365 Days of Praise

Did you play the game, Hide and Seek, when you were a child? The familiar, “Ready or not, here I come” warns the person who is hiding to be ready. 

Did you know that the Lord gives us a, “Ready or not, here I come” that is not child’s play? It is a serious warning that Jesus is coming and we need to be ready. 

Revelation 1:5-7 records the warning. “Behold, He is COMING with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” 

Jesus is coming…again. The word, “amen” in verse 7 means there’s no discussing it. It’s happening. We will either be ready for Christ’s appearing because we’ve repented of our sins or Jesus will come and find us in our sin. 

If you’re not ready for Christ’s coming, respond to His gift of salvation today (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:8-11). Repent of your sins. Confess Jesus as Lord. Receive His gift of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. Today is your opportunity. Prepare to meet Jesus. Ready or not, He’s coming. 

Lord Jesus, COMING KING, as You came to earth once, You are coming again. Thank You for cleansing me of my sin so I am ready to meet You. Stir the hearts of the unsaved to realize that ready or not, You are coming.

Have you or are you currently experiencing heartbreak? Perhaps your loved one is deceased, cheated on you, or you’ve experienced a different type of tragedy. Maybe you’ve experienced deep loneliness, depression, or you’re feeling crushed in spirit.

Our Heavenly Father knows there are times in our life like that, which is precisely why He wants us to know that we are not alone and He is close. As Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

Yes, even when there is no one in our life who is close or who can comfort us when we are broken hearted or crushed in spirit, our Lord is close and can save us. 

Our Heavenly Father has sent a loud and clear message that far outweighs any human expression. “I love you,” our Heavenly Father repeatedly says to us, with Jesus echoing His love and expressing it by sacrificing His life for us. Receive the Lord’s love and comfort today. 

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and being CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED.

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Jesus asked His disciples who others said He was. Then He asked the more important question, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:16 records Simon Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus’ question to the disciples is a question every one of us must answer. Have we replied to Jesus as Simon Peter did? 

Jesus affirmed Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). 

Did we catch that? Jesus did more than affirm that Peter answered correctly. Jesus said Peter was blessed. Not that he would one day be blessed, but that he was already blessed. Peter’s understanding that Jesus was more than a good man, He was God’s Son who had come to bring salvation, brought the blessing of his sins being forgiven. 

So too, you are blessed if you have confessed Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are blessed because your sins are forgiven. You are blessed with the Holy Spirit. You are blessed with new life in Christ. In case you haven’t thought about it lately, let your blessings sink in. 

Jesus, You are the CHRIST, the son of the living God. I praise and worship You. Thank You for blessing me for eternity. 

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How would you answer the question, “What brings you deep pleasure?” Or, who brings you deep pleasure? How would you fill in the blank? My soul delights in _________________. Did you say sports, music, family, friends, work, cooking, reading, or perhaps traveling? 

It brings us to the next question. What brings our Heavenly Father deep pleasure? We find the answer in Isaiah 42:1. “’Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen One in whom My soul delights.’” God’s soul delights in Jesus, His Chosen One. 

It causes me to wonder if our souls might experience more delight if we focused on Jesus, God’s Chosen One. Rather than go through each day expecting “just another day,” we can open our eyes to all we have in Jesus: peace with our Heavenly Father, an inheritance awaiting us in heaven, daily provision, the presence of the Holy Spirit, someone who loves and cares for us. 

Use today to focus your soul—mind, emotions, and will—on Jesus, God’s chosen One. Experience pleasure you might otherwise miss.

Jesus, God’s CHOSEN ONE, in whom the Heavenly Father’s soul delights, I love You. Thank you for the joy and peace You give me each day. Help me be more mindful of how my soul can delight in You regardless of my circumstances.

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Sheep. It’s been said they’re not the smartest animals in the world. That’s why they benefit from having a shepherd to watch over them and care for them. 

In relation to God, we’re not always the smartest, either. That’s why we benefit from having a Shepherd to watch over us and lead us in the right direction. 

Matthew 9:36 records that Jesus, “Seeing the people, felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” 

Mark 6:34 says that Jesus, “began to teach them many things.” 

What is Jesus, the Chief Shepherd’s (1 Peter 5:4), response to seeing us distressed and dispirited? 

He teaches us what to do and how to live. Of all the voices vying for our attention, Jesus’ voice is the One to follow. The Bible is His voice in print. If we’re smart “sheep,” we’ll read and follow His teachings. 

Thank You, Jesus, CHIEF SHEPHERD of my soul, for looking at me with compassion and for teaching and leading me. 

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If someone were to ask you what makes your life, marriage, family, career, and friendships work, what would you say? Would you say it’s because you’re a hard worker? You’re conscientious? You’re a good listener? It’s an important question. 

A more important question, however, is what makes your life, marriage, family, career, and friendships work in a way that brings God glory? Why is that important? Christians are to live in a way that brings glory to God according to 1 Corinthians 10:31. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 

Does that mean we will be perfect? No. It means we will be purposeful about building our lives on Christ, who Acts 4:11 describes as a chief cornerstone. When we stray, we turn back to Christ, repent, and build on what we know is His will instead of continuing to build in the wrong direction. 

At the base of the believer’s life is the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. He is the foundation on which we want our lives to be built. 

If it is your heart’s desire to build your life on Christ, study His Word. Join others for prayer and fellowship. Take steps to draw closer to Jesus. 

Lord Jesus, thank You that I can build my life on You, the CHIEF CORNERSTONE. 

One of our key verses today is Acts 4:11. To watch Debbie’s full teaching on Acts 4, click HERE. Download the free accompanying listening guide, by clicking HERE. 

Have you read the book of Isaiah or perhaps some of the following of Isaiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah and how he describes Jesus? With which of the following are you familiar? 

Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 

What about Isaiah 19:20 where Jesus is described as a Champion? “It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” The word “Champion” in this verse is from the Hebrew word “raḇ” and means “Mighty One.” 

Yes, Isaiah describes the Lord as not only Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Savior, but also as Champion, the Mighty One. Are you in a battle and need a win? Do you know someone else who is struggling and needs victory in their life? Call on the Lord, who is Champion over all.

Lord, You are Savior and CHAMPION, the One who can save and deliver me. I look to You in praise.

Want to learn more about living by Christ’s divine nature? Get Debbie’s Bible study on 2 Peter, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.

A few years ago, during the height of Covid, my morning started off peacefully. However, after my quiet time and while scanning the news, I became increasingly anxious as I read an article that listed 98 symptoms of Covid. 
An increasing number of concerns are causing anxiety to rise. Disease, war, political turmoil, gender identity, hate crimes, poverty as well as new threats such as AI (artificial intelligence). 

What is important for us to remember is that Jesus is with us, He cares for us, and doesn’t want us to carry our anxiety. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 

Did we get that? Jesus cares for us. He tells us to cast our anxiety on Him. He can handle it. Just like a fisherman casts his net on the water, we are to cast our anxieties on Jesus. 

What are you anxious about today? Knowing that Jesus cares for you, will you cast your anxiety on Him? 

Jesus, thank You for CARING for me. Thank You that I can cast my anxiety on You; that You will take it and help me.

Would you like to learn how to experience more of God’s grace and peace in your life? Grab a copy of Debbie’s Bible study on 1 Peter, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying online videos and podcasts HERE.