365 Days of Praise

Have you ever looked at yourself and thought, “I need a makeover”? Have you wondered how you could build a better life? If so, the answer is found in Hebrews 3:4 which tells us God is “the builder of all things.” 

Yes, Jesus was more than a small-town carpenter. He built the heavens and earth. Jesus built a global church from a small number of men and women. If He can build the heavens and all creation and if He can recreate us at our spiritual birth, He can remodel us and in fact, wants to. 

If we have attempted to improve ourself but failed, perhaps it’s because we have been attempting a DIY (Do It Yourself) makeover and we need a professional. 

Ask the Lord, the builder of all things, to reconstruct your thoughts, to remodel your desires, and to enlarge the sunroom of your heart so it is a place where He and you meet. Ask Jesus to remodel you to think and look like Him. 

Jesus, BUILDER OF ALL THINGS, You are my Savior Carpenter. You took nails that were meant for me on Your holy body. Reconstruct my mind and heart so I am a holy place in whom You dwell; where others can draw near and see You. 

Are you enjoying the 365 Days of Praise e-devotional? Use the social media icons, below, to share it on your favorite social media platform to help others discover it too!

The 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional is also now available in print. Purchase your copy HERE. 

Are you married? If so, do you remember where and when? I was married in an outdoor tabernacle on a wooden pew when I was 12. Oh, I’m not talking about when I married my earthly husband, Keith. I’m talking about when I said yes to Jesus—to be His bride. I was at a youth camp and the Holy Spirit convicted me during the evening service that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I acknowledged my sin and confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. He drew me close. He took my hand in His nail-scarred hand. Jesus forgave my sins and betrothed me to Himself before the Heavenly Father and angels. One day, I will see Him face to face. He is coming for me and for all who have responded to His invitation; just as Matthew 25:6 says, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” 

What can we expect if we have said “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to be united to Him? His continual presence, love, and the grandest of celebrations at what Jesus describes in Matthew 22:2 as a wedding feast and Revelation 19:9 describes as a marriage supper. “Then he *said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he *said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’”

Jesus, BRIDEGROOM of all who accept Your proposal to be saved, thank You for coming to earth and for loving me and taking me as Your own. I rejoice and love You so much. 

Do you commute to work and want to listen to some encouraging teachings by Debbie while you drive? Let her podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podbean help you set your mind on Christ before you start your day!

Are you hungry? Is there a gnawing in you? Do you feel that something is missing? Do you feel that no matter what you do, purchase, or where you go, you still want more? Do you fill the emptiness but it quickly returns? 

If so, maybe it’s your spirit that is hungry. If that is the case, the solution isn’t more food, clothes, or earthly success. The solution is Jesus who describes Himself in John 6:51 as the bread of life who came from heaven. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” 

Jesus is to our spirit what food is to our body. Our body can’t live without food. Our spirit can’t live without Jesus. 

Receive Christ as Savior if you haven’t already. Then, begin each day with bite-size Bible verses. Chew on them throughout the day. At night, graze on the promises of God. Go to sleep with your soul filled and satisfied in Christ. Wake hungry for more of Jesus. Grow as a Christian and feed others. 

Lord Jesus, I praise You, BREAD OF LIFE. Thank You for coming from heaven and being to my spirit what food is to my body. Help me recognize my hunger is only filled by You. Increase my appetite for Scripture so by it I may grow in respect to my salvation. 

To learn more about Jesus being the Bread of Life, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 6 HERE or listen to it 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!

When you think about Jesus, what comes to your mind? Is it Jesus teaching or healing? Or, perhaps you think of Jesus, the suffering servant in the Garden of Gethsemane, submitting His will to the Father.  For many, they think of Jesus on the cross.  

Hebrews 1:8-9 points to a wonderful visual of Christ, “But of the Son He says, ‘…Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.'”

Isn’t that a wonderful image for us to think of—Jesus anointed with the oil of gladness above all others? What does that mean? The words “anointed with” are often used in reference to the Holy Spirit being upon a person. We know from Galatians 5:22 that joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Joy. Gladness. Jesus is anointed with the Holy Spirit, with gladness, joy “above” others. And rightly so. He accomplished what no one else could do. He paid mankind’s sin debt. He obtained salvation for all who call on Him. Jesus is overjoyed…more than anyone else on earth or in heaven. 

But there’s more. Isaiah 61:3 prophesies that Jesus Messiah would give, “The oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.” Jesus, having accomplished salvation for all who call on Him, pours out the Holy Spirit and His joy on others (Acts 1:8).

If you’re disheartened, remember Jesus, anointed with the oil of gladness. Ask Him to fill you with His gladness. Then, let His joy flow through you to others.

Lord Jesus, I praise You, anointed with the OIL OF GLADNESS above others. Overflow Your gladness on and through me so others see and believe in You.

Would you like to learn more about walking by the Holy Spirit? Listen to these free podcast teachings: “Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.”