365 Days of Praise
What Does It Mean to Be A Temple of God?
John 2:19-21 records a question the Jews asked Jesus: “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” The “things” Jesus had done included driving sheep and oxen out of the temple, overturning the money changers tables, ordering them, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business,” and in Matthew 21:13 chiding them, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” Jesus’ comment in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” wasn’t understood. The people didn’t know Jesus was talking about His body, the temple of God living among men.
There are two points Jesus is driving home. First, the stone temple wasn’t divine because of the rocks but rather because of God’s presence and it being a place of prayer. The stone temple no longer exists. Rather, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains that God lives among believers through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Every Christian houses the glory of God and is a temple of God, of prayer. What does that mean for us? First, it’s a reminder that Jesus drove from the temple things that weren’t supposed to be there. Likewise, He wants to purify us of anything that hinders God’s glory from shining in us.
Second, since we are temples of the Holy Spirit and a place of prayer, we’re to not only be pure, but we’re also to be prayerful. We’re to seek Christ’s will, intercede for others, and listen and obey God’s voice, as Jesus did when He tabernacled among men.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the TEMPLE of God, of glory, and prayer who lived among men. Cleanse me of anything that hinders Your glory from shining in me and me being a place of prayer.
Debbie talked about Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple in her teaching on John 2. Listen to her teaching on the subject HERE.
How Are You When It Comes to Stinky Feet?
Have you ever thought, really thought, about Jesus washing His disciples’ stinky feet? Have you seriously applied His words in John 13:14 to yourself? “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Lord and Teacher—meditate on Jesus putting those two titles for Himself in one command. The Lord is on His knees washing dirty feet. Messy. Time-consuming. Dirty. Unpleasant. Didn’t He have better things to do? Yet, His act demonstrated more than the simple act of washing feet. Jesus was teaching us the importance of humility toward one another. He was teaching us about servanthood and, yes, even forgiveness.
Our Lord and Teacher physically illustrated what He would do spiritually through His substitutionary death on the cross. It would be messy (a bloody mess). He would wash our filth and sins from our inner man. As His disciples, He instructs us to go and do as He did. Take the time to humbly forgive, to humbly serve one person at a time. And hopefully, prayerfully, it will gain us an opportunity to share with the person why we are doing it, and in whose Name we are serving.
Jesus, Lord and TEACHER, thank You for washing and cleansing me of my sins. Make me increasingly mindful of following Your example.
Our key verse today is John 13:14. Watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 13 HERE or listen to it HERE.
I Need Jesus
I need Jesus. Why? Eternally, Jesus is the only sinless sacrifice acceptable to God on my behalf and the One through whom I’ll be raised to eternal life in heaven. On a daily basis, I need Jesus to forgive me, cleanse me, and strengthen me to walk through my day by His Spirit. I need Jesus to guide me and prompt me if I veer off course.
How does Hebrews 4:15-16 describe Jesus? “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Can I hear a hallelujah? Imagine what it would be like if you were accountable to a heavenly being who didn’t sympathize with your weaknesses? But our merciful, mighty Savior does. We can say, “I sinned. I failed. I rebelled against Your ways. I’ve been wrong.”
When we come to Jesus in honest confession and repentance, Jesus doesn’t make us feel worse. Nor does He withhold forgiveness. Does that mean we should blow off our sin? No, we should think about how, when, where, and why we fell for temptation and sinned. We should learn from it. With every misstep, we have a God-step opportunity to learn and grow. With bowed heads and hearts, we confess our sins to our sympathetic High Priest, accept His mercy, and take seriously His words, “Go and sin no more.”
Lord Jesus, SYMPATHETIC HIGH PRIEST, thank You that I can draw near to Your throne of grace and find mercy to help me in my time of need. I love You.
Do you want to learn more about living by God’s divine nature? Grab a copy of Debbie’s Bible study on 2 Peter, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature. It’s a 4-week, verse-by-verse study that is sure to bless and encourage you as well as help strengthen your walk with the Lord. The study includes videos and podcasts, which can be accessed under “Study, Watch, Listen” on the homepage.
Do You Ever Feel Fragile or Like You Might Pop?
Do you ever feel fragile or like you might explode because of the daily pressure you are under?
David knew what it was like to feel that way and found God to be the sustainer of his soul. Listen to his words in Psalm 54:4. “God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.”
What does it mean for God to be the sustainer of our soul?
It means that God revives our minds and emotions when we sit in His presence, meditate on His truths, and absorb encouragement from His Word.
God the Holy Spirit refreshes and sustains us so we can carry on rather than break or explode.
What story do you have of how God has been your sustainer? Think over the ways and write them in a prayer giving thanks to God.
Lord God, I praise You, SUSTAINER of my soul. Thank You for the many times and ways You sustain me. I love and praise You!
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Do You Wish You Had More Support?
Do you ever wish you had more support at work, from your spouse, family, or friend? I remember a night long ago when I realized God was my support. There was no one who could help me. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t. It was that I had to go through something by myself. I was lonely and didn’t know what to do. It was just God and me. During that time I found that I wasn’t without help. God was with me; my support. As 2 Samuel 22:19 says, “They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.”
If you don’t have support, it can be lonely and sometimes terrifying. In reality, though, you do have support. You may be at a time in your life like I was—where God is allowing you to get to a new place with Him, a deeper place, a more real relationship. Jesus is not causing your loneliness, rather He is there for you in it. Remember, if anybody knows what it’s like to be misunderstood or go through something alone, He does. When you pray you’re talking to a friend who loves you and can appreciate what you’re going through. No doubt, that’s why Jesus went away by Himself to pray early in the mornings—to get His thoughts straightened out while talking to His Father.
