365 Days of Praise

“strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;”

Colossians 1:11 

Last night my husband and I discussed how many people we know who are going through a hard time. As we visited, I was reminded of Christ’s words in John 16:33, where He said that in the world we have tribulation. We have pressure, oppression, affliction, and distress. However, Jesus tells us to “take courage.” Why? Because He has overcome the world. With both Christ’s words in mind and prayers for Him to strengthen us, we can go through difficulties with steadfast patience and endurance.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You never leave me. Thank You that in the midst of trials and tribulation, You are a present help. Strengthen me so that I patiently endure difficulties in a way that brings You glory.

“…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His (God’s) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”

Colossians 1:9

Last year we looked at who God is. This year we’re looking at who we are in Christ.Today, we’re considering the gift of “understanding.” Understanding “is what the Greeks sometimes described as critical knowledge, meaning the ability to apply first principles to any given situation which may arise in life.” When Paul prays for believers to have wisdom and understanding, he’s praying we not only understand the great truths of Christianity, but we also apply them to everyday living. In other words, it’s not enough to have head knowledge of God’s Word. We must take the great teachings of the Bible and apply them to our hearts and daily lives. We must connect the dotes between what the Bible teaches about child rearing and how we actually raise our children. We must connect the dots between what the Bible teaches about marriage and how we treat our spouse; between what the Bible teaches about difficult people and how we handle relationships.

Perhaps we’re sometimes “basket cases” because we fill our minds with spiritual teachings, but leave them at the church door rather than apply them when our child is upset, we’re under financial pressure, our spouse angers us, we’re at wits end with a co-worker, or despair looms like a black cloud. But, we have a choice! We can choose to live filled with God’s gift of understanding.

Lord, thank You that You not only supply Biblical truths, but through the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I can apply Your teachings to my life. 

from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case? 

“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ …”

Colossians 1:2

Before you jump ship and wonder how many days we’re going to stay on Colossians 1:2, hang in here with me one more day as we consider our identity in Christ. “Faithful,” Although this can be a general term for believers, Paul uses it as a description of those being faithful to their heavenly calling. Yes, we may fall under the category of faithful. The big question is: Are we being faithful day by day, not only on Sundays? It’s something to think about.

Lord, You are faithful to me. Help me be faithful to You and my heavenly calling. 

from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case? 

Friends, few of you know the story of how 365 DAYS of PRAISE came into being. I’ll be posting about it on my bi-monthly E-Devotional and think you will rejoice with me when you hear the story. If you’re not signed up for my E-Devotional, you can sign up HERE. For those who already receive it, be sure to read it. It won’t be my typical newspaper column. 🙂

And NOW – for our 365th DAY of PRAISE! Believe it or not, I’m having trouble deciding which to post. I still have SEVERAL that I haven’t shared! However, I believe we’ll do the oh so important Yahweh. 

“This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when Yahweh made earth and heaven.”

Genesis 2:4

According to scholar Charles Ryrie, YAHWEH is the most significant name for God in the OT. Here is what He says about it. Yahweh,” literally “YHWH,” has a twofold meaning: the active, self-existent One (since the word is connected with the verb meaning ‘to be,’ (Ex 3:14); and Israel’s Redeemer (Ex 6:6). The name occurs 6,823 times in the OT and is especially associated with God’s holiness, His hatred of sin, and His gracious provision of redemption.” Isn’t it exciting that YAHWEH, our redeemer, who is holy beyond what we can envision and who hates sin, is our gracious redeemer!  

All PRAISE to YOU, YAHWEH, active, self-existent ONE! I sing Your praises and give You honor and praise now and forever!  Amen! 

Lord God, thank You for the opportunity to better know You in 2013. Now lead us in the ways You want us to go so that we better reflect Your name and bring You honor. Amen. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” 

Romans 11:33

Can you hear the passion in Paul’s heart as he spoke of God to believers in Rome? To the Greeks who boasted of their wisdom, knowledge, and ways, Paul said, “You think you have wisdom and knowledge? You can’t begin to comprehend the riches of God’s wisdom, knowledge, and ways. UNFATHOMABLE! That’s our God.    

