365 Days of Praise

How many movies have you watched that portray love as a warm and fuzzy emotion? We’ve probably all seen those sappy movies that depict how a couple “fell in love” after knowing each other for a few days, or even a few minutes. This is often what the world thinks of when they hear the word “love,” but the Bible speaks of a different type of love. 

First John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” In this verse, John is writing to believers. He is exhorting them to love one another. The love spoken of in this passage is agapē, a self-giving love that is not selfish, but sacrificial. God demonstrated this kind of love by giving his only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus demonstrated this type of love by willingly sacrificing His life. 

You see, love is not based on feelings like so many in our world are accustomed to believing. True love, like the kind spoken of in the Bible, is unselfish and giving. It puts others first. 

How can we demonstrate this type of love? First, it’s important to recognize that we can’t give what we don’t have. Our ability to love in the way the Bible speaks comes from having a relationship with God, the source of love. As believers and recipients of Christ’s love, we are called to allow His love to transform us and to willingly extend that love to others. 

Lord, we thank you that You are LOVE. That is the very essence of who You are. As recipients of Your love, help us to extend Your love to others. Help us to love the body of believers as You have called us to. 

Would you like to learn more about how Jesus demonstrated His love for us as well as His command to love one another? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 13.

Do you need a rallying point—some place you can go to find victory over your old nature and the devil’s temptations? Moses discovered that the Lord was his rallying point in Exodus 17. When he held the staff of God high, the Israelites were victorious over their enemies. They fought in God’s name and strength, not their own. After the battle was over and the Israelites defeated their enemies, “Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15).

As believers, we can declare the same truth for our lives as Moses did —“The LORD is My Banner.” He is our leader, protector, and the source of our victory. When we lift His name high in prayer and look to Him for strength, we find victory over our sin nature and the enemy. 

LORD MY BANNER, I praise You and lift high Your name over my flesh and the enemy.  

As we approach the holiday season, let’s focus on all we have to be grateful for. The Prayers of My Heart prayer journal is a great place to record your thanks to God for all the ways He is revealed in the Bible. It is also a thoughtful and meaningful gift to give to someone else. 

I recently heard a television anchor report on a well-known religious leader whose viewpoint on a moral issue was contrary to the Bible. She then invited viewers to weigh in. “Let us know what you think. You can Twitter if you agree or disagree.” As she continued with the next story, my mind lingered on her words. Does she not know that our opinion or even religious leaders’ opinions are not what matters, but rather Jesus’ stance? 

In Ephesians 1:22, Paul clearly states, “And He [our Heavenly Father] put all things in subjection under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.” 

We have seen in Scripture how Jesus is head of man, head of the church, head over all rule and authority. Paul now with a broad sweep of his pen summarizes that Jesus is head over all things.

It concerns me when churches and denominations vote their opinion rather than stand with Biblical teachings. Does it concern you, too? 

Lord Jesus, HEAD OVER ALL THINGS, we confess our nation is drifting from You. Yet, some churches are also drifting from You and following cultural trends. Raise up strong, committed Christians who speak truth as recorded in Your Word and submit to You.

Would you like to grow in your faith? Discover the many resources on our website that can help you. In addition to our books and Bible studies, we offer several free Christian resources, including podcasts, video teachings, listening guides, and more!

Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? More than likely, you answered yes. Promises are broken every day, but there is One, God, whose promises you can count on today and for eternity. 

Beginning in Genesis, God promised to never destroy the earth again with a flood. God kept His Noahic Covenant, another word for promise.

God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of his descendants. The nation of Israel is the fulfillment of God’s covenant.

God made a covenant with King David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever. That covenant/promise is fulfilled in Jesus. 

God promised a new covenant fulfilled by Jesus. “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:27-28). 

Yes, Jesus made a covenant, a promise, sealed with His blood that anyone who repents of sin and believes in Him for the forgiveness of their sins will be saved and given the Holy Spirit. 

Other people may have broken their promises to you, but the Lord, the covenant maker, can be trusted today and for eternity. 

Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, thank You for the peace and eternal life You give us through Your blood sacrifice. We worship and praise You.

Happy Veteran’s Day to all our veterans. Thank you for your courage, service, and sacrifice. May God bless, strengthen, and protect you. 

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Are you familiar with the story of David and Goliath?  It’s an account of a lad using a slingshot to overpower a giant. Unlike a Disney movie, it isn’t fiction.

I encourage you to open your Bible and read 1 Samuel 17 as if it were your first time. A number of things jumped out to me when I reread the passage.

David was confident that he would prevail over the giant. (Not could, but would.) He wasn’t hoping that luck would be on his side. Rather, his confidence was rooted in his past experiences when God had been there for him. Yes, Goliath was different from prior “giants” he’d faced, but God was the same present help. 

First Samuel 17:45 records his confidence in God. “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.’” 

Are you facing a giant in your life? Are you afraid you won’t prevail? Although people may offer you what’s worked for them in the past, their “armor,” the fact is, your reliance on the God of the Armies of Israel is what is necessary for God to empower you and ensure victory. 

Is He your confidence today?

Heavenly Father, GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, I place my confidence in You.

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Can you imagine what it was like before the universe was created? It’s difficult for our finite human minds to even fathom. The Bible makes it clear that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit existed before the universe was formed (John 1:1; Genesis 1:2). 

God has always been. He is self-existent and eternal. There has never been a time when He didn’t exist. God references this amazing quality about Himself when He appeared to Moses in  blazing fire from the midst of a bush. God said to Moses in Exodus 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM;…“Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” The names “I AM WHO I AM” and “I AM” come from the word “Yahweh” or “YHWH” in Hebrew. “Yahweh” is used to describe God’s self-existing, self-sustaining, and eternal nature.

Not only is God the sustainer of His own life, but He is the creator and sustainer of all life. Nothing exists apart from Him. Colossians 1:16 tells us, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Acts 17:28 also tells us that it is in Him that we live, move, and exist.

Not only did Yahweh give us physical life, but He also made a way for us to experience eternal life with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. If you don’t already know and have a relationship with the self-existing creator and sustainer of all life, you can come to know Him today. 

YAHWEH, self-existing creator and sustainer of all life, we are in awe of You. We thank You that You not only gave us physical life, but You also made a way for us to have eternal life. We love You. 

Would you like to experience God’s sufficient grace and peace in your life? 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.