365 Days of Praise

Are you reading each Beyond Ourselves – 365 DAY of PRAISE? Are you as amazed as I am at not only the ways the Father, Son, and Spirit are revealed; but also through whom the revelations are made? Case in point: The high priest asked Jesus if He was the Son of the Blessed One. But the one who unquestioningly acknowledged Jesus as  SON of the MOST HIGH GOD was a demon. Luke 8:28-39 records the demon’s encounter with Jesus.  “Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, ‘What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.’” Let’s think about this. 1. God’s holy Word records both Jesus and a demon in the same encounter. Jesus is real. The demon is real. We must acknowledge or deny the reality of both. 2. The man was the object of both Jesus and the demon’s interest.  Every soul is the object of Christ’s and Satan’s interest. 3. The demon recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God – above all other gods.  Many today do not. 4.  The demon fearfully acknowledged the reality of torment. Again, many do not. No doubt, you’re as burdened as I am that many do not know Christ as Son of the Most High God and they ignore the reality of hell. I’m praying about doing a weekly Facebook Live on how we can more fervently share with unbelievers why we believe in Jesus and how they can be saved. If you’d like me to keep you updated, email me at debbie@debbietaylorwilliams.com.

Lord Jesus, forgive us, SON of the MOST HIGH GOD, for failing to do as You commissioned us – to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for calling those who are destined to torment to turn to the light and glory of Your grace. Impassion us to return to our purpose – to glorify You and be Your witnesses.  

Have you ever been traveling, reached an intersection, and not know which way to go? An intersection, or crossroad, can mean more than the intersection of two roads. A crossroad can mean a critical juncture and that is where our nation is. I’m not writing in the context of politics but rather in the context of prayer. We people, “one nation under God,” need to communicate with our Heavenly Father more than ever. We need to follow Biblical principles I have shared with you from Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. We need to praise God for who He is recognizing that there is none other who can help us out of the mess we’re in and who can bring healing to our nation. We need to repent of our personal and national sins, ask, and yield. Daniel 9:1-19 is a powerful example of prayer, repentance, and supplication followed by God response in Daniel 9:20-23,  “Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel….came to me… He gave me instruction and said, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplication the command was issued, and I have come to tell you….'”  This passage is one of many that point to the importance of us praising, repenting, asking, and yielding. (P.R.A.Y.)  It is while we are praying God hears and acts on our behalf and those for whom we’re interceding. It is time not to talk about praying, but to pray.  Will we?

Lord God, Heavenly, Father, we repent of our prayerlessness, of spending more time talking about the need to pray than actually spending time in prayer. Forgive us. Rouse in us Your Praying Holy Spirit and use us as powerful intercessors on behalf of our nation. 

Prayer of My Heart – where I record my prayers and my Heavenly Father’s responses. Available on Amazon.   Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.

Our Heavenly Father has a goal: to cleanse us of sin.  Malachi 3:3 explains that He sits as a SMELTER, or a refiner, watching over us as the heat of daily life, trials, and sufferings cause our impurities to rise.  What happens when our sin glaringly rises in our lives? We have the opportunity to confess them.  God’s goal is for us to be increasingly purified so we better reflect Him. Are things heating up in your life? If so, rest assured that your Heavenly Father is closely watching over you. He hears your prayers and confessions. And, has anyone told you? You are reflecting Him more every day.

Lord, thank You, SMELTER of our mind, spirit, and soul. Purify us so we reflect Your image. 

“He will sit as a SMELTER and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

Things aren’t always as they appear. Just you wait and see. For instance, Jesus had no earthly possessions, wasn’t married, and when arrested, His friends abandoned Him. He was lied about, mocked, and beaten almost to death.  Mark 14:61 records the high priest questioning Him prior to crucifying Him,  “‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” How incongruous. Blessed? Yet, Jesus was and is the Son of the Blessed One. So, when we think about our lives or circumstances, they may not seem to add up to our being the “blessed child of God.”  But that is who we are. Things aren’t always as they seem. Just you wait and see.

