365 Days of Praise

Isaiah prophesied something we would never imagine: that the holy God would allow His Son to become a servant who would take man’s punishment for their sins. “My Servant will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). 

“Bear their iniquities.” Let those words sink in. Jesus bore your sin. I can hardly get my mind around, “Jesus bore my sin.” I feel so badly that He had to do that for me in order for me to go to heaven. Do you? 

It is in the Father and Son’s actions, Jesus becoming a Servant who would die on the cross for us, that we see proof of their great love. As Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends;” exactly what Jesus did. 

What had Jesus been teaching prior to His definition of the greatest of love? That His followers are to love as He does. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you,” John 15:12; continuing in verse 14, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” 

Jesus was a servant to His Father; as we are to be His servant. Are we living to serve the Father and Son or living to serve ourselves? The proof is our love for others; our love in action. 

Lord Jesus, who the Father calls, “MY SERVANT,” I worship You. Thank You for bearing my sins. I love and adore You. Quicken me to be as You, laying down my life, serving the Father, loving others.

To watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 15, click HERE. To listen to her teaching, click HERE. 

How big is God to you? 

How often do you recognize God moving and working in powerful ways in your life? 

How often does something good come your way, and you pass it off, thinking, “That’s nice.” 

Or, do you bow your heart in humble gratefulness and thank the Most High for what He has done?

In other words, from God’s perspective, are you mindful of His presence and power in your life? Are you grateful or ungrateful?

David is an example to us of someone who was mindful of God’s presence and power. He not only was mindful, he expressed his awe and gratitude to God.  

For instance, one time after David cried to God in his distress, God responded through what others might call favorable circumstances. But David’s response was, “The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice” (2 Samuel 22:14).

David recognized and worshiped God as “Most High.” Do we? 

Lord, MOST HIGH, give me eyes to see You working in my life and the lives of others. Give me a heart of praise to You, Most High God.

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Do you need a miracle; something extraordinary in your life? What do we mean when we use the word miracle? Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency; just as rising from the grave.” Another definition is “a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences;” such as, “it was a miracle that more people hadn’t been killed or injured.” Perhaps it’s that last definition we use most often. “It’ll be a miracle if I can manage everything going on in my life.” Or, “It’ll be a miracle if our marriage makes it.” Let me ask again, “Are you in need of a miracle?” If so, your best hope for experiencing one is to go to Jesus. Why? 

Galatians 3:5 describes Jesus as the Miracle Worker. “So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or hearing with faith?”

As we consider Jesus, the Miracle Worker, it’s important to consider the combination of “miracle” and “worker,” as well as faith. Our miracle isn’t going to happen with the twitch of our nose. Jesus’s miracles involved power (Luke 8:46), often a person taking part in faith (John 5:8-9), and often occurred as the person acted in obedience (John 9:6-7). 

Rather than demand, “God, do this now,” we’re to thank Him for what He’s already done and obediently take the next step He shows us.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being involved in my life. You’re the MIRACLE WORKER who can help others and me. Open my ears and eyes to Your instructions so I faithfully follow Your leading.

Jesus, the Miracle Worker, demonstrated His healing power in John 5 when he told a man who had been ill for 38 years to pick up his pallet, walk, and sin no more. Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 5 HERE or listen to it HERE.

Did you watch the cartoon “Mighty Mouse” when you were a child?  Do you remember the chorus, “Here I come to save the day! That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way!”  

When I was young, I was confident Mighty Mouse would save the day no matter the dire situation. 

Growing older doesn’t mean we no longer need someone to save us and our day. We do. We need someone to save us from sin. We need someone to save us from fear. We need someone to save us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Unlike a cartoon character, the One on whom we call is real. 

Joshua 22:22 proclaims, “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord!” God is the Mighty One. He can save you and He alone. Call on Him. 

Commit Psalm 119:147 to heart, “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.”

Heavenly Father, help me be mindful that You are the MIGHTY ONE who saves no matter the dire situation. Help me confidently wait for Your words to guide me through each situation. 

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.”

Jesus came to earth as a baby so He might grow into a man, but not just any man. He came from heaven as our Messiah.

Andrew heard John the Baptist announce that Jesus was the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. Andrew followed Jesus and after spending time with Him, he told his brother, Simon Peter, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41).

Andrew was intentional about his search for the Messiah and after finding Him, he was intentional about telling others. In what ways can we be more intentional about sharing Christ with others? We can begin by praying for the unsaved to turn to Christ. 

What can we pray for those who do not know Christ as Messiah? Here are 8 suggestions.

1. Pray they grow tired of the things of the world.
2. Pray for their safety.
3. Pray the Holy Spirit quickens their mind to the truth.
4. Pray the glitz of the world loses its appeal.
5. Pray they hear the Word and believe.
6. Pray God opens their eyes.
7. Pray they look up to God.
8. Pray they repent and confess Jesus as Lord.

Jesus Christ, MESSIAH, You are love, forgiveness, hope, peace, and joy! Help me be as Andrew – intentional about following You and telling others about You.

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Have you ever explored a black cave with only a dim flashlight? Some time ago, I had the opportunity to walk two miles in a black cave. Did I say opportunity? It was only because I knew my time in the cave was temporary. Had I thought I couldn’t return to the outdoors and light I would have gone mad. Is that what hell is? Trapped in what Colossians 1:13 describes as a “domain of darkness”? 

