365 Days of Praise

I’d love your thoughts on Paul’s words in  1 Timothy 6:13-16. He says, “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, …that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time…” What are your thoughts on his charge to Timothy? The reason I ask is because some people say Christians are free of the Law and commandments because we live in a period of grace. I agree we live by God’s grace. But, what about the charge to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach”? Could it be that although we’re saved by grace, God expects us to act like His children? Paul’s next words reflect His amazement, honor, and worship of the resurrected Jesus Christ.  “He who is the blessed and only SOVEREIGN, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion!” Paul’s words and Paul’s life bring praise to Jesus.  What do you think of his charge to us?

Our nation has become tolerant. We pride ourselves on not judging others. “Live and let live” we say. After all, isn’t that the Biblical thing to do? Judge not so you won’t be judged? Isn’t that a Bible verse somewhere? Yes, it is. But it has nothing to do with us not being Biblically discerning. It has everything to do with Jesus. Revelation 1:16 describes His face as the sun shining in its strength. Who says,  ” I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first, but I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality,” Revelation 2:19-20. Yes, Jesus is our Shepherd and He is slow to anger, but we must never forget that He is the Son of God. He sees our deeds and He sees what we tolerate that He hates.

Have you ever been lost? Perhaps you took a wrong turn in the road and didn’t know how to get to your desired destination. As bad as that is, what’s worse is to be spiritually lost, which is how Jesus describes us prior to our salvation.  We were so lost that there was no one who could help us except Jesus. In Luke 19:10, Jesus describes Himself as the Son of Man who came to seek and to save the lost – us and every human being.  Jesus left heaven’s glory to come come and do what no one else could do. Through the virgin birth of Mary by the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born, the Son of Man, to seek and to save our lost souls so we could be reunited with our Heavenly Father. What good news. Is there someone we need to go looking for as Jesus did, someone with whom we can share the good news?

All praise to You, Lord Jesus, Son of God, SON of MAN.  Thank You for seeking us and saving us.  Rouse us to do as You did and seek out the lost in order to bring them to You. 

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

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.