Debbie Taylor Williams

When you think about Jesus, what comes to your mind? Is it Jesus teaching or healing? Or, perhaps you think of Jesus, the suffering servant in the Garden of Gethsemane, submitting His will to the Father.  For many, they think of Jesus on the cross.  

Hebrews 1:8-9 points to a wonderful visual of Christ, “But of the Son He says, ‘…Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.'”

Isn’t that a wonderful image for us to think of—Jesus anointed with the oil of gladness above all others? What does that mean? The words “anointed with” are often used in reference to the Holy Spirit being upon a person. We know from Galatians 5:22 that joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Joy. Gladness. Jesus is anointed with the Holy Spirit, with gladness, joy “above” others. And rightly so. He accomplished what no one else could do. He paid mankind’s sin debt. He obtained salvation for all who call on Him. Jesus is overjoyed…more than anyone else on earth or in heaven. 

But there’s more. Isaiah 61:3 prophesies that Jesus Messiah would give, “The oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.” Jesus, having accomplished salvation for all who call on Him, pours out the Holy Spirit and His joy on others (Acts 1:8).

If you’re disheartened, remember Jesus, anointed with the oil of gladness. Ask Him to fill you with His gladness. Then, let His joy flow through you to others.

Lord Jesus, I praise You, anointed with the OIL OF GLADNESS above others. Overflow Your gladness on and through me so others see and believe in You.

Would you like to learn more about walking by the Holy Spirit? Listen to these free podcast teachings: “Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.”

Me. Me. Me. 

We probably wouldn’t want to admit it, but in our innermost being, we may be more self-centered than Christ-centered. Our day may not begin with, “Heavenly Father, how can I serve You?” Rather, our first thought may be what we want to get out of the day. 

Have you ever considered doing a 180: a turnaround based on Ephesians 5:2?  “Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

In other words, followers of Christ are told to follow His example. 

We’re to walk in love and offer our lives to God to serve His purposes. What happens when we do? We have the opportunity to be a fragrance of Christ to God and others.

Christ Jesus, You are the ultimate example of being an OFFERING and sacrifice to God. Help me follow Your example so my life is a fragrant offering to You. 

Check out Debbie’s newly published devotional book, 365 Days of Praise! The devotional features 365 attributes of God, heartfelt prayers based on God’s character, as well as explanations of who God is, complete with daily applications. Order HERE and start the new year on the right foot by spending more time in God’s Word.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 19:11-22 portraying Himself as a nobleman who went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for Himself and then returns. 

Before He departed, He gave talents to His servants so they could carry on His business while He was away. 

Two of the servants took seriously what He entrusted them to do. 

When the nobleman returned, he honored them and entrusted more to them. But he called the servant who didn’t do anything with the talent He had given him, “worthless” (Luke 19:22).

Let’s break this down. 

Jesus is the nobleman. At salvation, He entrusts a spiritual gift to every believer so we can do His work on earth while He is in heaven. We are either faithfully doing the good works He’s prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10) or we’re being unfaithful to Him. 

What has Jesus called you to do? How faithfully are you doing His work while He is away?

Jesus Christ, heaven’s NOBLEMAN, stir my heart to serve You faithfully and fully.

Discover the joy of praying more purposefully and living passionately for Christ as He equips you to do His work on earth. Get a copy of Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion HERE. The book can be used as a personal study or a 10-week group study.

Jesus told His disciples He was going to die and ascend to His Father in heaven but that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:16-18). 

Jesus explained that He would send a Helper to them and that the Helper would not only be with them, but also in them. 

Did you catch that? “In” them? 

You can’t get closer to someone than to be in them. 

That is God’s gift to believers. Christ’s Holy Spirit is in you. Not far away. Near. In. 

Still not convinced? Read what Psalm 145:18 says: “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

God is in you, believer. Near as near can be to you. Call on God in sincerity and truth. 

Lord, You are NEAR, not far removed from me. You are so near, You are in me through Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Thank You that I can call on You in sincerity and truth. 

In Debbie’s teaching on John 14, she discussed Jesus’ promise of sending a Helper (the Holy Spirit) to not only be with His disciples, but also dwell in them. To watch a clip from Debbie’s teaching on this subject, click HERE. 

“Why?” That was the question millennials asked me at a conference where I was speaking. Why this… Why that… “I guess that’s why we’re called the Y Generation,” a 29-year-old explained. “We want to know why.”

Millennials, the “Y Generation,” are those born during the 1980s and early 1990s. They’re the children of baby boomers. Those in Generation Y aren’t prone to accept pat answers. In other words, just because a preacher, teacher, or parent says something, that doesn’t necessarily make it true.

So how do we answer their question, “Why believe in and follow Jesus?” For this reason: Jesus demonstrated that He was more than just a man. People witnessed His resurrection from the dead three days after He had been crucified by skilled executioners. Jesus was who He proclaimed to be—the way, truth, and life. Peter, a witness of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and ascension into heaven spells it out, “there is no other name under heaven that has been given by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That’s why. There is no other name by which we are saved. Confidently, boldly, and gladly speak the truth out loud to the “Y Generation” and everyone else.

Jesus, NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES, I praise You, Lord and Savior. You are the answer, and I love You. 

Our key verse today is Acts 4:12. To watch all of Debbie’s teaching on Acts 4, click HERE. To listen to her teaching, click HERE.

