Beyond Ourselves Podcast
Where to “Hang Out”
Where is home to you, the place you hang out to find comfort, love, and security? If it’s not God, you’re missing out on the ultimate DWELLING PLAC. Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath is the everlasting arms.” When you’re tired and want to rest, when you’re excited and want to share good news, when you’ve messed up and need someone to confess to, when you’re stumped and need advice, go to God. He is a dwelling place where you can go, be yourself, and know you’re loved.
Heavenly Father, what a gift that You offer Yourself as our DWELLING PLACE. Prompt us to often come and “hang out” with You as we would our dearest friend.
You’re Exactly Like Your Father
If someone says, “You’re exactly like your father” are those fighting words or complimentary words? In other words, did you admire your father so it’s a compliment to be likened to him? Or were there things you didn’t admire and so don’t want to be likened to him? We would all certainly like for it to be a compliment and in Hebrews 1:3 it is in regard to Jesus being the “spitting image” of His Daddy. The writer to the Hebrews says this about Jesus and God the Father. “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,” Look at Jesus and you’re looking at our Heavenly Father. Listen to Jesus and you’re hearing the voice of God. Observe Jesus with people and you are observing the Father. Isn’t it exciting that we have a glimpse of what it will be like to be in our Father’s presence? I can’t wait! What about you?
Christ Jesus, we look at and listen to You and know that You are the exact representation of Your Father. We are seeing and hearing Him. We love You both so much!
Are You Worried About the END
Do you ever worry about the end? True, our day comes to an end. Our weekend comes to an end. Vacations end. Time with loved ones ends. But we need not worry because there is one thing that never ends: God. Psalm 90:2 states, “Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” God has no end. He is EVERLASTING. He will exist no matter what happens to the earth and world. If you’re feeling a sense of loss, loneliness, or that everything in the world is changing too quickly, you have a reason to praise. God is EVERLASTING. He will never end. His presence will continually be with you.
Lord, You are the EVERLASTING GOD! We rejoice in You.
When Whims Aren’t Good
Can you imagine if God ruled by whim, by ever-changing emotions and laws? What if on a whim, He decided to not be forgiving? Or, what if on a whim, God decided not to forgive you? What if on a whim, God changed His standard of holiness? I think you might agree with me that we’re thankful that is not who our loving God is. Rather, Psalm 99:4 assures us that our Heavenly Father is a God of justice. He has ESTABLISHED EQUITY. That is why the psalmist says, “Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.” (Psalm 99:3) Yes, that is why we praise our great and awesome God. He is not a God of whims, but rather, a God of equity.
Heavenly Father, thank You that You don’t rule by whim, but rather with equity. We love and praise You!
I Can’t or I Can
“I can’t do it!” Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you feel that way about your job, marriage or even getting to the gym and eating healthy. Maybe you know what you need to do as a parent, but don’t have the energy and stamina, so you say, “I can’t.” Perhaps you feel you “can’t” be the Christian that God desires you to be. If you feel that way, you’re not alone. I wish I had a penny for every time I’ve felt inadequate. But the wonderful thing is, Hebrews 13:20-21 assures us that God is able. “Now the God of peace, … equip you in every good thing to do His will…” We can say along with Paul, “not that I am adequate in myself, but my adequacy comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping us to do that to which You call us. Increase our mindful dependence on You so we walk by Your Spirit. We love and praise You.
Comfort in Dire Moments
Recently, someone messaged me the following regarding Covid-19:
Make no mistake. When loved ones are removed from your home by ambulance because the virus has hit them hard, you are not going to be able to follow them there, sit by their hospital bed and hold their hand. You are not going to be able to pop in at 7.00 pm for visiting hours. They are going to have no one other than exhausted and brave hospital staff to see them through days or weeks of barely breathing through a ventilator until they either die or recover. They are not going to be well enough to text you. You are not going to be able to phone the ward to check in on them regularly (staff will be too busy for that). During that time, they will be completely alone, while you sit at home waiting to hear whether they have made it . Imagine that person is someone you love dearly. Because it’s a reality for many. And if that person in the hospital is you, going through it would be indescribable.”
