Attributes of God

Are you familiar with Jesus’ teaching, “Ask, and it will be given to you,” Matthew 7:7? Ask means to call for, to request of someone. Jesus teaches us to request of the Father what we need. But Jesus not only teaches us to ask God for desired needs, but He also asks God for things. In John 14:16, Jesus told His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Paraclete), that He may be with you forever…” Who is the Paraclete? He’s the Holy Spirit (Helper) who is with us forever.

Studying the Greek definition of the word “Helper” or “Paraclete”…ummm…helps. Consider the following definition of Paraclete: 

• Someone summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid.
• One who pleads another’s cause before a judge, counsel for defense, an advocate.
• Of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after His ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.¹ 

It’s staggering when we think of the magnitude of God’s provisions for us. Our Heavenly Father not only took it upon Himself to send His Son to save us but also sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to be an abiding divine presence within us. We never walk alone.

Heavenly Father, Son, and PARACLETE, the blessing of Your Presence is something I will only fully realize when I am in Heaven. Thank You, Lord!

Want to learn more about the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, and how to discern His voice? Listen HERE.

¹  “Strong’s G3875 – paraklētos,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed July 26, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3875/kjv/tr/0-1/.

Which are you? Tight-lipped or open-lipped? In other words, are you reluctant to speak and don’t reveal much about what’s going on inside of you? Or, are you more open-lipped and let what you’re thinking and feeling readily come forth?

James 1:19 tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak when we’re angry. But what about in relation to praising God? In this case, we are to be like the psalmist, who prayed in Psalm 51:15. “O LORD, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.”

Are we grateful? Are our hearts flooded with God’s goodness? I hope so. Even when there seems to be nothing for which we can praise Him, we can open our lips and praise Him for His presence with us, His provision for us, and His purposes He will bring forth.

Develop a mindset of gratefulness. Fill your heart with praise. Open your mouth and let your praise flow to God. Pray, “LORD, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.”

Lord who OPENS OUR LIPS, thank You for who You are and for all the incredible ways You have worked in my life, are working, and will work. You are worthy day and night of my praise. Open my lips so that I may declare Your praise. 

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One blanket. Two blankets. Three blankets. Four. Keith and I sat in front of the fire trying to get warm. The winter storm had brought a temperature of 3 degrees that felt like minus 11. If only we had power and water. We had neither. 

The winter storm continued, and our driveway was too icy to get down. If you’ve lived in an area affected by winter storms, you know how devastating the cold can be, especially if you run out of wood, which happened to us. We couldn’t complain, though. We had a comforter. A comforter that we had once taken for granted, we now deeply appreciated. 

So, too, our spiritual Comforter, who 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes as the God of All Comfort, is a blessing when we are experiencing life’s storms. Yes, when a person’s crisp tongue chills us to the core or the howling wind of despair blows through our heart, the God of all Comfort comforts us like none other. Why? 

The Greek word for comfort means “to call to one’s side, speak to in the way of exhortation, console, teach.” God gives believers the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, never become threadbare, and never leave us. The more we blanket our lives with His teachings, the more we’ll know the warmth of His abiding presence.¹ 

Heavenly Father, You are the GOD OF ALL COMFORT. Please comfort those who are suffering. Give them Your wisdom. Strengthen them as only You can. 

Would you like to abide more in the warmth of God’s presence? Grab a copy of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional to help you spend more time in God’s presence and learn more about His incredible attributes. Purchase your copy HERE. 

¹ Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, page 67. Copyright Howard Publishing 2006, Debbie Taylor Williams, Monroe, LA

Have you ever walked through an unwatered garden of wilted plants? If so, you noticed there was little fruit, if any. 

What a difference when you walk through a well-watered garden; one loved and tended to by the owner. Flowers and fruit abound. The garden has a fragrant aroma. The gardener has withheld nothing and has committed everything to care for the plants. 

In Jeremiah 31:12 God is described as a Gardner and His people like a well-watered garden. “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.” 

