Christian Devotional

Are you hungry? Is there a gnawing in you? Do you feel that something is missing? Do you feel that no matter what you do, purchase, or where you go, you still want more? Do you fill the emptiness but it quickly returns? 

If so, maybe it’s your spirit that is hungry. If that is the case, the solution isn’t more food, clothes, or earthly success. The solution is Jesus who describes Himself in John 6:51 as the bread of life who came from heaven. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” 

Jesus is to our spirit what food is to our body. Our body can’t live without food. Our spirit can’t live without Jesus. 

Receive Christ as Savior if you haven’t already. Then, begin each day with bite-size Bible verses. Chew on them throughout the day. At night, graze on the promises of God. Go to sleep with your soul filled and satisfied in Christ. Wake hungry for more of Jesus. Grow as a Christian and feed others. 

Lord Jesus, I praise You, BREAD OF LIFE. Thank You for coming from heaven and being to my spirit what food is to my body. Help me recognize my hunger is only filled by You. Increase my appetite for the Bible and fill me with Your Words so I grow as a Christian.

To learn more about Jesus being the Bread of Life, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 6 HERE or listen to it HERE. 

Have you ever had something grow in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? You had to look closely and examine it. The same can happen when people make showy spiritual promises. At first, they may look like the real deal. The problem, however, is if their promises are not based on Christ and Biblical truth, their flowery promises end up being thorns to the soul, weeds that choke the life out of a person. 

In both Isaiah 4:2 and Jeremiah 23:5 there is a righteous Branch, Jesus Christ, who is prophesied. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’” 

Jesus Christ is the genuine, true, righteous Branch who came to earth to save us and graft us into His holy life for eternity. 

BRANCH OF THE LORD, who lives forever, thank You for grafting me into You and giving me eternal life. 

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Have you ever come to the conclusion that there are few people you can really trust? When we’re told one thing and then find out the person never intended to follow through on their promises, it’s disheartening. That’s why we appreciate descriptions of God like we find in Psalm 18:30, “As for God, His way is blameless.” 

Once again the Bible reiterates what we need and long to hear—that we can look to and fully trust our Lord. He is blameless, which in Hebrew means “whole, entire, sound, complete, wholesome, unimpaired, having integrity, entirely in accord with truth and fact.” 

Reread the definition of blameless and celebrate and praise the Lord for who He is. Confidently voice your faith in Jesus Christ. Let the integrity of the blameless Lord shine through you. 

Lord, thank You that I can look to and trust You, Your Word and ways, BLAMELESS One! 

Want to learn more about building your confidence and trust in God? Watch this video by Debbie.

I love the focus on God today and Psalm 8:9 KJV, which points to His excellent name: “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” 

Isn’t this what 365 Days of Praise is about: the names of God that draw us to more deeply appreciate the excellence of His character and marvel at every facet of Him that sparkles like a multi-cut diamond? I hope you are saying “yes” with me and are increasingly impacted by His excellence as you gaze on Him and yield your life to Him.

Look back at the names, titles, and characteristics of God in this book. Have you highlighted any attributes you want to remember and for which you are most thankful? Does it put a smile on your face to think about who God is? I pray it does, and I invite you to celebrate the following verses and praise God for His excellence:

“How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God!” (Psalm 36:7 KJV)
“Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.” (Psalm 150:2)
“Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things.” (Isaiah 12:5)
“…[Jesus]…has inherited a more excellent name…” (Hebrews 1:4)
“…He has obtained a more excellent ministry…” (Hebrews 8:6)
“…because an excellent spirit was in him…” (Daniel 6:3 KJV)
“…from the excellent glory…” (2 Peter 1:17 KJV)

Yes, the Lord’s name, ways, lovingkindness, ministry, Spirit, and glory are excellent. As Psalm 148:13 KJV instructs, “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent.” Pray to increasingly reflect God’s excellence by your behavior (1 Peter 2:12).

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, You are EXCELLENT in all Your ways. I love and cherish You. Please infuse me with Your glory so people see and believe You are the only way to heaven. I love you, LORD.  

If you enjoyed this content and want to watch video teachings by Debbie, subscribe to her YouTube channel. Go HERE and click the subscribe button to be notified of new teachings.

Have you ever considered that because Christ paid for your sins you are worthy of heaven? Say that a few times in order for it to sink in. “I am worthy of heaven.”

