365 Days of Praise

“He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the Impregnable Rock” (Isaiah 33:16).

Do you need a refuge, a place you can go that is higher than yourself, a place where you can scale the heights and look at life from a different, more eternal perspective? We all do. The daily grind can become just that—a grind. The thrill of the chase ends. The romance changes. The kids grow up. The job ends. The money runs out. The other side wins. Sin gets the best of us. What then?

The one who loves and follows Christ finds refuge in the Impregnable Rock. In Christ, we scale beyond our current circumstances and see life with an eternal perspective. In Christ, we have a place of solidity on which to stand.

Can someone who is not a follower of Christ understand our refuge in the Impregnable Rock? Probably not. But maybe if we show them the way, they will discover Him for themselves.

Lord, You are the IMPREGNABLE ROCK, my spiritual refuge. Thank You, my Lord and God!

Would you like to grow in standing firm in your faith and finding refuge in God, your Impregnable Rock, in these challenging times in which we live? Check out Debbie’s Bible study on Jude, Contend Earnestly for the Faith, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.

Have you ever let something spoil in the refrigerator? You meant to eat it, but didn’t. Later, you discovered the leftovers, opened the lid, and whew – it stunk! It had perished. It was ruined. 

Not so with God, His seed, and word. He is imperishable as 1 Peter 1:23 points out, “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” 

The Greek word for imperishable in reference to God is aphthartos and means uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay.  

What a contrast between God’s seed that is imperishable and Adam’s seed that is corrupted and perishable. 

Peter is not the only apostle who wrote about the imperishable nature of God and of believers inheriting His nature. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:50, Paul wrote, “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable;” continuing in verse 53, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

The great news is that the imperishable uncorrupted Christ is in believers. We’re indwelt by the imperishable Jesus through the living and enduring word of God. Hallelujah! 

Lord Jesus, I worship You, the IMPERISHABLE One. Thank You for making it possible for me to be born of Your imperishable, uncorrupted seed. I love and praise You! 

Believers will inherit Christ’s imperishable nature, but we can also live by His divine nature while we’re here on this earth. Want to learn how? Grab a copy of Debbie’s 2 Peter Bible study, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by going HERE.

Have you ever wondered if the word “judgment” is used in reference to believers? First Peter 1:17 as well as other Scriptures answer that question. “If you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.” 

Although we are not saved by works, God judges how believers act; as Peter points out in 1 Peter. We might consider if: 

• We fervently love one another from the heart, 1:22. 
• We put aside deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander, 2:1. 
• We proclaim the excellencies of Christ, 2:9. 
• We keep our behavior excellent, 2:12. 
• We follow in Christ’s steps, 2:21. 
• We’re harmonious, sympathetic, kind, humble; not returning evil or insults, but give blessings instead, 3:8-9. 
• We don’t speak evil and lies, 3:10. 
• We turn from evil and do good; seeking peace, 3:11. 
• We keep a good conscience, 3:16. 
• We live for the will of God, 4:2. 
• We live in the Spirit according to the will of God, 4:6. 
• We’re hospitable to one another without complaint, 4:9. 
• We use the gift God’s given us to serve one another, 4:10. 
• We cast our anxiety on God, knowing He cares for us, 5:7. 
• We resist the devil, firm in our faith, 5:9.

Yes, God judges our actions and attitudes. Which of the above do we need to confess that we have failed to do? Which do we need to pray for the Lord to empower us to do?

Lord, thank You for being an IMPARTIAL JUDGE who calls and empowers me to walk in newness of life. 

Would you like to do a more in-depth study of 1 Peter? Grab a copy of Debbie’s 1 Peter Bible study, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos, HERE. The study includes free accompanying videos and podcasts, which can be accessed HERE. 

Have you ever been with a person whose convictions changed with the culture? Perhaps they started their Christian walk by believing in Jesus and who He said He was, Lord and Savior. But along the way and through the years they drifted. Christ’s teachings weren’t fresh in their minds. Social friends influenced their thinking. Instead of Jesus being Lord, He became one of many teachers who pointed the way to heaven. Instead of the Bible being the authoritative word of God, it became an outdated book filled with symbolism and not relevant to today’s culture.

The truth is, God, not the culture, is reliable. The Bible is the revelation of His character, which is unchanging as Hebrews 13:8 clearly affirms. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” 

What difference does it make for you that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever? 

It means that what the Lord called holy yesterday is holy today and will be holy tomorrow. What He called sin yesterday is sin today and is sin tomorrow. And most important, the grace God extended yesterday is the grace He extends today and extends tomorrow. 

It means that when cultural debates about moral issues arise, we don’t have to be confused or compromise. We speak the truth in love and stand on the solid foundation of the Word of God, Jesus, and the Bible. We follow and serve an unchanging, immutable God. 

Lord Jesus, I praise You, IMMUTABLE, unchanging Lord God! 

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“If only I could exercise and eat right….” or “If only I could drink from the fountain of youth.” Have you heard people say either in their pursuit to put off dying? People long to be immortal. But why? The reason is because it’s in the human heart to want to live. We’re wired that way as Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

God has “set eternity in the human heart.” It makes sense because we were created in God’s image and He is immortal, as 1 Timothy 6:15-16 explains. “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! Amen.”

What does it mean that Jesus is immortal? The Greek word in this passage is athanasia and means deathlessness, undying. Jesus is immortal and has set the desire for immortality in our hearts. But how can we mortals become immortal? We must go to Jesus and acknowledge that He alone is the source of life. We must confess our sins and drink deeply from Him, the Fountain of Life, as John 4:14 tells us. “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Yes, we must drink from Jesus rather than the fictitious “Fountain of Youth.” 