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON of the BLESSED ONE, and for the blessings, You’ve promised us.

Sides. Children learn the concept of “sides” at a young age. They’re on this side or that side of the field depending on their team.  They learn about historical battles and what each side stood for.  The Bible tells us that there are spiritual sides. God is on one side and the devil is on the other. They’re battling over human souls. Ephesians 6:16 tells us how to extinguish the devil’s flaming arrows. But, we’re not in this battle alone. Our Heavenly Father is the Captain of our side, and He doesn’t use just any arrow to win the war against Satan.  Isaiah 49:2 tells us that Jesus is a  Select Arrow, sent from God’s quiver. He is the One who destroys the works of the devil and saves souls. Take courage. You may be in a skirmish, but if you’re a follower of Christ, you’re on the right side.

Lord Jesus, God’s SELECT ARROW, thank You for coming to earth to destroy the works of the devil and take us to Your side. We love and praise You!

“He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver,” Isaiah 49:2.

Prayers of My Heart – where I daily record God’s character traits to focus on His majesty and reign in my life and in the world.

Have you recently heard the word “fear” in relation to the pandemic, elections, fires, and even drinking water? Yes. The news, “Brain-eating amoeba in city’s water supply kills 6-year-old,” may have caught your attention when Texas Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration in Brazoria County on September 27 after an amoeba that can cause a rare and deadly infection of the brain was discovered in the local water supply system. What more could happen in 2020, we may ask. Few would disagree with author/speaker Jonathan Chan’s statement that 2020 has been a year of America being shaken. Is our being shaken a bad thing? Or, might it be a wake up call? While some today discount the value of fear and associate it with not trusting God, the Bible explains the value of fear that is rightly placed. Is ours? For more on the kinds of fear and to consider which fear you have, read my column, “Are Christians to Fear or Not Fear?“

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11

Heavenly Father, our nation has been shaken. Shaken by fires, lawlessness, the murders of innocent ones,  disease, floods, and more. We are looking to You, our Lord and Savior. Teach us how to walk through our days so that we point others to You. 

“Are Christians to Fear or Not Fear?“

Have you ever been separated from someone and you desperately wanted to be with them? Whether the separation is due to death, divorce, disease, or distance, the pain of not being able to be with or even get in touch with a loved one is indescribable. “Indescribable.” That’s the word people often use when attempting to explain their loss, suffering, and sadness. Jesus understands such depth of emotion. He loves us and created us to live in union with Him. Indescribable love drove Him to leave heaven’s glory and come to earth to seek and to save us. Jesus, separated from sinners, crossed the chasm between heaven’s glory and earth. He offers His outstretched hand to save us for eternity and to save us daily. How tightly are we holding to Him?

I’d noticed “The Return 2020” being promoted in a few places, but my attention had been on my husband’s recovery from back surgery.  However, when I texted my sister on September 26 and asked what she was doing, she responded that she was watching “The Return.” Deciding it was time for me to look into it, I googled “The Return 2020 Simulcast ” and was immediately captivated.  A few hours later, I shared it on Facebook and posted, “Watch with me.” However, I should have posted, “Participate with me.” Why?  The Return isn’t something you simply watch. Rather, you worship. You pray. You repent. You receive the Lord’s blessing. You are changed. It’s an experience rather than an event to observe. Jonathan Cahn’s message to America was powerful. After recounting Israel’s fall, he stated,

“America has likewise fallen. In the midst of our blessings and prosperity, we too have turned away from the God of our foundation. We’ve estranged ourselves from Him.” Continuing, Cahn stated, “We drove God out of our hearts. Out of our government. Out of our ways. Out of our laws. Out of the education of our children. Out of the public squares. Out of our businesses. Out of our media. Out of our culture. Out of our lives.” Jonathan Cahn.

 The Return 2020 is a call for repentance and revival. If you are news weary from Covid, rioting, politics, and more, watch The Return 2020 simulcast and more importantly, participate in what God is doing.

“We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”        Daniel 9:5, 19