365 Days of Praise

In February 2021, a winter freeze took this Texas girl by surprise. Yes, I’d seen the warnings of a winter storm. In my mind, that meant cold weather and snow. I did think about the ice warning, but then went about my life. Then it got cold. And colder. And colder. I wasn’t prepared, and by the time I was in the midst of the snow, cold, iced-over roads, power outage, no water, and firewood running out, it was too late to do anything. I lived with the consequences of my lackadaisical unpreparedness. 

As the water that had been collected in bowls froze inside our home, I thought of what I could do to be better prepared should we have another winter storm. I also thought of how terrifying it is going to be for people who have a lackadaisical attitude toward Biblical warnings of judgment and hell. Yes, many people are going on with their lives and not doing anything to prepare for the salvation of their souls. Thinking of the unsaved sitting in hell with no way to get out is a horrifying thought. Equally horrifying is to neglect Christ’s call to tell the unsaved how to be saved. 

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus tells believers with “all authority” to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nation.” In other words, sound the warning that a day is coming when everyone will stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives and will either live eternally in heaven or in hell. Are we obeying Jesus? Are we telling them how they can be saved? Are we making disciples? 

Jesus, You are the AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. Forgive me when I ignore rather than obey Your commands. Create in my heart a passion to obey You and to go and make disciples.

Are you ready for Christ’s return and actively sharing your faith to help others prepare? Would you like some resources to help you better understand the times in which we live and to shift your focus to His return and eternity? Check out End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do. You can purchase the study HERE and access the accompanying videos and podcasts HERE. 

Have you ever needed an architect to help you design your home, office, or some other building? 

In Hebrews 11:10, we’re told that Abraham looked for a city that was built by a particular architect. What city? Who was the architect? He “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” 

Isn’t that fun to think about? Abraham. Looking for a city designed and built by God. It is not only fun to think about, it is amazing. And, do you recall what Jesus told the disciples in John 14:2? “I go to prepare a place for you.” Jesus is getting everything ready for our arrival in the city built by God. 

We can learn from Abraham. What can we learn? To set our eyes on heaven, the new Jerusalem, whose architect is God.

How do we do that? We set our minds on the things above. (Colossians 3:2) We bank on heaven, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21; to store up our treasure there. 

If our eyes have been on our earthly home and the life we are building here, it is time for us to switch our focus to that of Abraham and to do as Jesus advised. Why? No architect on earth holds a candle to that of our heavenly architect.

Lord, I praise You, the ARCHITECT of the New Jerusalem and of my salvation. Fill me with awe and gratitude as I think about You preparing a place for me. Focus my eyes and set my priorities on eternity and the New Jerusalem rather than the passing things of earth. 

Have you ever wanted to approach someone to visit or discuss an issue, or maybe just to be near them, but felt the person was unapproachable? Maybe you felt you weren’t good enough. 

Isn’t it incredible to realize that we can approach God? How is that possible? It certainly has nothing to do with our merit or goodness. So how do we have access to God? 

Psalm 65:4 (NKJV) explains. “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts.”

The answer to how we can approach God is because Jesus paid our sin debt, gave us His righteousness, and opened the way into their presence. 

What adds to the incredibleness of our being able to approach God is 1 Timothy 6:16 describes Jesus as dwelling in unapproachable light.

When we think of the humble form Jesus took when He came to earth to secure our salvation and now our ability to approach Him, it is mind boggling. Approach Him. Praise Him. Tell Him your needs. He loves you. 

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, You dwell in unapproachable light, yet have made Yourselves APPROACHABLE. I love and praise You and cannot wait to see You, Your glory, and bow and worship You. 

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.

True or False: 

• God assigns individuals to particular tasks.
• God has appointed times in history.
• God appointed Christ to save you.

If you said “true,” you are correct. Consider the following: 

“Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him” (Genesis 21:2).

“Before I formed you…I have appointed you a prophet to the nation” (Jeremiah 1:5).

“He [Jesus] appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14).

“Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come” (Mark 13:33). 

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). 

Of all God’s appointments, the greatest is Jesus. “…that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you” (Acts 3:20).

Yes, God appointed Christ to save us and He appoints times, people, events, and more. What has He appointed you to do?

Lord, who APPOINTS times, people, events and Jesus to be the Savior of the world. I praise and worship You. Help me faithfully fulfill what You’ve appointed me to do.

Our Lord, Jesus, has countless wonderful attributes that we can praise Him for. To learn more about His incredible qualities, purchase a copy of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional HERE. You’ll be introduced to a different attribute each day that you can praise Him for. 

Do you like tips on money management, tips on gardening, tips on home organizing, or on some other topic? We do well to pay attention to proven tips. They help us do things smarter and in a more meaningful way. In that regard, Hebrews 3:1 gives us a spiritual tip. 

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” 

What kind of a tip is that?  

The word “consider” in this verse means “fix your thoughts”.

The tip is – as partakers of a heavenly calling, we’re to fix our thoughts on Jesus when we wake in the morning. We’re to fix our thoughts on Jesus when we get bad news. We’re to fix our thoughts on Jesus when we face a difficult decision. We’re to fix our thoughts on Jesus as we go through our day. 

Why should we fix our thoughts on Jesus? 

When we look at Jesus and consider Him, we are more likely to act and think like partakers of our heavenly calling. We’re less likely to be overwhelmed, panicked, worried, or perhaps prideful. 

Try it. You’ll discover that considering Jesus, fixing your thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of your confession, results in increased hope, assurance, peace, and purpose. 

Jesus, APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST of our confession, You are our wonderful Lord and Savior who has made us a partaker of a heavenly calling. Help us walk out our calling well by considering and fixing our thoughts on You. 

It makes me smile to think about where and when Christ spoke the words in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the Poor.” 

When did Jesus say these words? He had just returned from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. “He was led by the Spirit in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). What was His first Spirit-anointed task following His victory over Satan’s temptations? He went home…to Nazareth. I love that. And get this—“as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” 

This is a good place for us to pause and ask ourselves, is it our custom to gather with believers to read and hear the Scripture? 

Are we raising our children with the custom of gathering with believers to hear the Word of God? 

If it was what God’s anointed Lord Jesus did, it’s what I want to do. I would have hated to have missed Jesus speaking in the synagogue because I didn’t feel like going that day. I’d hate to miss Jesus speaking today which is one reason I gather with believers to worship and hear the reading and teaching of His Word. Do you? 

Jesus, I praise You, ANOINTED Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your words and example of a Spirit-led life. May I follow Your example today and always. 

Do you have a friend or family member you would like to introduce to Jesus? Share this link with them: “Meet Jesus…Experience His Grace.“

“Hey, buddy.” We’re often quite chummy with people, calling them “buddy”. Some parents even call their children, “buddy”. In reference to Jesus, there are people who quote Matthew 11:19, that Jesus was a friend (buddy?) of sinners. But let’s not forget that Jesus is the gloriously exalted LORD who is seated at the right hand of God. Prayerfully picture the scene recorded in Daniel 7:9-10. 

“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands were attending Him; and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him. The court sat, and the books were opened and were presented before Him.” 

The Son of Man, Jesus, is not our “buddy”. He is our Lord seated at the right hand of the Ancient of Days. 

ANCIENT OF DAYS, glorious One, and Son of God, forgive me when I fail to show You holy reverence. Help me honor You today and every day.

Learn how to contend for the faith in the times in which we live through Debbie’s Bible study of Jude, Contend Earnestly for the Faith. Purchase a copy HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos, podcasts, and listening guides HERE.