Jesus Christ is Light. The beauty of heaven reflects His nature. Close your eyes and picture an eternity of despairing people screaming for release from Satan’s dark domain. Now open them and praise Jesus, whom Malachi refers to as “the messenger of the covenant”—”‘The Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the Lord of armies” (Malachi 3:1).

Having been in the cave has made me mindful of how important it is to live a celebratory life. Why? There are people who don’t know Jesus, the messenger of the covenant, and that He can save them from the black torment of eternal damnation. 

We have the opportunity to celebrate our present-day and eternity. We have reason to celebrate Christ’s Light in our hearts.  Are we a bright or dim reflection of Christ to the unsaved?

Lord Jesus Christ, MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, thank You for transferring me from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light! Help me be mindful and joyful about my freedom and take every opportunity to shine brightly and point others to You.

Jesus is referred to as the Light several times in the Gospel of John. To learn more about Jesus as the true Light of the world, watch or listen to Debbie’s teachings on the book of John HERE and HERE. Free listening guides are also included!

Quick question: Have you ever been ungrateful? Have you ever needed a loan? Have you ever been wrongly judged? Have you ever crossed the line or done something really bad? 

That was more than one question, wasn’t it? But they all point to topics that Jesus addressed prior to His statement in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

That’s something to think about, isn’t it? 

Our Heavenly Father is merciful to us. 

Now He says that we’re to show mercy to others. That’s a good reminder for me. Is it for you? Why not record a list of ways God has shown mercy to you? Then thank Him for each one and consider how you might show mercy to someone.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being MERCIFUL to me each and every day. Fill me with Your Spirit of mercy towards others.

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

Are you ever concerned that Christ is sitting in heaven eyeing your sin and his holy face is twisted in disgruntlement? In other words, you’re an inch from being zapped as a result of your sin? If so, today is a good day to rethink your view of Jesus.

Paul, a candidate for being “zapped” before he became a Christ-follower, tells us what Jesus is like. “I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:1). When Paul refers to Christ as meek, he uses a word that means “mildness of disposition and gentleness of spirit.” In other words, Christ isn’t a cloud-sitting Savior watching for someone He can zap if they take a wrong turn in life. Paul realizes Jesus could have zapped him dead on the Damascus Road, but rather, Christ in mercy called and commissioned Paul to a new purposeful life.

Our Savior is all-powerful, but He has a meek disposition toward us, not a “zap you if you mess up” disposition. He understands what it’s like to be human, to struggle, to deal with daily life, problems, and stress. Relish your Savior’s meekness. Talk to Him. Read His wisdom truths in the Sermon on the Mount and keep reading through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Meditate on the precious words He brought us from heaven. They’re food for a sound mind and a steady course until we reach our ultimate destiny—heaven.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being on my side and for looking at me with gentle and MEEK eyes. I love You and am ever grateful for You. 

Help spread the light and truth of Christ by encouraging someone you know to subscribe to 365 Days of Praise. 

In 1953, Baskin-Robbins wowed ice cream lovers by offering customers a choice of 31 flavors.  That’s a great offer for ice cream, but unfortunately, our world has adopted a “31 flavors” viewpoint concerning salvation. In other words, we’ve decided we can be reconciled to God through the plan of our choice, be it self-improvement, doing good things, or a world religion of our choosing. But not so warns God throughout Scripture such as in 1 Timothy 2:5: “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

If we think we can make a Baskin-Robbin choice of how we’re reconciled to God, we’re wrong. Dead wrong. God has warned us that the only way we can be reconciled to Him is through His Son. Christ Jesus is the one mediator who can reconcile us to God for eternity. Tell others!

Christ Jesus, I praise You, my MEDIATOR, for making peace between God the Father and me. 

Do you ever wonder if we’re in the end times? Would you like to learn more about the signs of the end times? Grab a copy of Debbie’s Bible study, End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do HERE. Access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.

We like our freedom, right? We may have heard someone tout, “No one is going to tell me what to do!” Maybe we’ve said that. But, here’s some news that may shock you. God has the right to tell us what to do because He owns us. That’s right. He is our Master as Colossians 4:1 explains: “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.”  Yes, we have a Master. Does that please you or cause your hair to bristle? What is the implication of you having a Master?

The word, “Master,” in Colossians 4:1 means “owner; one who has control of the person.” Maybe we’ve never thought about God owning us, but it isn’t a one-time teaching in the Bible. First Corinthians 6:20 explains we’ve been “bought with a price.” Romans 6:16 says we are slaves to sin or righteousness. Who do you prefer to be your master: Satan or Jesus? I bet you’re waving your hand for Jesus.

Let’s think further. Since Jesus is our Master, what should be our posture before Him? I wonder if we’re too flippant about our relationship with Him. I wonder if when we get to heaven and see Jesus in His glory if we’ll wish we had bowed before Him every morning and asked how we might serve Him. We have a Master in heaven. He’s a glorious, giving, gracious Master. Let’s serve Him well today with a smile on our face.

Heavenly MASTER, I worship and adore You and cannot wait to continue my worship of You in heaven. Remind me throughout my day to serve You well.

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