Debbie Taylor Williams

The other day, I was surprised to hear a popular singer refer to herself as a god. I was shocked. I wondered how the singer could so pridefully say she was god.

Then God directed me to do a little self-examination rather than be critical of her. Although the musician might say she’s god, do I ever go about my day and act like I am? Oh, I would never intentionally do that. But do I ever do what I want instead of what the Bible teaches? Do I ever place my desires above those of Jesus? Am I ever more focused on my interests than Christ’s?

God put a check on my critical spirit and used the moment to lead me to ask God’s forgiveness. What about you? Could you use a prayer to ask God to forgive you for something?

If so, God’s arms are open wide, as 1 John 1:9 reminds us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I’m tired! I’m tired of work. I’m tired of the tension in my life. I’m tired of struggling. I’m tired of taking care of…. How would you finish the sentence? God understands. He gets it.

The Bible makes a point that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. One of the Ten Commandments is to keep the Sabbath Day as a holy day and to not work on it. 

Jesus’ work of gaining our salvation on the cross resulted in our not working for salvation but rather resting in what Christ accomplished on the cross.

God cares about you being weary. We will one day enter God’s ultimate provision of His presence—an eternal Sabbath rest. Until then, we can thank God that life won’t always be so hard. We can thank Jesus for paving the way for our future rest. And, we can prayerfully ponder and walk daily in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Yes, as promised, “…there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:9-10). 

Lord, thank You for the SABBATH REST I have in You for eternity. Thank You that I can come to You every day and learn from You and find rest for my soul.  

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

Here in the United States, presidential election seasons are often marked by tension and divisive rhetoric among politicians, citizens, and the mainstream media. There’s often a sense of uncertainty as voters anticipate the changes that will come with the next elected president. If you live in another country, you can probably relate to the feelings of insecurity that may arise from a change in leadership. However, we must remember not to place our trust, confidence, or hope in earthly kings or presidents. Instead, we should look to Jesus, the supreme ruler and authority over all the kings of the earth.

Revelation 1:5 says, “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” This verse reminds us that Jesus is the ruler over all earthly authority. Instead of placing our trust in mere humans, we can look heavenward in confidence to the King of kings who reigns with justice and mercy. 

While Jesus is presently sovereign and ruling over all earthly authority, we will one day see Him reigning visibly over the earth. 

The Bible says that the current Heaven and earth will one day be replaced with a new Heaven and earth. Jesus will dwell with His people during that time and we will see Him, the glorious Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, reigning in majesty. (Revelation 21:1-4).

Lord Jesus Christ, what a wonderful blessing to know that this world is not spinning out of control. You are the enthroned, RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, who we will one day see in person, worship, and adore. 

Debbie’s Hope for the Cancer+ Journey Podcast is now live! If you or someone you love is battling cancer, tune in for faith, encouragement, practical help, and stories from people who understand the journey. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, YouTube, Debbie’s website, or OnePlace.

Are you concerned about people’s shifting views about the Bible and Jesus? If so, remember that Jesus is who He says He is and you are doing the right thing by building your life on Him and His Word. As a matter of fact, Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27 that you are wise.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Notice that both men experienced the same conditions—rain, floods, and wind slamming against their house. But only one house stood. 

Our nation and world are experiencing literal and figurative floods and winds. If you are a Christian, you will stand, not fall, because your life is built on Christ. If you are not a Christian, now is the opportunity to respond to Christ’s invitation to be saved and build your life on Him. Are we wise? Are we building our life on the Rock of our Salvation? 

Lord Jesus, I worship You, ROCK OF SALVATION. Thank You for the assurance You give me that I will stand, not fall, because my life is built on You.

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Have you ever had a conversation start out one way and then, before you knew it, either you weren’t explaining your point clearly or the other person wasn’t hearing it in the way you meant?

That happened to me the other day. I was complimenting someone, then somehow the conversation went south. They thought I was saying something I didn’t intend to say. It’s easy to misunderstand one another because we come from different backgrounds and hear from different points of view.

One thing our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to misunderstand is how much He loves us. If it’s been a while since you’ve heard the words in John 3:16, let them soak into your heart and mind today. “God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have eternal life.”

Those are good words. God couldn’t state His love for us more clearly.

