365 Days of Praise
SPEAKS RIGHTEOUSNESS
“‘I have not spoken in secret, in some dark land…I, the Lord, speak righteousness,
Declaring things that are upright.’”
Isaiah 45:19
Do you realize that the Bible is filled with the righteous counsel of God? Page after page, verse after verse pours forth His ways. You and I are wise to read it, meditate on it, absorb and practice what God speaks. There is no place where will we find such powerful words of righteousness than in the book the Speaker of Righteousness has given us.
I praise You, LORD God, who rather than speak in secret, SPEAKS RIGHTEOUSNESS through Your Word so I can hear and follow You.
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
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
Are you reading each 365 DAY of PRAISE? Are you as amazed as I am at not only the ways the Father, Son, and Spirit are revealed; but also through whom the revelation is made? The high priest asked Jesus if He was the Son of the Blessed One. Today, it is not the high priest, but rather a demon who acknowledged Jesus in the most profound of ways: as Son of the MOST HIGH GOD. Demons recognize Jesus, His relationship to God, His authority over spirits, and power. Are we so wise to do the same in our daily lives and to give Him praise?
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the all powerful, wonderful SON of the MOST HIGH GOD. I pray my life reflects Your glory and my daily trust in You!
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
SHIELD
“You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”
Psalm 3:3
Do you feel under fire by a barrage of personal, financial, or other attacks? If so, take courage. Look up, into the face of your Heavenly Father, who is a Shield about you! Take the armor He provides. (Ephesians 6:13) Take up His Word. (Psalm 119:97-98, 110-111, 114) He has not left you alone to suffer or sink. Cover yourself with His love and truth. (Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion)
Lord, I praise You for being a SHIELD about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head!
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
SELECT ARROW
“He has also made Me a select arrow,
He has hidden Me in His quiver.”
Isaiah 49:2
Commentator David Guzik explains this description of Jesus in this way: “The Messiah prophetically proclaims that He is like a carefully made and polished arrow in the service of the LORD, ready to be used at the right time.”* And, that God did! At the right time, He sent Jesus forth. Commentator Matthew Henry adds: “furnished him with every thing necessary to fight God’s battles against the powers of darkness, to conquer Satan, and bring back God’s revolted subjects to their allegiance, by his word…”**
Lord Jesus Christ, SELECT ARROW of the Lord, I praise You for the work You have done to secure our salvation!
*http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Isa/Isa_49.cfm?a=728002; **http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Isa/Isa_049.cfm?a=728002
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
ROOT & DESCENDANT of DAVID
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Revelation 22:16
David was Israel’s illustrious king. Here, Jesus points out that He is David’s descendent. His earthly kingly roots go back to David’s seed; as was prophesied. But He is more. He is the bright morning star of heaven. He is God.
ROOT & DESCENDANT of DAVID, bright morning star, I praise, worship, and love You.
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
ROCK of ISRAEL
“You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival,
And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute,
To go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.”
Isaiah 30:29
Do you ever feel like not another thing can be squeezed out of you? Do you feel you have given all you can give? You can’t get water out of a rock, and perhaps that describes you – hard and dry. If so, look to the Rock of Israel – Christ. He provided water and life for the Israelites in the wilderness. (Exodus 17:6, 1 Corinthians 10:4) He provides living water for us today. (John 7:37-38) Drink deeply. He loves you so!
ROCK of ISRAEL, You were there for the Jews. You are here for me now. I love You and praise You – the One from whom I can drink deeply and be saved; the One from whom I can drink daily and be replenished.
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
RISEN LORD
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”
Matthew 28:6
We know the story well. It’s preached at Easter. But think how it must have sounded to the first person to whom it was told. First the acknowledgement that Jesus had died: “I know you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.” (v 5) Then, the shocking announcement that the grave couldn’t contain Jesus. Death couldn’t hold Him. THAT is the ONE we worship. The RISEN ONE. To worship any other is idolatrous.
RISEN LORD, I celebrate You and Your victory over death!
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
REWARDER of THOSE WHO SEEK HIM
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Do you ever think about pleasing God? Did you know that it is possible to please God? Hebrews 11:5 states that Enoch was “pleasing to God.” I can’t think of a more admirable thing to be said about a person than they are pleasing to God. And, when our hearts are such that we want to please God, He knows it and rewards us accordingly.
Lord God, REWARDER OF THOSE WHO SEEK YOU, You amaze me each day as I meditate on who You are. Thank You for the opportunity to please You. Thank You that I can come to You in faith. Thank You that I can seek You. And thank You for the reward of Your presence!
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
RESURRECTION & the LIFE
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,’”
John 11:25
Why do you think Jesus described Himself in so many ways when He walked the earth? Why do you think He repeated Himself with only a few changes in wording? Was it because we needed to hear again and again WHO He is? In case we haven’t heard it enough for it to sink into our souls, perhaps it will today. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Pause and meditate on Christ’s words and that He wants you to know that about Himself. Think of what your response should be to Him.
Lord, You are the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. I pray my life, not just my words give You praise!
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
RESTING PLACE
“My people have become lost sheep;
Their shepherds have led them astray.
They have made them turn aside on the mountains;
They have gone along from mountain to hill
And have forgotten their resting place.”
Jeremiah 50:6
Are you running? Running from God and His will for you? Running from the place to which He is calling you to serve Him in your family or community? Are you running from God’s commandments and wanting to do what you feel like when you feel like it? Often, we think freedom will bring us the rest that we want. But the truth is, the further we run from God the more restless and weary we become. God Himself is our resting place. If you’re in need of rest for your soul, spend time with Him in His Word. Praise Him for the rest only He can provide.
Lord, I praise You, my RESTING PLACE!
*Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.