Isaiah prophesied something we would never imagine: that holy God would allow His Son to become a servant who would take man’s punishment for their sins. “My Servant will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). 

“Bear their iniquities.” Let those words sink in. Jesus bore your sin. I can hardly get my mind around, “Jesus bore my sin.” I feel so badly that He had to do that for me in order for me to go to heaven. Do you? 

It is in the Father and Son’s actions, Jesus becoming a Servant who would die on the cross for us, that we see proof of their great love. As Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends;” exactly what Jesus did. 

What had Jesus been teaching prior to His definition of the greatest of love?  That His followers are to love as He does. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you,” John 15:12; continuing in verse 14, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” 

Jesus was a servant to His Father; as we are to be His servant. Are we living to serve the Father and Son or living to serve ourselves? The proof is our love for others; our love in action. 

Lord Jesus, who the Father calls, “MY SERVANT,” I worship You. Thank You for bearing my sins. I love and adore You. Quicken me to be as You, laying down my life, serving the Father, loving others.

Some of our key verses today are from John 15. Want to dive deeper? Watch Debbie’s full teaching on John 15 by clicking HERE.

How big is God to you? 

How often do you recognize God moving and working in powerful ways in your  life? 

How often does something good come your way, and you pass it off, thinking, “that’s nice.” 

Or, do you bow your heart in humble gratefulness and thank the Most High for what He has done?

In other words, from God’s perspective, are you mindful of His presence and power in your life? Are you grateful or ungrateful?

David is an example to us of someone who was mindful of God’s presence and power. He not only was mindful, he expressed his awe and gratitude to God.  

For instance, one time after David cried to God in his distress, God responded through what others might call favorable circumstances. But David’s response was, “The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice” (2 Samuel 22:14).

David recognized and worshiped God as “Most High.” Do we? 

Lord, MOST HIGH, give me eyes to see You working in my life and the lives of others. Give me a heart of praise to You, Most High God.

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

Do you need a miracle; something extraordinary in your life? What do we mean when we use the word miracle? Webster defines it as “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency; just as rising from the grave.” Another definition is “a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences;” such as, “it was a miracle that more people hadn’t been killed or injured.” Perhaps it’s that last definition we use most often. “It’ll be a miracle if I can manage everything going on in my life.” Or, “It’ll be a miracle if our marriage makes it.” Let me ask again, “Are you in need of a miracle?” If so, your best hope for experiencing one is to go to Jesus. Why? 

Galatians 3:5 describes Jesus as the Miracle Worker. “So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or hearing with faith?”

As we consider Jesus, the Miracle Worker, it’s important to consider the combination of “miracle” and “worker,” as well as faith. Our miracle isn’t going to happen with the twitch of our nose. Jesus’s miracles involved power (Luke 8:46), often a person taking part in faith (John 5:8-9), and often occurred as the person acted in obedience (John 9:6-7). 

Rather than demand, “God, do this now,” we’re to thank Him for what He’s already done and obediently take the next step He shows us.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being involved in my life. You’re the MIRACLE WORKER who can help others and me. Open my ears and eyes to Your instructions so I faithfully follow Your leading. 

Jesus, the Miracle Worker, demonstrated His healing power in John 5 when he told a man who had been ill for 38 years to pick up his pallet, walk, and sin no more. Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 5 HERE or listen to it HERE.

Did you watch the cartoon “Mighty Mouse” when you were a child?  Do you remember the chorus, “Here I come to save the day! That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way!”  

When I was young, I was confident Mighty Mouse would save the day no matter the dire situation. 

Growing older doesn’t mean we no longer need someone to save us and our day. We do. We need someone to save us from sin. We need someone to save us from fear. We need someone to save us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Unlike a cartoon character, the One on whom we call is real.  

Joshua 22:22 proclaims, “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord!” God is the Mighty One. He can save you and He alone. Call on Him. 

Commit Psalm 119:147 to heart, “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.”

Heavenly Father, help me be mindful that You are the MIGHTY ONE who saves no matter the dire situation. Help me confidently wait for Your words to guide me through each situation. 

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.”

Have you ever explored a black cave with only a dim flashlight? Some time ago, I had the opportunity to walk two miles in a black cave. Did I say opportunity? It was only because I knew my time in the cave was temporary. Had I thought I couldn’t return to the outdoors and light I would have gone mad. Is that what hell is? Trapped in what Colossians 1:13 describes as a “domain of darkness”? 

Jesus Christ is Light. The beauty of heaven reflects His nature. Close your eyes and picture an eternity of despairing people screaming for release from Satan’s dark domain. Now open them and praise Jesus, whom Malachi refers to as “the messenger of the covenant”—”‘The Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the Lord of armies” (Malachi 3:1).

Having been in the cave has made me mindful of how important it is to live a celebratory life. Why? There are people who don’t know Jesus, the messenger of the covenant, and that He can save them from the black torment of eternal damnation. 

We have the opportunity to celebrate our present-day and eternity. We have reason to celebrate Christ’s Light in our hearts.  Are we a bright or dim reflection of Christ to the unsaved?

Lord Jesus Christ, MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, thank You for transferring me from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light! Help me be mindful and joyful about my freedom and take every opportunity to shine brightly and point others to You.

Jesus is referred to as the Light several times in the Gospel of John. To learn more about Jesus as the true Light of the world, watch or listen to Debbie’s teachings on the book of John HERE and HERE. Free listening guides are also included!