If you are languishing and are spiritually wilted, I understand. Life can drain us at times. But rather than stay that way, go to your Heavenly Father. Open your Bible. Soak in His words. Be refreshed by His Spirit. 

BOUNTIFUL Lord, thank You that although life can be draining, I don’t have to be dry and languish. Rather, in You, I can find an ever-present supply and flow of love, joy, peace, and strength that provides bountifully for all I need. I praise You and give You thanks. 

Do you make it a habit to spend time with God each day? If this is something you struggles with, 365 Days of Praise is the perfect devotional to help you deepen your time in His presence and reflect on His incredible attributes. Get your copy HERE.

True or False: 

• God assigns individuals to particular tasks.
• God has appointed times in history.
• God appointed Christ to save you.

If you said “true,” you are correct. Consider the following: 

“Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him” (Genesis 21:2).

“Before I formed you…I have appointed you a prophet to the nation” (Jeremiah 1:5).

“He [Jesus] appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14).

“Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come” (Mark 13:33). 

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). 

Of all God’s appointments, the greatest is Jesus. “…that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you” (Acts 3:20).

Yes, God appointed Christ to save us and He appoints times, people, events, and more. What has He appointed you to do?

Lord, who APPOINTS times, people, events and Jesus to be the Savior of the world. I praise and worship You. Help me faithfully fulfill what You’ve appointed me to do.

Our Lord, Jesus, has countless wonderful attributes that we can praise Him for. To learn more about His incredible qualities, purchase a copy of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional HERE. You’ll be introduced to a different attribute each day that you can praise Him for. 

It makes me smile to think about where and when Christ spoke the words in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the Poor.” 

When did Jesus say these words? He had just returned from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. “He was led by the Spirit in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). What was His first Spirit-anointed task following His victory over Satan’s temptations? He went home…to Nazareth. I love that. And get this—“as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” 

This is a good place for us to pause and ask ourselves, is it our custom to gather with believers to read and hear the Scripture? 

Are we raising our children with the custom of gathering with believers to hear the Word of God? 

If it was what God’s anointed Lord Jesus did, it’s what I want to do. I would have hated to have missed Jesus speaking in the synagogue because I didn’t feel like going that day. I’d hate to miss Jesus speaking today which is one reason I gather with believers to worship and hear the reading and teaching of His Word. Do you? 

Jesus, I praise You, ANOINTED Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your words and example of a Spirit-led life. May I follow Your example today and always. 

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.“

“Hey, buddy.” We’re often quite chummy with people, calling them “buddy”. Some parents even call their children, “buddy”. In reference to Jesus, there are people who quote Matthew 11:19, that Jesus was a friend (buddy?) of sinners. But let’s not forget that Jesus is the gloriously exalted LORD who is seated at the right hand of God. Prayerfully picture the scene recorded in Daniel 7:9-10. 

“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands were attending Him; and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him. The court sat, and the books were opened and were presented before Him.” 

The Son of Man, Jesus, is not our “buddy”. He is our Lord seated at the right hand of the Ancient of Days. 

ANCIENT OF DAYS, glorious One, and Son of God, forgive me when I fail to show You holy reverence. Help me honor You today and every day.

Learn how to contend for the faith in the times in which we live through Debbie’s Bible study of Jude, Contend Earnestly for the Faith. Purchase a copy HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos, podcasts, and listening guides HERE.

The Bible provides several examples of the Lord revealing Himself to people. One such example is when Abram, later known as Abraham, was 99 years old. The Lord appeared to him and introduced Himself as the Lord Almighty. Read the account in Genesis 17:1-2: “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.”

The Old Testament word for “Almighty” means “most powerful”. The New Testament word means “he who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all.” Together, these words reveal that the Almighty is the most powerful being who holds sway over all things.

God wanted Abraham to know His power and ability to hold sway over his life. God wants us to know, too.

ALMIGHTY GOD, I praise You, the most powerful One who holds sway over all things. Hold sway over my heart today so that I walk blamelessly before You.

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