Yes, believers are worthy of heaven but only because Christ exchanged His righteousness for our sins so that we would have His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

Colossians 1:10 reminds believers of our high calling; of being found righteous and worthy through Christ. Rather than ignore the gift of our salvation, Paul writes to believers, “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Yes, as Christians we’re to walk in a manner worthy of or “suitably” of the Lord Jesus, who is worthy.

We may have a hazy understanding of what it means to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, but we know what it means to be suitable. A child who puts on dirty clothes for school is told to put on something suitable, something clean for school. In the same manner, but to a much greater degree, believers are to “put off” the old self. We are to “put on” the new self and walk in a manner worthy (suitable) of the Lord. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

The Lord is worthy. We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. How well are we doing? 

Lord, You are WORTHY of honor and praise and glory. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I walk worthy of You, pleasing You in all respects. 

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Do you ever wonder who you can believe? One person says one thing and another claims the opposite. 

Yes, it can sometimes be difficult to know who to believe, but that is not the case when Jesus speaks. 

Revelation 1:5 describes Jesus Christ as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.”

Jesus is a faithful witness. 

A witness of what? 

Jesus witnessed to us about heaven, His Father, angels, crowns of righteousness awaiting believers, resurrection bodies, thrones, powers, kingdoms, the judgment seat, forgiveness, redemption, His Father’s house, and about Satan. 

Jesus testified about the fact that Abraham, Noah, Moses, and Jonah were real people and that the Old Testament is true. 

Our confidence in the Bible and its teachings solidly rests on Christ because He is a faithful witness to us that they are true.

Lord Jesus, I praise You, the faithful WITNESS! Thank You for the confidence I have in the Bible and in You because of Your word.

Would you like to grow in your faith? Discover the many resources on our website that can help you. In addition to our books and Bible studies, we offer several free Christian resources, including podcasts, video teachings, listening guides, and more!

 

Do you ever feel like you can’t please anyone? Or, do you ever feel that you can’t please everyone? 

It’s normal to want to please those we love. However, we’re wise to realize that we can’t please everyone. Not even Jesus pleased everyone. So how do we prioritize who we please? We follow Jesus’ example, who was well-pleasing to the Father as Matthew 11:25-26 points out. “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.’”

John 8:29 further points out that Jesus pleased His Father. “He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

If you’re in a quandary about how to live so that you please your Heavenly Father, follow Jesus’s example.

• Jesus used Scripture to stand against temptation. We can do that.
• Jesus reached out to others in love. We can do that.
• Jesus prayed before making decisions. We can do that.
• Jesus followed His Father’s leading rather than His own impulses and initiative. We can do that.

There is no one more important for us to please than our Heavenly Father. We can do that. 

Heavenly Father, as Jesus was WELL-PLEASING to You, help me please You. 

There’s still time to purchase your copy of the updated edition of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional while it’s on sale! With 365 A–Z names and traits of God, daily prayers, and practical life applications, this devotional offers encouragement all year long. It also makes a thoughtful, faith-building Christmas gift for family and friends or anyone who could use daily hope and encouragement. Get your copy HERE.

Depending on how old you are, you may be familiar with Frank Sinatra’s hit song, “My Way,” whose lyrics reflect on life and its end. A repeated sentiment in the song, “I did it my way,” resonated with people when it first came out as well as today. People pride themselves in forging their own path, being self-driven, independent, and in charge of their destiny. 

When it comes to God and eternal matters, many people buck at the idea of absolute truth. They believe in pluralism, which embraces the idea that there is more than one way to heaven. However, in spite of what people believe, Jesus was clear that there is only one Way to heaven and that is through faith in Him.

John 14:6 records Jesus’s declaration, “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” 

Acts 4:12 affirms the absolute necessity of trusting Jesus as the way to eternal life in heaven. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus is not only the Way, but He also made the way for us to have eternal life. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid our sin debt. God has given us free will to accept or reject Jesus. The Bible warns that those who do not believe in Christ and don’t obey the gospel of Jesus will face eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Those who accept Christ are made righteous through Him and will inherit eternal life (Matthew 25:46). Have you said “yes” to the Way to eternal life? 

Lord, thank You for being the WAY to eternal life. I’m grateful beyond words and give You all praise. Bring into my life those with whom I can share that You are the way, the truth, and the life.

To learn more about Jesus as the Way to eternal life, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 14 HERE or listen to it HERE.