365 Days of Praise

Have you ever heard someone say “that stinks” when something awful happens?

If bad things repeatedly happen, they might even say, “Life stinks.” 

Instead of focusing on the foul, though, we have a choice to breathe in what Song of Solomon 2:1 refers to as the Rose of Sharon, a reference to Christ and His splendor, heavenly fragrance, and beauty.

When life stinks, stay extra close to Christ. Breathe in His fragrance. “I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys” (Song of Solomon 2:1).

Lord Jesus, You are the ROSE OF SHARON, the fragrant aroma of heaven. Thank You that I can breathe in the beauty of Your fragrance in the midst of whatever my day brings. 

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Do you know who your ancestors are? How far back can you trace your family tree? Being able to trace one’s lineage is important to many and is definitely important in Jewish culture. 

Jesus’ human lineage can be traced to Israel’s King David. But Jesus has an even more illustrious lineage as He states in Revelation 22:16: “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” In other words, His roots go further back than David. They go all the way to creation.

Jesus is the bright morning star, heaven’s light. In our often dark and lonely culture, it’s important for us to daily bask in the SonLight. It’s important for us to invite others to the Son.

ROOT AND DESCENDANT OF DAVID, bright morning star, I praise, worship, and love You.

Have you ever struggled to find the right words to pray? In those times, it can help to pray God’s Word. Click HERE to discover prayers for discernment, discouragement, knowing God’s way, and forgiveness. You can also find free printable Scripture-based prayer cards HERE.

And if you’d like others to be praying alongside you, visit our Prayer Wall HERE. It’s a simple way to share what’s on your heart and know others will be lifting you up.

Are you concerned about people’s shifting views about the Bible and Jesus? If so, remember that Jesus is who He says He is and you are doing the right thing by building your life on Him and His Word. As a matter of fact, Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27 that you are wise.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Notice that both men experienced the same conditions—rain, floods, and wind slamming against their house. But only one house stood. 

Our nation and world are experiencing literal and figurative floods and winds. If you are a Christian, you will stand, not fall, because your life is built on Christ. If you are not a Christian, now is the opportunity to respond to Christ’s invitation to be saved and build your life on Him. Are we wise? Are we building our life on the Rock of our Salvation? 

Lord Jesus, I worship You, ROCK OF SALVATION. Thank You for the assurance You give me that I will stand, not fall, because my life is built on You.

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Do you ever skim through the names and titles of God and think, “Yes, that’s a good one.” Or, “I don’t need that one.”  If so, I encourage you not to skim over “Rock of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:3). Why? The Rock of Israel is Jesus, as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 10:1, 3-4, “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; … and all drank from the same spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.” 

Isn’t that exciting? The pre-incarnate Christ is the Rock of Israel who followed the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings and provided water for them. He is the same LORD who lived among men and cried out offering, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink,” John 7:37, offering eternal life. 

The Rock of Israel, Jesus, who sustained the Israelites in the wilderness day by day is the One who sustains us day by day. 

Are you spiritually thirsty? Are you dry? Rather than discount the Rock of Israel, go to Him. Worship Him. Drink deeply of Him for eternal life. Drink deeply of Him for daily life.

ROCK OF ISRAEL, Lord Jesus Christ, I praise You—the well-spring of eternal life. You quench the thirst of my soul. You invigorate me for daily life. Thank You for not only being present with the Jews in their wilderness wanderings, but for also being present with me. I love You. 

Want to learn more about the living water offered by Jesus in John 4? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 4 HERE or listen to it HERE.

Several years ago, the world was sickened by the confirmation that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been confirmed dead after being tortured in a Saudi consulate. Can you, would you, expect to see him walking around and eating with family and friends after his death was confirmed? No, of course not. Does that help us better grasp why people didn’t believe that Jesus was alive after they witnessed His torturous scourging and crucifixion?

Matthew 28:6 gives the shocking angelic announcement to Mary as she stood outside Jesus’ empty tomb. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” In addition to Mary and the disciples seeing the resurrected Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 says that more than 500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus after His resurrection.

The grave couldn’t hold Jesus because He is life. He gives eternal life to everyone who acknowledges they are a sinner and asks forgiveness in His name. People are dying every day because of natural causes, disease, and senseless evil random shootings. None of us know when the life of our family, friends, and neighbors will end. It is time for us to be bold and lovingly ask those who are unsaved, “Do you know where you will be when you die?” “Gentle Boldness” is the title of one of one of the chapters in the book I wrote, Discovering His Passion. Prepare yourself to share Christ with others.

Jesus, RISEN LORD, I celebrate You—the giver of eternal life. Help me gently, but boldly share You with others. 

Debbie taught about Jesus’ resurrection and how He appeared to Mary Magdalene and His disciples in her teaching on John 20. To watch the full teaching, click HERE. To listen to it, click HERE. 

