365 Days of Praise

What makes a friend? How would you define “friend”? 

Urban Dictionary defines “friend” as “someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest. A friend is loyal.” 

Merriam-Webster defines “friend” as “one attached to another by affection or esteem.”  

How did Jesus define “friend”?  

We find the answer in John 15:14 when He said, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” 

Jesus’ definition cuts through any pretense. It’s not what we say or sing. It’s what we do that demonstrates if we love, respect, and trust Jesus. 

Has Jesus earned our love, trust, and respect? Most certainly. 

Does Jesus deserve our love, trust, and respect? Without question.

Whether or not we are Jesus’ friend is revealed by our actions—whether we obey or disobey Him. 

What better time than now for us to show Jesus how much we love Him by obeying Him? 

Jesus Christ, wonderful Savior and FRIEND, I pray to show You that I am Your friend by my obedience to You. 

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Do you enjoy pleasant fragrances? Did you know that God does, too? Did you know you can be a pleasant fragrance to God? Ephesians 5:2 explains how we can be a sweet aroma. Paul writes, “…walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” 

Christ’s sacrificial love and life were a fragrant aroma to God. In like manner, we can walk in love, sacrificially, and be a sweet aroma to God. 

What if we haven’t been walking in sacrificial love, but rather been selfish or unloving? We can acknowledge our sin, repent, and be filled with the sweet Spirit of Christ. 

When writing my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, I used my daughter’s puppy as an example of how we carry the fragrance of whatever we hold close to our hearts. Bailey, her puppy, had a distinct puppy odor. After holding her one day, I noticed her odor remained on me. It wasn’t pleasant so I showered and changed clothes. Just like a dog has an odor, so does sin. If we’re clinging to a “pet” sin or living for ourselves rather than sacrificially for God, He gets a whiff of our selfishness. 

What can we do to rid ourselves of the unpleasant odor of sin? Change, as I changed my clothes. Put the sin aside. Bathe in God’s forgiveness and grace. Serve the Lord and you will be a sweet aroma to Him and others. 

Christ Jesus, I praise You for walking in love and giving Yourself as an offering and sacrifice to God; a FRAGRANT AROMA. Help me to be a fragrance of You to God and others. 

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Around Easter, Christians focus on the weeks prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. On Resurrection morning, we celebrate that death couldn’t keep Jesus in the grave. But, where is Jesus now and what is He doing? 

Hebrews 6:20 tells us where Jesus is. “Jesus has entered as a forerunner [in heaven] for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 

Jesus is in heaven and He’s praying for us. How do we know He’s in heaven? He told His disciples before His crucifixion that He had come down from heaven to earth and He was returning to heaven. People also saw Jesus rise from the earth and ascend through the clouds into heaven. Angels assured those watching Jesus ascend that what they saw was real.

Yes, it’s true. If an airplane can defy gravity and ascend beyond our sight into the clouds, we need not question if Christ ascended into heaven. 

All is well, friends. Christ, our forerunner, has gone ahead of us to heaven. He made it safely there. We will, too, where we’ll be united with loved ones and the Lord forever. 

Lord Jesus, FORERUNNER, thank You for safely seeing believers into heaven’s glory. 

Want to learn more about Jesus’ ascension into heaven? Debbie spoke about it in her teaching on Acts 1. Watch by clicking  HERE.

Some time ago I went to a funeral where we celebrated the life of a dear woman who went to be with the Lord. Why were we able to celebrate her life even though we were sad she was no longer with us? We could celebrate her life because we knew she was with Christ, who Colossians 1:18 describes as “the beginning, the Firstborn from the Dead.” 

Firstborn from the Dead. How can Jesus be called that? Didn’t He resurrect people to life? Weren’t the graves opened and people rose when Jesus died on the cross and the veil in the temple was torn? 

Yes, Jesus raised people from the dead and yes, the tombs were opened and people raised when He died. However, those who had been resurrected died again. Jesus is called the firstborn from the dead because He was the first to rise in a resurrection body, never to die again. 

In Revelation 1:4-5, John also referred to Jesus as the firstborn of the dead. “Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” 

Later, in Revelation 1:12-20, John saw the resurrected Lord. He heard Jesus speak. As a result, John “fell at His feet like a dead man” so shocking it was to see Jesus in glory. 

The Firstborn from the Dead is alive and well as you will be when you join Him in glory. 

Lord Jesus, I praise You, the FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD and thank You that I, too, will be alive forever. 

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“Hell on earth” is a phrase people sometimes use to describe a horrible place or time they’re experiencing. No doubt the Jews felt that way in Nazi concentration camps. So can a spouse who is in an abusive marriage. Or an employee who has a relentless boss. Might a Christian feel that way when principalities of evil are rampant? Yes. 

Ephesians 6:12 says Christians struggle against rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Too often, though, we may not recognize the forces at play in our lives. We go to church, read our Bible, and try to live a good Christian life. Then something horrible happens or perhaps is ongoing. All we see is what is visible to our eyes. 

When the apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his faith, Jesus brought perspective and encouragement to him. Consider His words, “‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). 

What you are experiencing today may feel like hell on earth, but it is temporary. Jesus is the First and the Last. He has the keys of death and Hades and is locking Satan away. He has the last word. You will live eternally in glory with the Lord. 

Lord Jesus, the FIRST AND THE LAST, You reign supreme and Your Word is the final word. Thank You for ending Satan’s reign on earth one day. Thank You for eternal, glorious life with You.

Would you like more grace and peace in your life? Peace with God? Peace with others? Watch Debbie’s teaching on 1 Peter 1 HERE or listen to it HERE. 

