365 Days of Praise
I AM SEALED in CHRIST with the HOLY SPIRIT
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,”
Are you familiar with 1970’s song, “Sealed with A Kiss?” The lyrics follow:
Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer
Baby, I promise you this
I’ll send you all my love
Every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss
Yes, it’s gonna be a cold lonely summer
But I’ll fill the emptiness
I’ll send you all my dreams
Every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss
I’ll see you in the sunlight
I’ll hear your voice everywhere
I’ll run to tenderly hold you
But baby, you won’t be there
I don’t wanna say goodbye for the summer
Knowing the love we’ll miss
So let us make a pledge
To meet in September
And seal it with a kiss.
When I think of the above lyrics and the “pledge” of love “sealed with a kiss,” I wonder if we can in any way get our minds around our Bridegroom’s words to us: that He was leaving; but He would not forget us, He would continue His deep love for us. When He left, He would send us the seal of His love: the Holy Spirit; a seal of more profound than that between two lovers. His seal, the Holy Spirit of Promise – the promise of our relationship being consummated at the heavenly Wedding Feast – reaches to our innermost core and being. It is beyond emotional. It is beyond physical. It is beyond intellectual. It is deeper still – a spiritual love and eternal promise. Some people know only of human love. But there is a more profound love and relationship that is sealed with the kiss of Christ’s Holy Spirit. Do you have that seal? If not, click here and respond to Christ’s calling for you to be His eternal bride.
Heavenly Father, thank You for our Bridegroom Jesus Christ and for the engagement gift of the Holy Spirit of Promise in whom believers are sealed.
I HAVE an INHERITANCE
“also we have obtained an inheritance,”
Just when it seems that we’re about to burst as we ponder on all that we have been given in Christ, we are reminded of yet another aspect of our identity as Christians. We’re RICH! Rather than being paupers, we are the recipients of an inheritance from God. What is our inheritance? It is the riches of God’s glory, of a place prepared for us in heaven, Christ returning to receive us into His glory. Our inheritance is eternal life where sin does not exist. Our inheritance is fellowship and harmony with God and others for eternity. Our inheritance is a new heaven and a new earth. Our inheritance is…we could go on forever; for that is our blissful inheritance – God’s love, glory, and peace forever.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the inheritance that I have in You. Help me live with a grateful heart for all You have given me and will give me in Christ Jesus.
I am LAVISHED with GRACE
“according to the riches of His grace which He LAVISHED on us.“
I’m having fun studying OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST. Are YOU? Today, ponder this fact about yourself. You are not a nobody. I know that probably wasn’t the best grammar, but you get the point. You’re a SOMEBODY. In fact, you didn’t barely “make it” to the santified position of “saved.” Rather, God LAVISHED you with His grace! You’re covered – head to toe in heavenly, holy, joyful, loving, redemptive G R A C E! You are a beautiful GRACE COVERED CHILD OF GOD. He loves you, has taken it upon Himself to clean you, set you apart as HIS, and identify Himself with you FOREVER. RICH GRACE. YOU. LAVISHED WITH IT. It will take you all the way to heaven. Think on it today with a grateful heart!
Heavenly Father, thank You for LAVISHING ME with the RICHES of YOUR GRACE. I love You and praise You!
I am REDEEMED!
“In Him we have redemption through His blood,…“
Are you familiar with the hymn, “Redeemed”? I had the blessing of growing up in a church where I attended Sunday nights as well as the morning service. Sometimes, the evening services were the most special because those services were filled with people who REALLY wanted to be there. It seems we sang the loudest and most from our hearts in the evenings. I’ll never forget the sound of deeply thankful Christians singing, “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy. His child forever I am.” What does it mean to “have redemption”? It means that God liberated us from our sin, the devil, and hell by paying the ransom price of Christ’s blood. Shouldn’t we therefore SING with gratitude and gusto, “His child and forever I am!” I’m going to give you a glimpse of the kind of music I grew up singing on Sunday nights. I found this on YouTube. I’m not familiar with the church or worship leader. It was filmed in 2006. But, the voices of the congregation and the worship leader’s thankfulness for His redemption and for our Lord should be what every Christian feels. CLICK HERE to watch and more importantly listen and sing along: REDEEMED, how I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT.
Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming me with the blood of Your precious Son. I do so love to proclaim my redemption and am ever so grateful!
I’M the RECIPIENT of GOD’S KIND INTENTIONS
“according to the kind intention of His (God’s) will.“
Have you ever longed for someone to be kind to you? Perhaps you’ve been in a troubled marriage and wondered, “Why can’t he/she just be kind?” You may have had a teen who rebelled and shouted, slammed doors, and ignored every good thing you tried to instill in them. “Why can’t they be kind?” you’ve pled to the Lord. You may have been abused as a child; or may be the victim of abuse even now. How you long for kindness. When we search for the answer to, “Who am I in Christ,” we find Ephesians 1:5 to be especially comforting. It tells us that we are the recipients of God’s kind intentions. God has intentions. They are kind. And they are directed at you.
