Beyond Ourselves Podcast
Feast Your Eyes On This Crown
Throughout time, people have sat on thrones and worn diadems. Some leaders have worn their crowns well and brought honor to their people. Others have brought shame. The latter was the case with the chief tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the time of Isaiah, the prophet.
In Isaiah 28:5, he contrasted the leaders who wore crowns of shame with the LORD Jehovah, saying, “In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people.”
Herbert Lockyer expounds on the LORD being a crown of beauty. 1
“What a charming combination Isaiah gives us of Jehovah renowned for His luster and loveliness. A “crown of glory” is fitting for Him who is the “King of Glory,” and whose righteousness is “radiant with excess of glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9-11). In the crown, there sparkles His excellence, worth, sovereignty and glory. Truly, He is incomparable! In Jesus’ intercessory prayer, Jesus prayed that His God-given glory might adorn our lives (John 17:22).”
In our society where leaders are not always honorable, how wonderful that our king, the Lord God, is a CROWN of BEAUTY.
Lord Jesus, crown of glory, DIADEM of BEAUTY, we worship You.
1 Copyright Herbert Lockyer, “All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible,” page 80, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1975.
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Show Me that You Love Me
Have you ever wished someone would do more than tell you they love you; they would show you?
Romans 5:8 explains that is what God did when He sent Jesus to earth. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God demonstrated. He showed us His love.
In addition, Jesus showed us His love by dying on the cross for our sins so we could live with Him in heaven.
John 15:13 explains, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
If you have ever longed for someone to do more than tell you they love you, that they would show you, then your longing has been met. Your Heavenly Father and Jesus have shown you. They have demonstrated their love.
Thank You, Lord, for DEMONSTRATING Your love by saving us. Help us increasingly demonstrate Your love to others.
Would you like to learn more about how Jesus demonstrated His love for us as well as His command to love one another? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 13.
The One and Only Deliverer
Have you ever wished there was someone who could get you from one place to the next? Maybe you needed a ride because your car was in the shop. Or perhaps you longed for a promotion and hoped your boss could help you make a move.
Is the Lord interested in us moving from one place to another? Yes. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He taught them to pray, “deliver us from evil,” Matthew 6:13. Deliver us. Rescue us. Take us from evil to holiness.
Jesus’ prayer is answered for all who call on Him for salvation as Paul records in Colossians 1:13. “He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.” Deliver. Rescue. Take us from Satan’s kingdom to Christ’s kingdom.
Jesus is the Deliverer whom David prophesied was to come (Psalm 14:7) and to whom Paul referred in Romans 11:26, “…THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
Jesus is our deliverer from past, present, and future sin. He is our deliverer from evil. He is our deliverer from fears as David again testified. “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears,” Psalm 34:4.
If you are looking for someone to deliver you from evil, deliver you from past, present, and future sin and deliver you from your fears, look no further than Jesus.
Lord Jesus, we praise you, our DELIVERER. Thank You for rescuing us from the domain of darkness, from evil, from sin, and from our fears. We love and worship You.
Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify!
Are You A Delight to God?
Have you ever considered that the Heavenly Father delights in Jesus? Yes, Jesus is God’s delight, as Isaiah 42:1 points out: “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights.”
In a world full of evil, what a blessing it must be for the Heavenly Father to look at Jesus and say, “My soul delights in You.”
Reading that our Heavenly Father delights in Jesus stirs in me a longing for Him to delight in me, but I can’t imagine that being the case due to the fact I still sin.
Then again, could our Heavenly Father delight in us while not delighting in our sins? Yes. Proverbs 3:12 says, “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”
Our Heavenly Father has set His affection on us. He loved us before we were saved (John 3:16). Now that we are saved, He corrects us like a loving father corrects his children.
So while celebrating God’s pure delight in Jesus, we can also mindfully learn what is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, in whom Your soul DELIGHTS. Help us be more mindful of how we can live so that You delight in us.
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When You’re Teetering
Have you ever felt weak when you were attacked by Satan? Have you ever felt that you were teetering and could fall? I have. What’s especially troubling is sometimes I haven’t even immediately recognized when I was under assault by the enemy.
Those times could be more than disheartening if we didn’t have the full assurance that the Lord is our defender, as David wrote in Psalm 27:1-3. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, in spite of this I will be confident.”
What a contrast David draws between teetering in fear and being confident. Was his confidence in himself? No. The word “defense” in this verse means a fortified place, rock, strength, and a place of safety. David’s confidence was in the Lord, his rock, strength, and place of safety.
The next time you feel under attack by the enemy or you are attacked by a person because you are standing on Biblical principles, go to the Lord, confident that He is your defense, strength, and place of safety.
Lord, how we thank You that You are our DEFENDER against the enemy. We place our full confidence in You.
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If You’re Struggling with Darkness
Have you ever been without electricity and light for a significant period of time? In 2021 a winter storm in Texas caused our home to be without electricity for six days during which I experienced darkness to a greater degree than ever before. Sitting in the darkness, I thought of what unbelievers will experience in eternity; forever separated from the light of Christ, who the prophet Zacharias referred to as the “Dayspring from on high” (Luke 1:78).
