365 Days of Praise

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. 

We talk about it. We sing about it. But, how much of it do we have? What am I talking about? Faith. 

We place our faith in the person of Jesus Christ and that He substituted His body on the cross in place of ours. We stand at a distance and say, “Whew! That’s great. I didn’t have to go through the scourging and crucifixion. Thank You, Jesus. I believe.” 

But when God says to exercise our faith in regard to cutting off our sin we say, “No way. Can’t do.” He says to exercise our faith and forgive as He forgives us and we say, “Not gonna do it.” He says to lay aside our old self and put on the new self which was made in the image of Christ Jesus, and we march through our day as if we didn’t hear Him. He says to take up our cross and follow Him by laying down our life and we go on with our day as if He wasn’t talking to us. 

If we really had faith that God “calls into being that which doesn’t exist,” as Romans 4:17 states, then wouldn’t we obey Jesus’ commands and trust Him to lead us? 

The question is, where is our faith…is it in ourselves or in Jesus? Here’s another question – how might you exercise your faith today by doing something He has told you to do that doesn’t come naturally to you? 

Jesus, You CALL INTO BEING WHAT DOESN’T EXIST. Please call into being my total obedience to what You tell me to do.

Would you like an organized and convenient way to record your praises and prayer requests? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal HERE.

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. 

Have you ever had something grow in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? You had to look closely and examine it. The same can happen when people make showy spiritual promises. At first, they may look like the real deal. The problem, however, is if their promises are not based on Christ and Biblical truth, their flowery promises end up being thorns to the soul, weeds that choke the life out of a person. 

In both Isaiah 4:2 and Jeremiah 23:5 there is a righteous Branch, Jesus Christ, who is prophesied. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’” 

Jesus Christ is the genuine, true, righteous Branch who came and in whom we must be grafted in order to live eternally.

 BRANCH OF THE LORD, who lives forever, thank You for grafting me into You and giving me eternal life. 

If you enjoyed this content and want to watch video teachings by Debbie, consider subscribing to her YouTube channel. Go HERE and click the subscribe button to be notified of new teachings.