Debbie Taylor Williams

Peace between people. Is it possible? It appears not to be. Why? Because although we aren’t perfect, we expect others to be perfect. Remember when the Jews were itching to stone a woman caught in adultery? The rocks were in their hands. Their self-righteous arms were wound for the throw. But when Jesus confronted them, when He invited the one who was sin-free to throw the first stone, they slinked away (John 8:7-9). 

What did Jesus then do? If you said, stone her because she was guilty and deserving of punishment, you’re both right and wrong. You’re correct in saying she was deserving of death according to the Law. You are incorrect about Jesus’ response. He told her He didn’t condemn her and for her to go and sin no more. Amazing! Jesus extends the same grace to us. 

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

There it is. We are not to sin, but when we do, we can be mindfully grateful that Jesus is our Advocate just as He was for the adulterous woman. 

Lord Jesus, I praise You, my ADVOCATE. Quicken my heart to take seriously Your command to sin no more. 

Would you like to experience God’s sufficient grace and peace in your life? Check out Debbie’s Bible study, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos by clicking HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by clicking HERE.

Recently, there seems to be an increase in backroom power plays among people. It is disturbing regardless of what person, political party, or entity you support. I suppose that’s why I find such joy in meditating on Jesus. He is the only one who is pure, and He is the ultimate one to whom we can look. 

In addition, it also helps to remember that He is above all. Yes, Ephesians 1:20-21 clearly states that Jesus is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come”. 

Aren’t those beautiful words on which to meditate? Jesus is above every rule and authority and power and dominion. Above all. Above all. Do we get it? Christ is above all, not only in this age but also in the age to come. Hallelujah! And this is especially good news. He is our friend. He urges us to tell Him our needs. He offers to help when we call on Him. What a wonderful Savior. 

Lord Jesus, You who are far ABOVE ALL rule and authority and power and dominions, I love and worship You. 

The updated edition of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional is now available on Amazon as a paperback and e-book. With 365 A–Z names and traits of God, daily prayers, and practical life applications, this devotional offers encouragement all year long. Get your copy HERE.

Have you ever given yourself a good, hard look and thought, “I can’t do it”? Maybe you heard a sermon on forgiveness but thought, “I can’t”. Or maybe you’ve been sick all night and don’t think you have the strength to respond to a child’s cry. 

The above situations are ones you’ve perhaps experienced, but ended up being able to do. But there was a person who once contemplated his situation and truly wasn’t able to perform it. Romans 4:17-21 recounts when God told Abraham that he would have a child with Sarah. 

“Without becoming weak in faith, he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” Stop right there. Envision Abraham considering his body. “Isn’t going to happen,” he thinks. He considers his elderly wife who was unable to get pregnant in her younger years. “Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20-21).

Amazing! Did you notice the word, “yet”? Are you facing something seemingly impossible? Why not do as Abraham and consider, “yet with respect to the promise of God”? God is present for you just like He was for Abraham. Look to Him. Trust Him. 

Heavenly Father, help me remember that no matter my situation, You are ABLE. Help me grow strong in my faith like Abraham. 

The Lord is always present and wants us to talk to Him through prayer. Learn to pray more purposefully through Debbie’s book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. 

In your lifetime, how many people have you seen take positions of leadership and then be unseated? People and countries are often shaken by these changes. While some people are hopeful, others are fearful. Of the many assurances the Bible gives us, one is that our Heavenly Father has an eternal reign. He is seated on a throne and there is no person or principality who can unseat Him. Psalm 9:7 assures us, “the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment.”

Forever. Established. Those are comforting words. But what about His throne of judgment? The psalmist explains in verses 8-9. “And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Good news. In addition to the comfort of knowing that our Heavenly Father will remain long after our world’s rulers have come and gone, we have the comfort of knowing that He will righteously judge the world and be a stronghold for the oppressed. He is our stronghold, too, in our times of trouble. We can go to him. We can talk things over with Him. What do you need to talk to Him about today? 