Do you think God expects you to be a superman or superwoman? Here’s some good news. God doesn’t expect us to keep going and going without rest. God doesn’t expect us to be like the Energizer Bunny. He knows that we will become depleted and that we need restoration.

Physically, we may need to adjust the amount of time we sleep each night, remembering that it was God who created night and who rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:2) We may need to follow Jesus’s example of taking a nap. (Matthew 8:24)

In addition, it’s important to remember that God created us as more than physical beings. We have a soul that can also become spiritually weary and in need of renewal. David speaks to this in Psalm 19:7: “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” David reminds us that spending time in God’s presence through reading His Word brings restoration to our souls. He repeats the importance of looking to God for soul restoration in Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul.”

Sure, Red Bull and other caffeinated drinks may give a temporary kick or burst of energy. But, it’s the daily refreshment in God’s presence that provides ongoing restoration to our souls. When your battery is running low, go into God’s presence, quiet your heart before Him, think about His glory and magnificence demonstrated through creation and His faithfulness to you in the past. Pray, talk to Jesus about what’s on your overloaded heart and mind. Be still and quiet. Listen for His voice, perhaps guiding you regarding your commitments. Listen to His voice of encouragement, “I am with you. I will help and strengthen you.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Lord, I praise You, the RESTORER of my soul.

Would you like an organized way to record what God is speaking to you as you spend time in His presence? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to write down what God places on your heart.

Last year, I planted flowers in a pot outside of our garage. The flowers bloomed all summer but died when it got cold. I pulled them up, thinking they were annuals that needed to be replanted every year.

The following year, I was shocked to see tiny green shoots pushing their way through the soil in the pot. I was glad I hadn’t uprooted all of them. What amazed me, though, were two tiny green leaves pushing their way through the gravel several feet away.

Even though they had no rich soil, they made a way, defied all odds, and eventually bloomed. They’ve given me more pleasure than the ones blooming in the pot. I notice them more because their flowery display shows more grandly against the gravel.

Are you like the flowers in the gravel? Going it alone and not under the best conditions? If so, hang in there. Your heavenly Father has His eye on you, as we’re reminded in Psalm 33:13. Keep reaching for the sky and blooming right where you are.

Would you agree that the news can sometimes leave you feeling unsettled and discouraged regarding the state of our world?

While it is true that darkness often surrounds us, it is also true that we can be encouraged and find hope in God, whom Psalm 76:4 describes as luminous. Or, as the psalmist states, “God is resplendent.” 

Think about the word “resplendent.” It doesn’t just refer to a physical quality. It encompasses much more. It refers to God’s magnificence and glory that are beyond comparison. 

Where can we bask in His resplendence? The Bible. We can read the Psalms. 

We can look up at the glory of the heavens.

We can meditate on God’s attributes. 

Rather than despair in the hopelessness and discouragement of the world, spend time “sunbathing” in God’s Light. 

Lord, You are RESPLENDENT! Illumine my life with Your glory. 

Download this free printable featuring the attributes of Jesus from the book of John. As you reflect on each one, bask in God’s resplendence by praising Him!

Are you a zoomer or a wanderer at the grocery store? Have you ever noticed that there are two types of people at the grocery store?

First, there’s the zoomer. They know what they want, where it is, and are in a fast dash to get in and get out.

Second, there’s the wanderer. They’re not sure what they want, and they slowly push their cart around from one side of the aisle to the other at a snail’s pace.

Which are you? Which is better? The fact is, our world needs both slow- and fast-paced people. God created each of us as unique individuals.

Instead of being critical of people who are different from us, Romans 12:10 tells us to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love; to give preference to one another in honor.” That’s a good reminder whether we’re at the grocery store or anywhere else.

Are you a bird watcher? My friend, Janice, loves bird watching and can tell you about a variety of birds. I know a cardinal from a hummingbird, but you might not want to test me past that.

The amazing thing about birds is they build nests and eat, but as Jesus points out, they don’t sow seeds or gather grain into barns to sustain themselves. Why did Jesus get on the subject of birds in Matthew 6:25-27 when He was giving a sermon?

The people He was speaking to were worried about what they were going to eat and what they were going to wear. Jesus comforted them that just as God takes care of the birds, He’ll take care of us.

The next time you start to worry, look at the birds and remember Jesus’s words. You are far more valuable than the birds. Your Heavenly Father will take care of you.