365 Days of Praise
Is There Anyone You Can Trust?
The truth. When listening to the news do you ever long for the truth? When questioning a child, have you ever doubted their words and said, “Tell me the truth.” If a person has lied to you once, do you wonder when they tell you something if it’s the truth?
How refreshing that in John 16:13 Jesus tells us we can trust God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. There’s not a lie in God’s holy body, Word, or Spirit.
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13).
Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), we can trust it is the truth—the eternal truth that does not change.
When we wonder if we should do things our way, the world’s way, or God’s way, we have the answer. Believe God, the Spirit of Truth. Follow the Spirit of Truth. Obey the Spirit of Truth.
Lord God, how refreshing that I can wholeheartedly trust You, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH!
Our key verse today is John 16:13. Watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 16 HERE or listen to it HERE.
Speaker of the House
So what do you think of the Speaker of the House? Oh, I’m not talking about the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. I’m referring to the Speaker of God’s House, the Speaker of Righteousness, as Isaiah 45:19 describes the LORD.
“I have not spoken in secret, in some dark land…I, the Lord, speak righteousness, declaring things that are upright” (Isaiah 45:19).
How wonderful that we have a Speaker of the House who is a Speaker of Righteousness. While reading the Bible, we hear His righteous voice. As citizens of His Kingdom, we can ponder and practice the ways our Speaker of Righteousness tells us to live.
The LORD is not a silent God. He speaks through His Word. He speaks into our hearts and minds through His Spirit.
Are we listening to the Speaker of our House?
Are we sharing the Speaker of Righteousness’ words with others?
Thank You, Lord, SPEAKER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. May I listen to and follow Your voice above all others. May I faithfully share You with others in my sphere of influence.
One of the ways Hill Country Ministries shares what God has spoken is through our ministry pages on Facebook and Instagram. They are “microphones” we use to “go out into the world” as Jesus tells us to do. When you “Like” our Facebook page or follow us on Instagram, it increases Christ’s, our Speaker’s, reach.
The Sower of God’s Seed
Jesus often used parables to teach spiritual truths. Such is the case with the parable of the sower and seed recorded in Matthew 13.
Let’s start at the beginning of the parable. “Jesus went out of the house” (Matthew 13:1).
Why does the parable begin with such a seemingly inconsequential point? Maybe Jesus just wanted to get some fresh air. Maybe He wanted to gaze at the sky and worship His Father. Maybe He went out so people would see Him and come to Him to hear Him speak. We find that is exactly what happened in Matthew 13.
First a few people saw Him. I imagine the people excitedly told others, “Go get the neighbors. Tell them Jesus is teaching!”
Word spread and as Jesus spoke a large crowd gathered. He began the parable by saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as He sowed, some seeds fell beside the road and…” (Matthew 13:3-4). It’s an important parable that I encourage you to read in Matthew 13.
The bottom line is Jesus sowed seeds of eternal truth among people. Whether the seed bore fruit depended on the person’s heart. The Sower still sows seed through His Word, teachers, and His still quiet voice that speaks into our hearts. Is our heart open, fertile ground to receive Christ and His words to us?
Lord Jesus, SOWER OF GOD’S SEED, prepare my heart each day to hear and act on Your Word so I bear much fruit that glorifies You.
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What’s Your Take On This?
I’d love your thoughts on Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6:13-16. He says, “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, …that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time.”
What are your thoughts on his charge to Timothy?
The reason I ask is that some people say Christians are free of the Law and commandments because we live in a period of grace. I agree we live by God’s grace, but what about the charge to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach”? Could it be that although we’re saved by grace, God expects us to act like His children?
Paul’s next words reflect his amazement, honor, and worship of the resurrected Jesus Christ.
“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion!”
Paul’s words and life bring praise to Jesus. Should not our lives and words also bring praise and glory to Jesus? In what way does your life bring praise and glory to Jesus?
Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed and only SOVEREIGN, I believe in You. Increase my praise and worship of You. Prompt in me ways that my life and words can bring You praise.
Do you want to learn more about living by God’s divine nature? Grab a copy of Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature – 2 Peter Bible Study. It’s a 4-week, verse-by-verse study of 2 Peter that is sure to bless and encourage you as well as help strengthen your walk with the Lord. The study includes videos and podcasts, which can be accessed under “Bible Studies” on the homepage.
We’d Better Get this Right
As I read through God’s Word, I am amazed at not only the ways the Father, Son, and Spirit are revealed but also through whom the revelations are made.
For instance, In Mark 14:61, it was the high priest who asked Jesus if He was the Son of the Blessed One. However, in Luke 8:28, it was a demon who acknowledged Jesus as Son of the Most High God.
“Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, ‘What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me’” (Luke 8:28).
The high priest didn’t recognize Jesus, but a demon did; calling Him the Son of the Most High God. His statement could not be more true. There are numerous gods, which is why God commands us, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). But there is one Most High God and Jesus is His Son. It’s important we get this right. The demons do.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the all-powerful, holy SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. Forgive me when I treat You casually and don’t honor You as I should. Quicken my heart and mind to worship and honor You above anyone or anything.
