Debbie Taylor Williams

If you’re a runner or know someone who is, you understand the importance of removing anything that might slow you down. You’re also aware of how critical it is to stay focused while running and not get sidetracked by any distractions. You or someone you know has probably also experienced weariness at some point while running—maybe toward the end of a race, a marathon, or a high-mileage run. 

Hebrews 12 draws a comparison between the Christian life and running a race. The chapter starts out by encouraging believers to throw off any hindrances, such as sin, that so easily entangles, and to run the race with perseverance. Hebrews 12:2 goes on to say, “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus despised the shame of the cross, yet He suffered through it in order to not only give us a start in our Christian walk, but to also make sure that our faith is perfected, complete, and finished. You see, Jesus is not only the author or the source of our faith, but He also oversees, sustains, and completes the faith of those who trust in Him. Philippians 1:6 reminds us of this—“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

It is with tremendous gratitude each of us should look heavenward in praise of our Lord and thank Him—the author and finisher of our faith!

Lord Jesus, I praise You! I thank You that You are not only the author, but also the FINISHER OF OUR FAITH!

We don’t have to run the Christian race alone. Jesus sent us a Helper—the Holy Spirit. To learn more about Christ’s gift, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.

The news that singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift, surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most weeks atop the Billboard 200 Chart exalted her to new heights in 2023. However, her exalted position is not guaranteed. Only the Lord God’s is, as He tells us in Psalm 46:10. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Psalm 148:13 also reminds us, “His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven.”

The Lord is exalted above other gods. “For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods,” Psalm 97:9 

What about Jesus? Acts 5:31 tells us, “He is the One whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” 

Although the Lord is highly exalted, Psalm 138:6 encourages us that “though the LORD is exalted, yet He regards the lowly.” 

How amazing our exalted Lord is! What should be our response? Nehemiah 9:5 tells us. “Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise!” 

Our Lord is highly exalted above all yet regards the lowly. Will you humbly exalt and bless His glorious name; praising Him for regarding you? 

EXALTED Lord, I praise You, bless Your glorious name, and thank You for regarding me.

Do you commute to work and want to listen to some encouraging teachings by Debbie while you drive? Let her podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, on Podbean help you set your mind on Christ before you start your day!

How would you describe yourself? Would you ever use “door” to describe yourself? 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 “in” heaven. Only those who enter through Jesus will be in heaven. Our Heavenly Father sends a personal invitation to everyone to enter eternal life in heaven through Jesus who paid our entrance fee by dying on the cross for our sins. Knocking on the door is not required. Repenting of sin and confessing Jesus as Lord is. 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being the DOOR through whom I can enter heaven and live eternally. 

Would you like to learn more about Jesus being the door to eternal life in Heaven? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 10 by clicking HERE.

¹ Copyright Herbert Lockyer, “All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible,” page 80, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1975.

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, Almighty Lord, who DEMONSTRATES Your love by saving me. Help me to 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. 

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, I praise You, my DELIVERER. Thank You for rescuing me from the domain of darkness, from evil, from sin, and from my fears. I 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! 

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 me be more mindful of how I can live so that You delight in me. 

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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 not to 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 me for too often ignoring Your instructions. Awaken me 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!

Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? More than likely, you answered “yes.” Promises are broken every day, but there is One, God, whose promises you can count on today and for eternity. 

Beginning in Genesis, God promised to never destroy the earth again with a flood. God kept His Noahic Covenant, another word for promise. 

God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of his descendants. The nation of Israel is the fulfillment of God’s covenant. 

God made a covenant with King David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever. That covenant/promise is fulfilled in Jesus. 

God promised a new covenant fulfilled by Jesus. “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:27-28). 

Yes, Jesus made a covenant, a promise, sealed with His blood that anyone who repents of sin and believes in Him for the forgiveness of their sins will be saved and given the Holy Spirit. 

Other people may have broken their promises to you, but the Lord, the Covenant Maker, can be trusted today and for eternity. 

Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, thank You for the peace and eternal life You give me through Your blood sacrifice. I worship and praise You.

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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 my sensitivity to Your Voice. Help me take seriously Your counsel and follow through on what You lead me 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.