What did Zacharias mean when he used the term “Dayspring from on high” in reference to Jesus?
No doubt, “Dayspring” refers to what we would expect – the light of day. Jesus, the Dayspring of heaven, brought heaven’s glorious light to our dark world. He brought it not only to our world at large, but to us individually when we turn to Him.
If you know someone who is not a believer, share with them that Jesus is the Dayspring from on High through whom they can have eternal light.
If you are struggling with darkness, if your thoughts are dark, if your perspective is dark, turn your face to the Dayspring from on High. Ask Him to rid you of any darkness, of any sin, and to fill you with His glorious presence, the Dayspring from on High.
Glorious DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH, shine the light of Your presence on us and in us. Show us sins we need to confess. Forgive us. Fill us with the Light of Your presence.
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.”
A Good Reason to Follow the Owner’s Manual
Have you ever questioned the “why” behind God’s commands? If so, it helps to remember that God created us as Genesis 1:27 reminds us. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Our creator knows what is best for us and what hurts us. Jesus’ commands such as those found in Matthew 6:34 to not worry and in Ephesians 4:31-32 to forgive and to put bitterness away from us are examples of our Creator’s instructions that serve our best interests. They help us have more peace, contentment, and joy.
What can happen if we, the creation, ignore our Creator’s ways? Romans 1:24-25 warns us. “God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”
God created us. His Word is our instruction manual; far more important than a car or appliance manual. If we want our life and relationship with Him and others to run smoothly, we’re wise to read and follow His instructions.
How well are we following our Creator’s instructions?
Heavenly Father, CREATOR, forgive us for too often ignoring Your instructions. Awaken us to the importance of reading and following Your holy teachings.
Would you like to deepen your relationship with God? Discover the many resources on our website that can help you grow in your walk with the Lord. We offer several free resources, including podcasts, video teachings, listening guides, and more!
If You’re Wondering What to Do About Something
Are you at your wit’s end? Do you need someone to talk to who can help you sort out your problems and worries? If so, go to God, where you will receive the best counsel in the world.
Where do we find God counseling someone? Among numerous places, we find Him counseling Cain in Genesis 4:6-7. What was the problem? “Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.” What counsel did God give Cain?
God asked Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?” Then, He warned and directed Cain, “…if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Yes, God is the wonderful Counselor, as Isaiah 9:6 says. Talk to Him, then follow His counsel. I record what God prompts me to do in my journal, Prayers of My Heart so I have a record of what He places on my heart.
What do God’s counseling prompts sound like? At times He has counseled me, “Open your Bible and read a Psalm.” Other times it has been, “Stop procrastinating and tackle what is before you.” Or, “Instead of wondering about someone, call them.” A wise Christian will both talk things out with their counselor and also follow up on what He tells them to do.
LORD, You are the wonderful COUNSELOR. Increase our sensitivity to Your Voice. Help us take seriously Your counsel and follow through on what You lead us to do.
Would you like an organized way to record what God is speaking to you? Grab a copy of Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to write down what God places on your heart.
If You’re Disappointed
Are you disappointed? If so, in what or whom? A person? Yourself? A job? God understands disappointment. Many things can cause us to feel let down. Sometimes our disappointment is because we have unrealistic expectations of others, which I address in my book, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World. Other times, our disappointments are valid. First Peter 2:6 is encouraging because God wants us to know that there’s something He has provided that will never disappoint us: our faith in Jesus.
Peter records, “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
Not be disappointed. Read those words again. There is a person – Jesus Christ – who does not disappoint. He has a place He is preparing for us that will not disappoint. He has a day He is preparing that will not disappoint. He has eternity with Him that will not disappoint.
If you are dealing with disappointment today, do a quick check-up. On what have you set your expectations? If your answer is the amount of money you want to make, a certain house, the perfect spouse, children, friendships, or job, then you may find yourself dealing with disappointment at some point. If, on the other hand, your expectations are set on Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith, you will not be disappointed.
Lord Jesus, You are the precious CORNERSTONE upon whom we can build our lives and not be disappointed. Thank you.
Are you facing disappointment or struggling with unmet expectations? Get a copy of The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World to discover how to take charge of your thoughts and let God reignite your hopes and dreams.
One More Reason to Praise God If You’re a Believer
Would you rather God contend – plead a cause – for you or would you rather Him contend against you? If you answered that you would rather God contend “for you,” then you have reason to jump up and down for joy. Why?
Isaiah 51:22 states, “Thus says your Lord, the Lord, even your God who contends for His people, ‘Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.’”
Did you catch Isaiah’s words? “Your God who contends for His people.” Yes, God contends for, not against us.
A hallelujah with hands raised in praise is appropriate because as God has dealt with Israel, so He deals with those who place their faith in Christ.
Lord, You CONTEND for us, not against us. We praise You with hands raised high.