365 Days of Praise

Have you seen the look in a child’s eyes when they were afraid because they couldn’t see where their parents were? Have you watched that child locate their parents and run to them? Have you heard a child cry for one of their parents? If so, consider Romans 8:15, which says believers have “received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba Father.’” 

Abba Father can be translated from the Greek as “daddy.” So what does Romans 8:15 tell us? It tells us that our relationship with God is like that of a loving father with his child: tender, close, and so much more. Our Heavenly Father chose to adopt us. Jesus tells us to look to our Heavenly Father and pray in faith, not fear, “Our Father who is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9).  

To what degree does your Heavenly Father love and protectingly care for you? So much that He sacrificed His Son so that you can be a part of Their divine, eternal family; safe forever in heaven. 

In a world where there are sometimes indifferent, uncaring fathers, isn’t it reassuring to know that we have a perfect and sacrificial Heavenly Father whose love for us is unchanging? Although we may be afraid at times due to the events in our life, nation, or world, we can look to our Father and be assured that He’s watching out for us and over us. 

Each 365 Days of Praise devotional describes our Abba Father. As you read each one you have an opportunity to get to know your Abba Father more intimately. God is your Heavenly Father. Walk daily assured of His love and watchcare over you.   

Heavenly Father, ABBA FATHER, thank You for adopting me as Your child. Help me get to know You more deeply and intimately. Help me walk confidently each day, assured of Your love and Your presence.

Happy New Year! Would you like to spend more time in God’s Word this year? We have several resources to help you. Check out our shop HERE and our free online Bible studies HERE. 

Can you imagine what it was like before the universe was created? It’s difficult for our minds to fathom, but the Bible states that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existed before the universe (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 a  blazing fire from the midst of a bush. Exodus 3:14 records God’s words to Moses. “I AM WHO I AM…Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 

“I AM WHO I AM” and “I AM” come from the word “Yahweh” or “YHWH” in Hebrew. “Yahweh” describes God’s self-existing, self-sustaining, and eternal nature. 

God is not only the sustainer of His life, He is the creator and sustainer of all life. Nothing exists apart from Him. Colossians 1:16 explains, “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 says “we live, move, and exist in Him.”

Yahweh not only gives us physical life, He gives us spiritual, eternal life through Jesus. If you don’t already have a relationship with the self-existing creator and sustainer of all life, call on Him today. 

YAHWEH, self-existing Creator and sustainer of life, I am in awe of You. Thank You for not only giving me physical life, but eternal spiritual life through Jesus. I 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.

I love the focus on God today and Psalm 8:9 KJV, which points to His excellent name: “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” 

Isn’t this what 365 Days of Praise is about: the names of God that draw us to more deeply appreciate the excellence of His character and marvel at every facet of Him that sparkles like a multi-cut diamond? I hope you are saying “yes” with me and are increasingly impacted by His excellence as you gaze on Him and yield your life to Him.

Look back at the names, titles, and characteristics of God in this book. Have you highlighted any attributes you want to remember and for which you are most thankful? Does it put a smile on your face to think about who God is? I pray it does, and I invite you to celebrate the following verses and praise God for His excellence:

“How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God!” (Psalm 36:7 KJV)
“Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.” (Psalm 150:2)
“Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things.” (Isaiah 12:5)
“…[Jesus]…has inherited a more excellent name…” (Hebrews 1:4)
“…He has obtained a more excellent ministry…” (Hebrews 8:6)
“…because an excellent spirit was in him…” (Daniel 6:3 KJV)
“…from the excellent glory…” (2 Peter 1:17 KJV)

Yes, the Lord’s name, ways, lovingkindness, ministry, Spirit, and glory are excellent. As Psalm 148:13 KJV instructs, “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent.” Pray to increasingly reflect God’s excellence by your behavior (1 Peter 2:12).

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, You are EXCELLENT in all Your ways. I love and cherish You. Please infuse me with Your glory so people see and believe You are the only way to heaven. I love you, LORD.  

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Have you ever considered that because Christ paid for your sins you are worthy of heaven? Say that a few times in order for it to sink in. “I am worthy of heaven.”