IMMORTAL Lord Jesus, I praise you and thank You for giving me immortality. Use me to share the good news with others.

Want to learn more about the living water offered by Jesus, the Fountain of Life, in John 4? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 4 HERE or listen to it HERE. 

Have you spent much time considering what it would have been like to have been Joseph when he was engaged to Mary? Of course, most shocking would be that your fiancé is going to have a son before the two of you came together physically. Even more shocking would be the news that your fiancé is going to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 

Before Joseph could ask a question, he was told, “you will name Him Jesus.” Did he dare protest that he had planned to name his firstborn son after himself? The explanation that the name “Jesus” was selected was because he would “save His people” would no doubt have caused his heart to race. “Save our people?” That thought is a good one, but before he could process all he was being told he was given more information. The angelic messenger continued, “…from their sins.” 

No doubt, Joseph wanted to blurt out, “Save people from their sins? Only God can do that.” And that is exactly what Jesus did. Mary bore God’s Son, as Matthew 1:23 records, “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.’” You can’t get more “with us” than to be born through Mary’s body to live among us and die for us. 

Yes, it’s good to contemplate how the angel’s announcement impacted Joseph, but it is also good to contemplate the impact of the angel’s announcement for us. 

Lord Jesus, Immanuel, I praise You. You’re not a God who is far removed nor have you left me to die in my sins. Rather, You came from heaven to earth, IMMANUEL, to be with me. Thank You, Lord Jesus. 

Do you know someone who needs to be reminded today that God is with us? Scroll down and click on “Forward to a Friend” to share this blog post.

“I wish I could see God.” 

Have you ever said those words or wished you could ask God for His opinion on a particular subject? 

If so, look at Jesus. Study His time on earth. Pay attention to His teachings. Why? Because Colossians 1:15 says Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The word “image” in this verse comes from a Greek word that means an exact replica, representation, or “picture” of an original.” In other words, Jesus is the picture of His Father, of God. No doubt, you’ve seen a child and said, “They look and act just like their mother or father.” That is the case with Jesus and His Father, God. 

Jesus is the “spitting image” of God. What is the difference between them? Nothing. When we read about Jesus in the Bible and listen to His words, we are looking at God and listening to His words. 

If it has been a while since you’ve read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, read it slowly and carefully. Listen as if you were sitting with Jesus and He was talking directly to you. Consider if you think and live like He says we are to live. Why? Jesus is telling us how to live like children of our Heavenly Father. 

Read, take to heart, the words of Jesus, the image of the invisible God. 

Lord Jesus, IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, quicken me to do more than read Your words. Imprint them on my heart and mind so I live like a child of Your Father.

Would you like to learn more about Jesus being the image of the invisible God? Watch this video clip where Debbie teaches about how Jesus said He and the Father are one. 

Are you in a dark spot? Maybe you’re down and don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps it’s the sin that surrounds you that oppresses your spirit. Maybe you’ve lost your vision for future projects or the family for which you long. Perhaps the thought of growing older and entering the sunset years seems bleak. Whatever you’re going through, remember this: God is a lamp who illumines darkness. Yes. God is light. Today, resolve to carry the Light of Christ with you into every thought and situation. How? Well, my friend, you’ve already begun. You’ve opened your heart to the psalmist’s words in 2 Samuel 22:29, “You illumine my darkness.” So say the words loud and strong to Jesus with me, “Jesus, You illumine my darkness.” Now think of ways He does illumine your darkness. Grab a pen and write whatever comes to your mind. I’ll start, then you add to it. 

Jesus, You illumine my darkness with the truth. When I read the Bible, You encourage my heart. 

Dark spots and times in our lives aren’t the end of the tunnel. Rather, dark spots and times are signals to turn on the light just like when we walk into a dark room. We don’t bemoan the dark room or stand in one place and say, “I can’t see how to move forward.” Instead, we put our hand on the light switch. So we put our hand on the Bible. We turn on the light switch. We turn the pages of the Bible. Dark spots are invitations to invite Jesus into your situation. 

Jesus, You who ILLUMINES MY DARKNESS, I praise You that darkness cannot exist when You are present. So fill me. Prompt me to quickly turn to You and Your Word when the darkness begins to move into my heart or mind. I love You, sweet Savior.

Jesus is referred to as the Light several times in the book of John. Want to learn more? Watch this video clip of Debbie’s teaching on the subject. 

God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM;’ and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ …This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations'” (Exodus 3:14-15b).

A person’s name represents the person. If you say “Billy Graham,” not only is a visual of the man formed in your mind, but also what Billy Graham represents. If you say the name, “Hitler,” another visual pops into the mind, along with his character.  

When Moses asked God what His name is, God states that His name is, “I AM;” meaning “I am the One who is.” His name, “I AM,” emphasizes “God’s dynamic and active self-existence.” ¹ He is not only the God who was. He is not only the God who will be in our future. He is the God who is presently active, dynamic, and self-existent today.  How aware are we of His active, dynamic presence in our life?

Lord, I praise you, the great I AM!

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¹ Charles Ryrie, Expanded Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition, New American Standard Bible, pg 94.

“For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:5).

“What does your husband do?” Many women are asked that question when first getting to know someone. For a single woman who longs to be married, such a question can be exasperating. For a woman whose husband works in a position she doesn’t respect, the question can make her uncomfortable. But what if someone asked about your husband and you replied, “He’s God of all the earth, the Lord of Hosts.” God chose to describe Himself as our husband who is committed to us for eternity. That’s something to smile about.

Lord, HUSBAND, Maker, Lord of hosts, Redeemer, Holy One of Israel, God of all the earth, I love You and thank You for Your tender care and commitment to me. 

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