful of the ways the Lord is his inheritance and praises Him for what he has inherited in the Lord: His goodness(v 2), His support (v 5), His counsel and instruction (v 7), His steadying presence (v 8), eternal security (vs 9-10) and resurrection to heaven’s joy (vs 10-11).
Do we recognize the Lord as our inheritance and praise Him? If not, we can begin today because when Christ died, we were granted an inheritance in Him. First Peter 1:3-4 states, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
The Lord Jesus, the resurrection from the dead, heaven, the right to the Tree of Life, and so much more is our inheritance. Are your feet dancing and hands praising the Lord?
Lord, You are our INHERITANCE. We love, worship, and rejoice in you! Thank You! Thank you!
Want to learn more about the imperishable inheritance believers have in Christ? Watch this video clip of Debbie’s teaching on the subject.
When No One Understands You
Do you ever feel like no one understands you – truly understands you?
Or perhaps you have thought, “I can’t understand how you could…” in regard to another person’s actions or words?
No doubt, as much as we may love or know someone, we can never get inside another person’s head. Nor can they totally understand us. But God can.
Psalm 147:5 says, “Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.”
The word, infinite, in this passage means innumerable. In other words, the Lord’s understanding of us and everything in the world in time and space is limitless. It is endless and impossible to measure. And the most amazing thing is He loves us.
How can we not run to Him in love and gratitude? Why would we not talk to Him about everything on our heart and mind, knowing He understands us and our situation? Why would we not quietly wait and listen for God’s instructions and guidance? (By the way, when you talk things over with God, it helps to have your Bible so when He stirs your heart you can look up the verses He brings to mind.) It also helps to have pen and journal so you can write down how He instructs you.
When no one understands, remember that God does and He loves you. Run to Him. Pray to Him. Listen to Him. Obey Him.
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, You have INFINITE UNDERSTANDING. Thank You for loving me and guiding me.
Would you like an organized way to record what God is speaking to you? Grab a copy of Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to write down what God places on your heart.