In John 1:29, Jesus is revealed through John the Baptist, who acknowledged Him as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” To watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 1, click HERE. To listen to her teaching, click HERE.
Just You Wait and See
Things aren’t always as they appear. Just you wait and see. For instance, Jesus had no earthly possessions, wasn’t married, and when arrested, His friends abandoned Him. He was lied about, mocked, and beaten almost to death before being crucified.
It would appear that Jesus was defeated in the worst of ways. However, in Mark 14:61-62 notice Jesus’ response to the high priest’s question, “‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’”
Jesus responded, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
“I am the Son of the Blessed One,” Jesus said. We can almost hear what He may have been thinking, “Just you wait and see.”
When we think about our lives or circumstances and it doesn’t seem like, feel like, or look like we are the “blessed child of God,” remember that is who you are, child of God. Things aren’t always as they appear. Just you wait and see.
Heavenly Father, I praise You for Christ, SON OF THE BLESSED ONE, and for bringing me to salvation through Him so that now I am also Your blessed child.
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Lost and Found
Have you ever been lost? Perhaps you took a wrong turn on a road and didn’t know how to get to your desired destination. As bad as that is, what’s worse is to be spiritually lost which is how Jesus describes us prior to our salvation. As a matter of fact, we were so lost that there was no one who could help us except Jesus.
In Luke 19:10, Jesus describes Himself as the Son of Man who came to seek and to save the lost.
Jesus left heaven’s glory to come and do what no one else could do.
Through the virgin birth, by the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Son of Man, was born to seek and to save our lost souls so we could be reunited with our Heavenly Father.
What good news! Is there someone we need to look for as Jesus did; someone with whom we can share the good news?
All praise to You, Lord Jesus, Son of God, SON OF MAN. Thank You for seeking and saving me. Rouse me to do as You did—seek the lost and share the good news of salvation with them.
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Are We Tolerating What Jesus is Against?
Jesus is the Son of Man who knows what it is to live in human skin. However, what is inside of Him is different from us. His innermost being is holy glowing purity.
Revelation 2:18-20a describes the ascended Christ as having eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze.
Revelation 1:16 describes His face as the sun shining in its strength. Imagine that visual for a minute. Jesus’ face is like the sun shining in its strength.
Following these magnificent descriptions of Jesus, we’re told that Jesus, the Son of God, says this, “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first, but I have this against you that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality” (Revelation 2:19-20a).
Yes, Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is slow to anger but we must never forget that He is also the Son of God reigning in glory.
Jesus sees our deeds. He sees sin that we tolerate, but that is an affront to Him. Is there anything we need to repent of before we ask for His continued blessings?
Lord Jesus, SON OF GOD, forgive me for tolerating what You hate. Purify me so I am a clean vessel for Your glory.
Go deeper into God’s Word with one of Debbie’s Bible studies. You can purchase printed Bible studies in our shop by clicking HERE. You can also complete free online Bible studies by clicking HERE.
So, What’s the Big Deal About Genealogy?
In the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of people wanting to know about their ancestors. However, genealogy has always been important in the Bible.
For instance, consider the first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the New Testament, Matthew 1:1. “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
What is important about the genealogy of Jesus?
Just in case someone might doubt Jesus’ rightful place as heir to King David’s throne, His lineage is recorded for the next twenty-five verses.
Yes, Jesus is the Son of God, but He is also the Son of David.
Among the many important implications, it is important to recognize that Jesus knows what it is to live in human skin—to need a nap, to feel tears roll down His cheek, and to thirst as He hung on the cross.
Jesus’ genealogy is well proved. He is the prophesied Messiah, Son of God, who came through the lineage of King David. We will one day see Him sitting on His eternal heavenly throne. What a glorious day.
SON OF DAVID, I praise You for willingly leaving Your heavenly home to put on flesh and live among us. I love and adore You.
Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify!
What Song Are You Singing?
Are you dragging through your day singing the blues? If so, that can change. You see, we have a choice about the music and songs we allow to play in our mind and heart as well as the ones we sing.
In Exodus 15:2, Moses tells us the music that empowered his walk. “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him.”
The word “song” in Exodus 15:2 means music or melody. In effect, Moses says, “The Lord is my melody. He’s the music by whom I walk through my day.”
What music or words play in your mind as you go about your day?
If you’ve been singing the blues, you can make the choice to change to a different playlist. You can tune your heart to God’s voice and walk through your day singing His praises. Isn’t it time to tune your heart to His praise playlist?
Heavenly Father, thank You for being the melody by which I can walk through my day. I sing Your praises. You are my strength and SONG.
Want to fill your day with songs that encourage and strengthen your spirit? Visit our Encouraging Music for the Cancer+ Journey page. You’ll find uplifting songs to help you keep your heart tuned to His praise.