Lord God, You who are UNFATHOMABLE, thank You for the  UNFATHOMABLE riches that You’ve given me in Christ!

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’”

Isaiah 28:16

Jesus wasn’t just a “man of God.” He did what no other person has done – withstood every temptation. We are tried and tested and we fail or perhaps sometimes successfully stand faithful. Jesus was tested in the fire of temptation, suffering, and human agony and He shone as pure gold. Why? How? Because He is pure God. And, because He is, we’re to build our lives on Him. Say “no” to humanistic and passing social religious views. Say “yes” to Jesus – God’s tested stone.

Lord Jesus Christ, once again I’m reminded of the joy and privilege it is to call You my God. Pure, tested, strong, You are foundational to all I believe. I praise You and worship You!

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.

We’re nearing the completion of our year of 365 DAYS of Praise!

Many have asked if 365 DAYS of Praise will be available in a book. The answer is YES!  You can have your own keepsake of 365 descriptions of God on which to reflect and use for future study or share with others.

REPLY “YES“

to today’s attribute to be notified when it is available. 

“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”

John 2:19-21

The question the Jews had asked Jesus was, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” The “things” Jesus had done included making a scourge of cords and driving the sheep and oxen out of the temple, pouring out the coins of the money changers and overturning their tables; and saying to those selling doves, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” In other words, Jesus acted like He owned the temple and the Jews asked for a sign of His authority. “I’ll give you a sign,” Jesus said in so many words. Destroy the temple and I’ll rebuild it in three days. But, ahh, He wasn’t talking about the building. He was talking about His body; which they did destroy, and He raised in three days. Miraculous, yes. But the point God is driving home to me is the action Jesus took in the temple. He drove out all that wasn’t supposed to be there. Certainly, He feels the same about my body – His temple – in whom His Spirit dwells. 

Lord Jesus Christ, TEMPLE of the Most High, thank You for coming from heaven and tabernacling among man. Please drive out of my body all that is displeasing to You so that I honor You.

Merry Christmas!

 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the SURPASSING GREATNESS of His power toward us who believed.”

Ephesians 1:18-19

Surpassing greatness. Our God isn’t just “great.” He is “surpassing greatness!” His greatness is beyond anything we’ve known. It’s “out of this world.” All we have to do to glimpse God’s surpassing greatness is look at the stars. Or, look at the greatest star – Christ. Born in a stable. Where else would the Lamb of God be born, but a stable? Surpassing greatness bundled in one tiny baby. Surpassing greatness taking our sins away. Surpassing greatness waiting in heaven to receive us into His arms!.  What a surpassingly great God He is!

Heavenly Father, You are SURPASSING GREATNESS OF POWER. I praise You for extending your surpassing greatness of power to me through Jesus Christ! 

© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you. 

 “But God, being RICH IN MERCY, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

Ephesians 2:4 ff

What powerful words these are! If someone has ever made you mad or hurt you or a loved one, perhaps you know what it’s like to be resentful or to harber negative feelings toward the person.  Yet, God doesn’t harbor resentment toward us. He doesn’t hold a grudge in His heart. Rather, on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, He forgives us. He is RICH IN MERCY. 

Lord, I praise You and thank You for being RICH IN MERCY! What a wonderful God you are!

 © Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you. 

 “Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God; who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”

2 Corinthians 5:5

God’s eternal purpose is for us to live with Him in glory. We won’t see the fulness of His glory until we die and are “at home” with Him in heaven. In the meantime, God hasn’t left us alone. He has given us His Spirit as a pledge of what we will inherit. The Holy Spirit is awesome. He is good. He is joy. He is peace. He is lovely. It is in our best interest to understand everything we can and explore everything there is to know about the Holy Spirit; then live by His nature rather than by ours. 

Lord God, thank You for giving us the Spirit as a PLEDGE. Help me increasingly know Him. 

 © Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.