Yes, believers are worthy of heaven but only because Christ exchanged His righteousness for our sins so that we would have His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

Colossians 1:10 reminds believers of our high calling; of being found righteous and worthy through Christ. Rather than ignore the gift of our salvation, Paul writes to believers, “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Yes, as Christians we’re to walk in a manner worthy of or “suitably” of the Lord Jesus, who is worthy.

We may have a hazy understanding of what it means to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, but we know what it means to be suitable. A child who puts on dirty clothes for school is told to put on something suitable, something clean for school. In the same manner, but to a much greater degree, believers are to “put off” the old self. We are to “put on” the new self and walk in a manner worthy (suitable) of the Lord. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

The Lord is worthy. We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. How well are we doing? 

Lord, You are WORTHY of honor and praise and glory. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I walk worthy of You, pleasing You in all respects. 

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Christmas morning children wake from their sleep with expectations that a wonder-working Santa, pulled by a sleigh of flying reindeer, has stopped by their home while they were asleep. Children believe Santa magically delivers full sized bicycles, doll houses, and toys.

Why is Santa such a legendary success? Children want to believe in someone who has wonder-working power. However, there could be no greater Wonder-Working One to point them to than the Lord God.  

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if parents raised their children with the same belief in God that they raise them to have in Santa? 

Our Worker of Wonders shows up every day, not once a year. Our Worker of Wonders doesn’t give gifts to His children on the basis of their daily behavior but rather on the basis of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Moses praised our wonderful God, “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders” (Exodus 15:11). 

If you’re in need of wonder-working power go to God. Be still in His presence. Ask Him for help. Listen to what He impresses on your heart. 

If you’ve never experienced God’s wonder-working power, consider Jesus’ words to believers in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses…” 

Yes, as a believer you have God’s Holy Spirit, His wonder-working power, in you. Offer your life to Him. Experience His wonder-working power.  

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, WORKER OF WONDERS, there is none like You who has worked wonders through Your incarnation, sacrificial death, burial and resurrection. I love and celebrate You.

The Lord is always present and wants us to talk to Him through prayer. Learn to pray more purposefully through Debbie’s book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.

Merry Christmas! We hope your day is filled with the joy that only our sweet Savior can bring. 

If you were asked what the most important word in the world is, how would you reply? Would it be love, hope, or peace? Do a search on the topic and you’ll find a variety of answers such as the most important word is a person’s name. Another answer you might find is “thank you,” which is only one word in French.

The Bible has an eternal perspective on this topic. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Bible passages such as  Revelation 19:13 explain the most important Word is Jesus. “His name is called the Word of God.”

Acts 4:10-12 warns us there is salvation in no other name except Jesus.

Now that you know the most important Word, why not start up a conversation with someone on the topic? It might lead to an opportunity for you to share Christ and tell them how they can be saved. If the person is already a Christian, but not closely following Christ, it gives you an opportunity to share with them how life and light are found in Jesus. Let’s not keep this Word to ourselves!

A person who is not a Christian once asked me why believers talk about God’s love but never His wrath. I thought about his question and realized that I had been guilty of that very thing. While it is important to recognize God’s love, gentleness, and favor, it is also important to consider the context in which God’s actions are described as wondrously marvelous. The description is in regard to His judgment of people who give lip service to Him rather than truly worship Him.

God uses the prophet Isaiah to call out these people. “Then the Lord said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous,'” Isaiah 29:13-14.

God warns the people through the prophet Isaiah of the consequences of their lip service and rote worship.

While we might want to confine the LORD’s wrath and judgment to the Old Testament, Revelation 16 speaks of a future day in which God’s judgment will be poured out on those who reject Christ. 

In case we wonder if God notices our worship and if it is done in sincerity from a heart of love or if we merely give God lip service and rote worship, the answer is, “Yes. God notices.”

Lord, You alone are worthy to be praised in sincerity and truth. You extend mercy to anyone who calls on You, but are WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS in Your discipline of those who give You lip service and rote worship.

One of the ways we can avoid giving lip service to God is by listening to and being led by His Spirit. If you’d like to learn more, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.