If you’ve been blessed with a person you’ve been able to talk things over with, then you know how helpful it can be. That’s the relationship you can have with your Heavenly Father. Just start talking like you would to a trusted person. Have your Bible, pen, and journal. When Jesus brings thoughts or a verse to your mind, write them down. Act on what He brings to mind. Be assured that if David found the Lord to be supportive, you can, also.
Lord, thank You for being my SUPPORT. When no one else is there, or even if they are, You are the ultimate support I need.
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Praise to God, Our Supplier
Do you ever feel empty or drained? What about anxious or uptight? Does mad or angry describe you at times? Or, sad and melancholy?
Whatever the condition of our countenance or state of our mind or emotions, we have a supplier to whom we can turn.
Are you short on perseverance?
Are you ready to give up or cave in?
Do you feel like you’re going to blow a fuse?
Do you wonder if you’ll ever smile again?
Those are feelings we may have at times, but if we’re a Christian, we have hope.
God offers to supply all our needs. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Rather than hold tightly to feelings of anger or discouragement, open your mind and heart to the Lord’s perspective and counsel.
Take hold of what you need through God’s supply of glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being the SUPPLIER of all I need through Jesus. I confess my shortcomings, ill temper, hopelessness, and discouragement. Fill me with Christ’s perspective, presence, and power as I look to You.
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The Sunrise From On High Visits Us
Have you ever been tongue-tied and couldn’t say what you wanted to say? The godly priest, Zacharias, had such an experience, except he was made unable to speak. It hadn’t always been that way. He had led a remarkably righteous life. Then, one day, when he was performing his priestly service, he was chosen to burn incense in the temple. That’s when things changed. The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zacharias and told him wonderful news. His wife, who had not been able to get pregnant, was going to bear a son in their old age. They were to name him John. Most importantly, their child would be the forerunner to the long-awaited Messiah. Shocked at both the news that they were going to have a baby and that he would hold such an esteemed position, Zacharias asked, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). Gabriel told Zacharias that since he didn’t believe him, he wouldn’t be able to speak until John was born.
How’s that for a sign? Imagine what it would be like to have an encounter with an angel, for your wife to become pregnant when she was past child-bearing age, and on top of all that to not be able to speak. Finally, when John was born, Zacharias was able to speak. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he praised God, “Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).
Zacharias praised God for Jesus visiting us, we who are in darkness, to guide us into the way of peace. “Holy, holy, holy” is all I can say right now. How about you?
Lord Jesus, SUNRISE FROM ON HIGH, I smile in joy and praise of You, who came from heaven’s glory to shine on me and guide me to the way of peace.
Happy Veteran’s Day to all our veterans. Thank you for your courage, service, and sacrifice. May God bless, strengthen, and protect you.
Could you or someone you know use a little daily encouragement from God’s Word? The 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional offers exactly that. With 365 A-Z names and traits of God, each paired with Scripture, prayer, and practical life application, you’ll find your heart uplifted and your faith strengthened day by day. Grab your copy today by clicking HERE.
Remember This On Dreary Days
Dreary days. Gray skies. They can make us feel gloomy.
The death of loved ones, separation or estrangement from family or friends weighs heavily on our hearts. What can we focus on in those times?
Malachi 4:2 tells us. “But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.”
What does Malachi mean?
Theologian Charles Spurgeon explains: “Jesus, like the sun, is the center and soul of all things, the fullness of all good, the lamp that lights us, the fire that warms us, the magnet that guides and controls us; he is the source and fountain of all life, beauty, fruitfulness, and strength.” 1
Jesus is called the Sun of Righteousness because on the most dreary of days when we are gloomy and despairing, we can ask Him to fill us with His Spirit and shine in our hearts and minds.
Call on Jesus now to rise in your heart. Ask Him to fill you with the light of His glory.
I praise You, Jesus, SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Please enlighten my mind and lighten my heart as I look to You.
Praise is a powerful weapon we can use to turn around feelings of hopelessness or discouragement. Download this free printable of the attributes of Jesus from the book of John. As you read through them, praise God for each one!
1 The Spurgeon Center, Accessed October 5, 2023, http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1020.htm.
Do You Want More Strength?
An AT&T commercial once asked a group of children, “Who thinks more is better than less?” A little girl quickly responded, “We want more. We want more.”
We can identify with her plea for more when we’re going through a difficult time. We want more of God’s strength. We want more of God’s grace to get us through our day. The truth is, we already have it. Second Corinthians 12:9 reassures us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
What does it mean that God’s grace is sufficient? Does it mean barely enough? No. Rather, the Biblical word means, “to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be strong, to be enough.”
God’s strength is the answer to our cries when we are weak. Call on Him. Yield to Him. Ask Jesus to fill and empower you. He will.
Heavenly Father, thank You that when I’m weak, You respond to my cry for help. Thank You, that Your grace is SUFFICIENT.
Would you like to experience God’s sufficient grace and peace in your life? Check out Debbie’s Bible study, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos by clicking HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by clicking HERE.
When What You Want Is Different From What God Wants
There are times we’re called to do something we’d prefer not to do. Perhaps for you, it’s a medical procedure. For a parent, it may be changing another diaper. A person might wish they could stay in bed rather than go to work. Then, there are those excruciatingly painful occasions when we may be called to help with an intervention or change the lock on a door to keep an abusive person out of the house.
There is only one person who has known the great sacrifice of dying on the cross so the human race could be saved. Jesus asked His Father for a way other than the cross, but when it was the only way, He submitted His will to His Father’s will.
“He went a little beyond them and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will'” (Matthew 26:39).
Is there something you don’t want to do or perhaps want to do that is different from God’s will? Will you trust your Heavenly Father, submit your will to His, and walk through it in Christ’s strength?
Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling being SUBMISSIVE and for modeling trusting our Heavenly Father’s will. Help me be submissive as You were.
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