Heavenly Father, thank You that in the midst of hectic days and sometimes difficult relationships, I am the object of the kind intentions of Your will. What a beautiful, glorious thought. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I’M GOD’S ADOPTED CHILD
“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,“
Say it, “I’m God’s adopted child.” Isn’t that cool? Think about it. Ponder it. Can we even get our minds around the holy, awesome, all-powerful ONE who reigns in heaven with angelic hosts to do His bidding – HIM – choosing to adopt us as His sons and daughters? It’s mind-boggling. But, that is who we are if we’re Christians. How were were adopted? Through an adoption agency, of course. No, it wasn’t any of the adoption agencies with which we’re familiar: Gladney, Adoption Advocates, or any other. Rather, it is through the Jesus Christ Adoption Agency. Yes, we were adopted through Christ Jesus. We are safe. We have an eternal home. No longer are we orphans left to live and die in Satan’s orphanage of darkness. We have an Eternal Father. Oh, I pray you love Him dearly. He deserves our deepest adoration.
Heavenly Father, how good it is to call You my Father who is in heaven. How wonderful to say in bold confidence, Holy is Your name. I am so honored to be Your child. Words are not enough to express my gratefulness. Only a life pleasing to You says thank You. Help me live that life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
www.debbietaylorwilliams.com
I AM LIVING BEFORE GOD
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him.“
This year we’re discussing who we are as believers. We’re including, but going beyond the standard list one that includes “redeemed, sanctified, justified.” We’re being extremely practical; as in our identification today. God chose us to be holy and blameless before Him. When does “before Him” begin? Is it when we’re in heaven? If so, we’re good to go. We know that is our heavenly identity. But, if we look at the message of Ephesians 1:3 it tells us God’s heart. We are His children – playing, working before His eyes. He sees our every success and failure. It is not pleasing to His eyes to see us living in sin. That’s not what He chose for us. Think of it this way. Children are playing and you are watching. They are belittling each other, hurting one another, and acting out selfishly. It pains you. It annoys you. They know better. However, at another time those same children are being sweet and kind to one another. They are being unselfish. You sit back and watch in pleasure those children before you. Todays’ few words at the end of Ephesians 1:3 are not there by happenstance. And, they cause me to pause and consider my actions and behavior before God.
Heavenly Father, would you please forgive me for the selfish, foolish ways I have often acted? It must have pained You. Help me keep in the forefront of my mind that I am living before You. Every moment, every day, it is not what other people see in me, but rather what You see. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
www.debbietaylorwilliams.com
CHOSEN to be HOLY & BLAMELESS
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him.“
Do you struggle with sin? Or, I should say, do you struggle to not sin? That’s because God chose you before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. Sin doesn’t feel right. It dirty. It’s uncomfortable. It doesn’t fit with our new nature in Christ. Oh, for a bit sin may feel good. It may be fun. But, it always has a sting. It always has consequences; some that we live with for a long time. I know sin well from my own struggles. I know from those to whom I minister. Last week I was at the Lockhart Prison in Texas sharing with the female inmates. Their stories? They’re living with the sting of their sin – driving while drunk, not paying their creditors, outbursts of anger that ended in physically abusing their children, and more. Sin. It is NOT how God created us. Knowing that God chose you in Him to be holy and blameless, what decisions will you make today to stand against sin?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for doing what I could not do for myself – making me holy and blameless in Christ. Help me choose wisesly today so that my choices honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BLESSED with SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.“
Thrilled. That’s how my heart felt this morning as I turned in my Bible to Ephesians. After completing our discovery of who we are in Christ as revealed in the book of Colossians, we’re now turning to Ephesians. I pray your heart took a leap as mine did when you read verse 3. In case you hurriedly read it, reread it. God has (past tense) blessed us. That’s good news in and of itself. “How, in addition to salvation?” we might ask. “I’m hurting. I need something to which to cling,” we might admit. And that’s why we read on. God knows you need something now. He knows that there are earthly blessings some may never experience – the house, great spouse, having children, a rewarding job. So He gives us something beyond the physical realm. He gives us love. Love in our hearts that no person can give. He gives us peace when we think we may “lose it.” He gives us hope. Not a false hope in earthly things. Rather, He teaches us to redirect our eyes to hope in Him. Open your Bible and begin reading through Ephesians with me. Take hold of the spiritual blessings associated with who you are in Christ.
Heavenly Father, You have blessed me with spiritual blessings that far outweigh earthly blessings; yet too often I’m not mindful of them. Open my eyes and heart to take hold of them over the next weeks and months. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FULLY ASSURED in the WILL of GOD
“laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.“
Wednesday I was a guest speaker for The God of Hope Ministry, which has a “faith dorm” at the Lockhart Prison in Texas. During a break, an inmate approached me and asked how she could know if something was of God or Satan; how she could know if something was right or true. I was thrilled to encourage her that she could look to the Bible; that it is God’s words and she could be fully assured in it. Have you ever floundered with a decision? Have you ever wavered between knowing if something was wrong or right to do? Because believers are set apart in Christ, we have the blessing of trustworthy guidelines for how to live. We have assurances and promises on which we can depend. We can be fully assured that if God said it, it’s true. We can live day by day fully assured in the will of God.
Heavenly Father, it’s a blessing to know that I can be fully assured in all Your will. Help me walk faithfully in Your will today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.