If you’re a runner or know someone who is, you understand the importance of removing anything that might slow you down. You’re also aware of how critical it is to stay focused while running and not get sidetracked by any distractions. You or someone you know has probably also experienced weariness at some point while running—maybe toward the end of a race, a marathon, or a high-mileage run. 

Hebrews 12 draws a comparison between the Christian life and running a race. The chapter starts out by encouraging believers to throw off any hindrances, such as sin, that so easily entangles, and to run the race with perseverance. Hebrews 12:2 goes on to say, “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus despised the shame of the cross, yet He suffered through it in order to not only give us a start in our Christian walk, but to also make sure that our faith is perfected, complete, and finished. You see, Jesus is not only the author or the source of our faith, but He also oversees, sustains, and completes the faith of those who trust in Him. Philippians 1:6 reminds us of this—“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

It is with tremendous gratitude each of us should look heavenward in praise of our Lord and thank Him—the author and finisher of our faith!

Lord Jesus, I praise You! I thank You that You are not only the author, but also the FINISHER OF OUR FAITH!

We don’t have to run the Christian race alone. Jesus sent us a Helper—the Holy Spirit. To learn more about Christ’s gift, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.

Father of Spirits. Are you familiar with this title of God? We don’t often hear it. More often in prayer groups we hear praises of God as the Way, Truth, and Life; of Him being Sovereign and Healer. 

However, in Hebrews 12:9, the author uses the designation, “Father of Spirits.” “We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of Spirits and live?” 

What is meant by “Father of Spirits”? Although some commentators mention a possible reference to God’s creation of angels, far more agree it is a reference to God being the Father or Creator of people’s souls. We find a similar reference in this regard in Numbers 16:22. “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” God of the spirits of all flesh is a reference to God’s creation of mankind. 

There is a most important aspect to God being referred to as the Father of Spirits in Hebrews 12:9. The passage goes on to explain that as earthly fathers discipline their children, the Father of Spirits disciplines His children. Who are His children? Those who have been born again (John 3:3) of the Holy Spirit; who are new creations (Galatians 6:15).

The Father of Spirits gives us a new birth. He then assumes responsibility for disciplining us so we share in His holiness. (Hebrews 12:10) What a wonderful Father of Spirits we have! 

FATHER OF SPIRITS, thank You for giving me a new birth with Your Spirit and disciplining me so I share Your holiness. I love You and pray I reflect well on You, my Father.

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Have you ever needed someone to extend mercy to you? You did something wrong, thoughtless, or perhaps careless. You felt bad and desired forgiveness. You asked to be forgiven. What if their heart was hardened and they said, “no”? And how horrible it would be if our Heavenly Father refused to forgive us. Quite the opposite. 

Second Corinthians 1:3 tells us that God is the Father of mercies. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” 

Mercy flows from our Father. It’s His nature. He is the original transmitter of mercy. So when you go to a Christian sister or brother and ask forgiveness and they extend mercy, they are a reflection of their Father—the Father of mercies. 

The good news doesn’t stop with God being a transmitter of mercy and our Christian brothers and sisters being transmitters of mercy. The good news is we can be transmitters of mercy also, reflections of our Father. 

In today’s culture, it can be easy sometimes for a person to be offended. They may hold grudges and not want to forgive or extend mercy. However, what a precious opportunity it is for believers to show mercy as our Heavenly Father does. Let’s make it a point to do this well. 

FATHER OF MERCIES, thank You for extending mercy to me. May I be quick to extend mercy to others and reflect well on You. 

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Our nation and world are going through what some call dark times. In the midst of these trying times, what can believers do? We can shine brightly with the love, hope, and truth of our Lord, whom James 1:17 describes as the Father of Lights. 

The prince of darkness, Satan, wants us to stumble in the darkness. But James points to our hope. “Every good thing is given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” 

Commentator, Charles Ryrie, explains this reference to the Lord means “God is the source of all light—physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual—and He does not change.”¹

Rather than physically, intellectually, morally or spiritually stumble, we can pray with our heart, mind, soul, and spirit. We can walk through our day in the light of the Father of Lights. We can spread His light to others. Will we? 

FATHER OF LIGHTS, illumine my heart, mind, soul, and spirit with Your Light so I walk as a child of Light and spread Your Light to others. 

Want to learn more about living a victorious Christian life? Watch Debbie’s teaching on Acts 28 : The 7 Characteristics of People Who Are More than Conquerors. 

¹ Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update (Chicago: Moody Press, 2008).

Have you ever suffered for the cause of Christ? Perhaps you took a stand on the inerrancy of the Bible. Maybe you held to the conviction that Jesus is the way, truth, and life; no one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Perhaps someone distanced themself from you because you held to the Biblical definition of marriage as being between a man and woman. 

What can you do when you suffer for the cause of Christ; when our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer being disowned by their family, being beaten, imprisoned, or die for their faith? 

Peter, who suffered for his faith, writes that we are to entrust our souls to our faithful Creator. “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 4:19). Peter also directs us to look at God’s character; that He is Creator God and that He who created the world and us is faithful. We can trust Him, knowing that He will remain faithful and make all things right. 

Consistent with what Peter writes is the vision John received and recorded in Revelation 19:11 regarding Christ’s return. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” 

Our Creator God is faithful and true and He will act faithfully on your behalf. 

FAITHFUL LORD, I praise You that I can trust You and entrust my soul to You. 

One of our key verses today is 1 Peter 4:19. To watch Debbie’s teaching on all of 1 Peter 4, click HERE. You can also check out her 1 Peter Bible study, “Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos” HERE. The study includes free accompanying videos and podcasts. You can access them by going to “Bible Studies” in the main menu or by clicking HERE.