Do you sometimes wish you were stronger in your convictions and more consistent in your walk with Christ? Do you ever wonder how God could love and forgive you? The answer to our questions is summed up in one word: grace. 

First Peter 5:10 explains: “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.” 

The God of All Grace, who gave His Son to die for our sins, the God of All Grace who ransomed us, the God of All Grace who transferred us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son, that same God of all Grace will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. Praise Him! He hasn’t saved and forgotten us. Rather, “God Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” Personalize that grace-filled promise and say it out loud: 

God Himself will perfect me, confirm me, strengthen me, and establish me. The God of all grace has forgiven my sin through Jesus’ sacrificial death. 

Glory in the grace God has extended to you. Celebrate Christ’s resurrection—proof that God, who called us to His eternal glory in Christ, will by grace, complete what He began in us. Praise the God of all grace. 

GOD OF ALL GRACE, I love and praise you. Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Your life so I can live eternally in Your glorious presence. Thank You for perfecting, confirming, strengthening, and establishing me. I love You! 

Would you like to experience more grace and peace? Check out Debbie’s Bible study, “Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos” by clicking HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by clicking HERE. 

Does life ever seem dull or your days dreary? If so, give yourself a vacation by setting your thoughts on the glorious splendor of the Lord (Psalm 145:5).

“Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:13).“For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,…to rebel against His glorious presence” (Isaiah 3:8).

“…I shall glorify My glorious house” (Isaiah 60:7).

“Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses …” (Isaiah 63:12).

“Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation” (Isaiah 63:15).

“‘But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31).

“…His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him” (Luke 13:17).

“‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall come'” (Acts 2:20).

“…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).

Lord Jesus, You, Your name, presence, house, arm, throne, might, and coming Day are GLORIOUS. I rejoice and praise You.

Want to learn more about the glorious day of the Lord? Click HERE to watch a clip from Debbie’s teaching on Acts 2.

Have you been with someone when they died? I was with my mother, father, and mother-in-law when they went to be with Jesus. 

Webster defines death as “the irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by the permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity.” 

That is what happened to Jesus as a result of the horrific scourging and crucifixion He suffered. The Roman soldiers who oversaw His death were skilled in their profession. They pronounced Jesus dead. But, as we know and Romans 4:17 explains, God “gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” 

What seemed final when Christ died on the cross was not final. God, who gives life to the dead, gave life to Jesus. Similarly, God has given life to our loved ones who have gone to Him, and He will give life to us after our bodies cease to function. 

How does it make you feel to know that God will give life to you after you die, just like He gave life to Jesus? 

Heavenly Father who GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD, I praise and exalt Your name! Thank You for Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. Thank You for raising my loved ones to eternal life. Thank You for the resurrection life I will one day experience. I love and praise You! 

Want to learn more about Jesus’ resurrection and the eternal implications for us? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 20 HERE or listen to it HERE.

Do you ever feel like you “can’t breathe” because you have so much weighing on you? Or maybe you’re running so fast through each day you feel like you “can’t catch your breath.” Perhaps you’ve felt like you had “the breath knocked out of you” because of financial, physical, emotional, or relational blows. What can we do if we experience any of these difficulties? We can turn to our Heavenly Father. 

Isaiah 42:5-6 says, “Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it, I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.” 

What comforting words. God gives us His breath and His spirit so we can walk through our day. He holds us by the hand and watches over us. He has appointed us as a light to the nations. 

Our identity, comfort, and purpose are God-breathed. On difficult days when you are trying to “catch your breath,” hold your Bible close to you. Breathe deeply of the Spirit.

Lord, who GIVES BREATH and Your Spirit to me, use me as a light to the nations.

Start your morning by spending time with God before the business of the day begins. The 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional can serve as a meaningful tool to help you shift your focus to Christ while reflecting on His incredible attributes and faithfulness in your life. Purchase your copy on Amazon by clicking HERE. 

How old were you when you first heard John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life”? It’s an incredible invitation to every person in the world. Think about it!

• God so loves the world that He took action to save us.
• God sacrificed His Only Begotten Son on our behalf.
• God invites everyone to believe and be saved.
• God promises the gift of eternal life to those who believe in Jesus.

Pray fervently for any unsaved person you know to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and be saved. Pray for eyes to see the opportunities God is giving you to share Him with others.

Heavenly Father, thank You for your ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, Jesus Christ. Stir me to draw closer to You and to share You with others. I love You and thank You for the incredible gift of the forgiveness of my sins and salvation in Christ. 

There’s still time to get a copy of the 365 Days of Praise devotional before the first of the New Year! With 365 A-Z attributes of God and heartfelt prayers, it will help deepen your faith and keep you rooted in His Word. You may also consider giving it as a thoughtful gift to a friend to start the year off with encouragement and hope.

Order your copy on Amazon by clicking HERE. Your purchase helps Hill Country Ministries continue spreading the love of Jesus!