Disconcerting? Absolutely. However, we who have placed our faith in Jesus have a blessed assurance in even the most dire of times. In Isaiah 9:6, we’re told in relation to Jesus that among His many names, “ETERNAL FATHER, Prince of Peace” are included. Charles Ryrie explains that Eternal Father literally means, “Father of Eternity; that Messiah is eternally a Father to His people, guarding, supplying, and caring for their needs.” There could be no more comforting thought in dire situations. We have a Father of Eternity who is present with us and our loved ones. He is present – guarding, supplying, and caring for those who look to Him. Who do we need to share the good news with today?
ETERNAL FATHER, our hearts are overwhelmed with Your provision for us in Christ Jesus. Move every one of us who calls Jesus our Savior to boldly speak the truth and hope that we have with everyone in our sphere of influence.
I Did it Again: Failed
I did it again: failed. I failed to pay attention to my thoughts. I failed to check them against God’s Word. I failed to return Jesus’s love by loving Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I failed to honor Him with my lips. Have you ever been there, done that? What happens when a Christian sins? Is God done with us? No. First Chronicles 16:34 and 1 Peter 1:25 tell us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” and “His Word endures forever.” Every day God loves us. Every day, we can turn to His Word, the truth, and learn how to walk by it. If you, like me, did it again and failed God in some way recently, look to Him. He loves us and continually gives us the opportunity to repent and receive His grace.
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for Your enduring love and Word. Help us live it out in a reciprocal way with You and others.
If You’re Looking for Supreme
When we go to the beginning, to Genesis 1:1, the first way the ONE we worship is identified, is as God. “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.” GOD: Elohim. Scholar Charles Ryrie explains that Elohim is “a generic term for deity as well as a proper name for the true god. Its basic meaning is ‘strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.’ The form of the word is plural, indicating plentitude of power and majesty and allowing for the NT revelation of the triunity of the Godhead.” That is the scholarly definition of the GOD we love and worship. But how would you explain to someone who God is to you?
GOD, ELOHIM, we bow in worship and praise of You, for how You have revealed Your majesty to us, for how You’ve reached down and saved us, for how You will raise us up to be in Your presence one day. It is with unspeakable reverence we praise You!
Knock Knock
How would you describe yourself? Would you use “DOOR” to communicate with others who you are? I certainly wouldn’t. But Jesus did. In John 10:9 He said, “I am the DOOR; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,…” Why would Jesus describe Himself as a door? He wants us to know that there is an “outside” of heaven and an “inside” of heaven. Heaven is a place and we are “outside” until we go “into” heaven through Jesus. Make no mistake. Everyone will not live eternally “in” heaven. Only those who enter through Jesus will be in heaven. Our Heavenly Father sends a personal invitation to you to enter eternal life in heaven through Jesus who paid your entrance fee when He hung on the cross for your sins. No knocking required. Just a prayer. Repent of and confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Receive forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Learn more at Meet Jesus.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for opening the DOOR to heaven through Your sacrifice on the cross.
“Door” is one of God’s 26 character traits in my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. Learn more HERE.
I See You
You’re the best! Yes, you. I’m thinking of YOU. I see you and what you are doing. You’re the one who is devoted to your family and doing above and beyond. You encourage your children to follow Christ and His teachings. I see you. You’re the man or woman who lives alone. Your spouse has died and it’s been rough. But you are continuing on – one day at a time, trusting God. I see you. You are a quiet, humble person. You wrote out a check to Hill Country Ministries. You said you are glad that we have two of my studies being taught to a group of 50 inmates in prison and to another 50 after that and another 50. I see you. You have dealt with alcoholism. You confided in me and it has been an honor to pray for you. I celebrate your sobriety and all God is doing in your life. I see you. You are leading my Bible study, “Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion” in your church. You prepare beforehand to lead your group. You pray for the ladies. I see you. You were concerned God wasn’t using you, but God used your phone call to prompt me to offer my Kids Time devotional for parents and grandparents to use with their little ones. I see you. You are Christ’s beloved daughter and son and God is using you. In ways we praise God for who He is, I see Him in you because you are being transformed into His image. “But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit,” 2 Corinthians 3:18 Yes, I see you, and more importantly, God sees you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Heavenly Father. Thank You, sweet Jesus, for offering Yourself as our mediator, and that we can come before You, kneel in Your presence, pour out our hearts and be filled with Your Spirit. Thank You for the sweet saints who are living out their faith and being used by You. Comfort them. Give them Your joy. Help them celebrate Your presence.
If you’d like information about my online Bible study, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, reply to this email or email me at debbie@debbietaylorwilliams.com. You will be able to do it at a time that is convenient to you.