365 Days of Praise

“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.

“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.

“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.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” 

John 5:25

Exciting, isn’t it? Yes, it’s thrilling to ponder that one day we’ll be pronounced DEAD. But in that moment we’ll HEAR something – Christ’s VOICE! And we will live!

Lord, I praise You, who RAISES the DEAD!

*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.

“When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

Have you ever longed to be pure? What would that look like? What would that feel like? One who is not pure cannot make another pure. But One who is pure can purify us. Oh, what a great and glorious work our Savior has done. He has purified us of our sins!

Lord Jesus, our PURIFIER, we love, adore, and praise 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.

“Behold, My servant will prosper,
He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13).

Have you ever thought of Jesus in terms of prospering? The Hebrew word in this context means “success.” Was Jesus successful? You bet He was. Although at times it appeared that He was anything but prospering, He was, in fact, accomplishing God’s will and securing our salvation. What a reason to praise Him! We have good cause to celebrate our Savior who prospered. Who was successful in doing all that the Father sent Him to accomplish.

Lord Jesus, the PROSPEROUS ONE, I praise You, my Lord and Savior! Thank You for successfully securing my salvation and a place with You for eternity.

*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.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” 

“The United States has intercepted an order from an Iranian official instructing militants in Iraq to attack U.S. interests in Baghdad in the event….”  “Group opposition to attack…. ”  “Supporters of attack argue….” PEACE. WILL IT EVER COME? Reread Isaiah 9:6. Is there anyone on whom the government can rest and who will bring about peace? Yes, the Prince of Peace. Keep your eyes heavenward, friends, in praise Him who is returning in the clouds. 

Lord Jesus, PRINCE OF PEACE, what a glorious day it will be when we see YOU returning in the clouds, just as You said You would! You will bring Peace, for You are THE PRINCE OF PEACE! All praise to 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.

“Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” 

Have you ever longed for a way to be exonerated and released from your sin; rather than it weighing you down as if you were carrying a corpse of guilt on your back? If so, please recognize that Jesus is more than your friend. He is your high priest. That means that upon His death He entered the holiest of holies – God’s presence and offered the sacrifice of His blood to atone for and cover your sins. There is no need for or point in you carrying guilt. Your high priest has completed His work on your behalf. You are free.   

Lord Jesus, I praise You, my Lord and high PRIEST! Thank You for absolving me of my sin and the weight of the guilt of my sin. I love You and praise 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.

“being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” 

Many boast of what they or their product can do. “Buy this car. It outperforms all others.” However, we are well aware that often products and people do not perform according to their promises. BUT GOD DOES. Whatever He promises, He performs. You and I can have full confidence in God; just like Abraham did. He looked at his body and at Sarah. They were past childbearing ages. But God had promised them a child and he was fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to perform. 

Lord God, You are able to PERFORM WHAT YOU PROMISE. What confidence and joy I have 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.

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 

I love knowing God is the One who will PERFECT me! I could never do it on my own. But knowing that HE has taken it upon Himself to perfect me, gives me confidence and joy. What about you? Does looking heavenward at the PERFECTOR of your soul encourage you and cause you to praise Him? 

Lord God, thank You for not only calling me to Your eternal glory in Christ, but for also taking it upon Yourself to PERFECT me. I love You and 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.