Heavenly Father, who ABIDES FOREVER, I give you praise. You have established Your throne and no one can unseat You. Thank you for being a God of equity. Thank you that I can come to you when I’m having trouble. 

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The updated edition of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional is also now available in print. Purchase your copy HERE. 

Have you seen the look in a child’s eyes when they were afraid because they couldn’t see where their parents were? Have you watched that child locate their parents and run to them? Have you heard a child cry for one of their parents? If so, consider Romans 8:15, which says believers have “received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba Father.’” 

Abba Father can be translated from the Greek as “daddy.” So what does Romans 8:15 tell us? It tells us that our relationship with God is like that of a loving father with his child: tender, close, and so much more. Our Heavenly Father chose to adopt us. Jesus tells us to look to our Heavenly Father and pray in faith, not fear, “Our Father who is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9).  

To what degree does your Heavenly Father love and protectingly care for you? So much that He sacrificed His Son so that you can be a part of Their divine, eternal family; safe forever in heaven. 

In a world where there are sometimes indifferent, uncaring fathers, isn’t it reassuring to know that we have a perfect and sacrificial Heavenly Father whose love for us is unchanging? Although we may be afraid at times due to the events in our life, nation, or world, we can look to our Father and be assured that He’s watching out for us and over us. 

Each 365 Days of Praise devotional describes our Abba Father. As you read each one you have an opportunity to get to know your Abba Father more intimately. God is your Heavenly Father. Walk daily assured of His love and watchcare over you.   

Heavenly Father, ABBA FATHER, thank You for adopting me as Your child. Help me get to know You more deeply and intimately. Help me walk confidently each day, assured of Your love and Your presence.

Happy New Year! Would you like to spend more time in God’s Word this year? We have several resources to help you. Check out our shop HERE and our free online Bible studies HERE. 

I love to gaze at the glory of the moon. Do you? When we do, we are looking at something God created that is. It exists today.  

However the moon was created by God in eternity past. 

The moon that was created in eternity past and exists today is also set to rise in the night sky tomorrow and in future nights. Although it appears in different phases, it is still the same moon.

If the moon is the same moon in the past, present, and future; why would anyone doubt that Jesus was, is, and is to come? 

Yes, at Christmas we celebrate the Lord who came in the past in the appearance of a baby. Luke 2:7

At Easter we celebrate the Lord who rose from the grave. Matthew 28:6

Now, we watch for Christ who promised to come again. John 14:3  

We can be assured, as Revelation 1:4 states, Jesus is, “He who is and who was, and who is to come…” 

Think about it. Jesus is coming again! Are you ready to meet Him? 

Lord Jesus, WHO IS, WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, I praise You and look with anticipation to Your return. Quicken me to faithfully serve You as I watch and wait.

Are you ready for Christ’s return? Would you like some resources to help you better understand the times in which we live and to shift your focus to His return and eternity? Check out End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do as well as Contend Earnestly for the Faith.

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. 

As the celebration of Christ’s birth nears each year, we focus on the babe in the manger. However, it is important to note that the babe was born a Prince with an angelic army at His beck and call. (Matthew 26:53)

Jesus, the babe, was born a “Warrior” King as Isaiah 42:13 foretold, “The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.”

Jesus, the babe in a manger, grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)  Refusing the devil’s temptations, He preached and proved His kingdom. (Luke 8:1) 

Jesus, the Warrior King, overcame the last enemy—death. (Luke 24:46, 1 Corinthians 15:26) 

Having accomplished His earthly mission, He ascended into heaven and sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. (Ephesians 4:8-10, Hebrews 7:27)

One day, the trumpet of heaven will sound and Jesus, the crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will descend from heaven with His angels and saints and claim victory over the devil. (Revelation 17:14, 19:16)

Jesus is more than a babe in a manger. He is the eternal, reigning Warrior King. Who will you tell? Who will you invite to live in His kingdom? 

Lord, I praise You, victorious WARRIOR and reigning King of Kings.

The Lord is always present and wants us to talk to Him through prayer. Learn to pray more purposefully through Debbie’s book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.