365 Days of Praise
Who Gets it All
Hebrews 1:2 tells us that Jesus is the HEIR OF ALL THINGS. Why was it important for the writer of Hebrews to communicate this about Jesus? At the time the words were written to the Hebrew people, it appeared the government had control over all things. However, God wanted the Hebrews to know that Jesus was the ultimate possessor of everything. He created the world and everything in it; therefore, it is ultimately His. It was important for the first century Christians to be assured of this fact. It’s important for us to be assured of it.
LORD, we praise You for appointing Jesus as the HEIR OF ALL THINGS. Thank You for the assurance that our nation and world are His possession.
When You Cry Out, He’ll Hear
Do you have children or have you ever babysat? Think for a moment to when a child cried. Maybe they were in their crib. Or, perhaps you heard a thud; then the cry of a toddler who had fallen. What happened in the moment they cried out? Their voice “came into your ears.” I love the way that David worded 2 Samuel 22:7, “In my distress I called upon the Lord. Yes, I cried to my God and from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help came into His ears.” In the same way a child’s cry can be heard by us even if we’re in another part of the house, so God hears our cry from His temple. Our cries to God go into His ears. Our Heavenly Father is a HEARING GOD, not a deaf God. What will you cry out to Him about today?
Hearing Father, thank You for listening to our cries. Help us pay attention and hear Your voice in response to our cries.
How Can We Not…
February 28, 2002 God healed my mother. Bernice Ruth Taylor went to be with the Lord. No longer did she suffer the physical ailments that had ravaged her body. She was ready to be with Jesus. She took off her oxygen mask, smiled at us, and after we verbalized our love for one another, she closed her eyes. However, none of us were prepared for the next moment. Mama’s eyes flew open and she startled us with, “boo!” How long she’d planned that dramatic and joyous moment, I’ll never know; or if it was a spur of the moment idea. Regardless, she made her point. She wasn’t scared. She was, in fact, excited. Her attitude reflected Jeremiah 17:14 which says, “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” My mother knew Jesus was her HEALER and that she was on her way to Him. With that, she closed her eyes a final time on earth and opened them in heaven…fully healed. How can we not praise Him?
Lord God, You are our HEALER and we praise You!
Who is Ruling Our Lives
Do you ever worry about where our nation and world are headed? Although evil may temporarily prevail, the Bible tells us the end of the story. And it’s a good ending! God will prevail. Colossians 2:10 tells us Christ is the HEAD OVER ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY. One day every knee will bow before Him. In the meantime, believers have the opportunity to live under Christ’s rule in our personal lives and to share our faith and hope with others. Are we?
LORD JESUS, thank You for the comfort that You are HEAD OVER ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY! Open our eyes to the fact that we can live under Your rule despite what others do. Help us witness to others our hope and faith.
A Blessing to Slow Down and Think About
Do you ever hurriedly read through familiar passages in the Bible? I often have to remind myself to slow down so I grasp the fullness of God’s words. Such is the case with Matthew 26:27-28; which is often read during Communion. “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.'” When we slow down to read this passage, we realize that Jesus identifies Himself as the Covenant Maker. He makes a covenant with us and seals it with His blood. His covenant with us is eternally binding. Nothing can separate us from Him. What a blessing for us to slow down and think about.
Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, You not only made a covenant with us, but You sealed it with Your blood. We worship, praise, and adore You, our Lord and God.
Follow the Head Leader
The word “but” is an important word and has significance. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the apostle Paul encourages believers to imitate him in seeking the good of others over the good of oneself. However, he is quick to follow his statement in 1 Corinthians 11:3 saying, “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man,….” In other words, Paul explains that he only tells us to imitate him because he is imitating Christ, who is the HEAD OF EVERY MAN. Christ is the One we are to follow. Isn’t it wonderful we have Christ as our HEAD and He shows us and tells us how to live?
Lord Jesus Christ, HEAD OF EVERY MAN, we praise You, our leader and the One we can imitate.
Beyond Our Comprehension
Did you know that God distinguishes between when we unintentionally sin and when we intentionally sin? Yes, He notices. Yet, regardless of whether we were aware or unaware that our behavior was unholy, God still forgives us on the basis of Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross for our sins. Isaiah 53:10 explains the magnitude of their love which is beyond our comprehension. “But the Lord was pleased to crush Him (Jesus), putting Him to grief; if He (Jesus) would render Himself as a GUILT OFFERING…” Christ laid down His life as a GUILT OFFERING so that we might receive His righteousness. What a wonderful, loving Father and Son!
Heavenly Father and Jesus, we praise You for satisfying our sin debt by Jesus being our GUILT OFFERING. Your love is beyond our comprehension.
When You Don’t Know What to Do
Have you ever felt lost about what to do? I have. Probably one of the most difficult times was when I was 29 years old and received a letter from M.D. Anderson saying I had stage 1a ovarian cancer. The oncologist we selected agreed that a second opinion would be good. When we did, the second pathologist said it was not cancer. Our doctor’s advice was to treat it on the basis of M.D. Anderson’s diagnosis. We had one child, but wanted more children. If we followed M.D. Anderson’s advice, I’d return to the hospital and have a hysterectomy. My husband and I didn’t know what to do. Isaiah 42:16 says “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will GUIDE them.” God is our guide to eternal life, but He’s also our guide for daily life. When we pray, which is what Keith and I did; along with many family and friends who prayed for us, God guided us and we felt at peace about what we should do. Difficult, stressful, knee-buckling, tearful times occur; but in each and every one of them, we are not alone. Our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit are present to guide us. Look to them. Follow them. Be assured they love you.
Thank You, Lord, for being ever present with us and for being our daily GUIDE. Guide all who are searching to follow Your will and heart today.
Have You Ever Wished You Had Someone to..
Have you ever wished you had someone to watch your back? Or, better, to watch over your soul? The fact is, believers have just that in Jesus. First Peter 2:25 tells us “…you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” When doing research for my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion about God being the guardian of our soul, I discovered that the word “guardian” is translated from the Greek word episkopos and means an “overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things done by another are done rightly.” (page 98) What a blessing for us to have God as the Guardian of our souls!
LORD, thank You for being the GUARDIAN of our souls!
Will You Trust Your Prayers to God
Are you hurting, struggling, or stressed? Are you concerned for our nation or a concern close to your heart? If so, are you crying out to God? That’s what David did; as recorded in Psalm 86:10, “You are GREAT and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” His words to God are not mindlessly spoken. Rather, his words are heart felt and spoken in the midst of his afflictions and needs. When David says, “You are GREAT and do wondrous deeds;” David is professing his trust in God’s GREATNESS. He is looking at the heavens and saying, “You alone are God. I know nothing is too difficult for You. I know You can help, so do it!” Today is the National Day of Prayer. Do you need to affirm your faith in God’s GREATNESS? Do you need to say the words David said? Please join me now in affirming your trust in God’s great power. Join me in praying for our nation to repent of our sins and to return in humble trust of God. Pray now for the needs on your heart. Believe He hears you and walk out your belief with a hopeful heart. He DOES hear you and He loves you so very much.
Heavenly Father, we believe in Your greatness. We know You see us and hear our prayers. Please forgive us for our sins; for ways we have strayed from faithfully loving You, following You, and giving to You while we ask, ask, ask. Show us the way You want us to walk. Increase our hunger to daily study the Bible so we walk in Your will. We love You and ask Your forgiveness.