Debbie Taylor Williams

Quick question: Have you ever been ungrateful? Have you ever needed a loan? Have you ever been wrongly judged? Have you ever crossed the line or done something really bad? 

That was more than one question, wasn’t it? But they all point to topics that Jesus addressed prior to His statement in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  

That’s something to think about, isn’t it? 

Our Heavenly Father is merciful to us. 

Now He says that we’re to show mercy to others. That’s a good reminder for me. Is it for you? Why not record a list of ways God has shown mercy to you, then thank Him for each one and consider how you might show mercy to someone.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being MERCIFUL to me each and every day. Fill me with Your Spirit of mercy towards others.

Would you like an organized way to record you prayers and praises? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal.

Do you ever wonder, “Why bother praising God?” If so, Isaiah 40:21-22; 25 explain why.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in” 

“‘To whom then will you liken Me, that I would be his equal?’ says the Holy One.”

God makes it clear that no one is equal to Him. He calls us to lift up our eyes and see the heavens He created as evidence of His power and glory. 

What does this mean for us? 

It means the God we worship is unequalled. He is before all things and above all things. Nothing is too difficult for God. We can and should look to Him in holy reverence, bow before Him, and offer Him our lives to use in whatever way He chooses for His glory. 

Lord, I worship and praise You who are UNEQUALED. There is no one like You. You are wise and powerful beyond my imagination. To think that You care for me is beyond comprehension. Thank You for loving me, saving me, and preparing a place for me to be with You for eternity. I love You!

Go deeper into God’s Word with one of Debbie’s Bible studies. You can purchase printed Bible studies in our shop by clicking HERE. You can also complete free online Bible studies by clicking HERE.

During this holiday season, is your heart filled with gratitude? Or do you feel like a deflated balloon because some things for which you’d hoped didn’t happen? 

Most people agree that life can be hard. In addition, as believers we can feel deflated because we failed to live up to our expectations of how we should behave or speak as a believer.  

Some time ago someone said to me, “The only good I have is because I’m a Christian.” 

What did they mean? They were saying that Christ is the “goodness” in their life. He is, in fact, what makes us good. 

Hebrews 7:26 uses the word “undefiled” to describe Christ because He is more than good. Jesus is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” In other words, Christ is more than a good prophet. He is the high priest of heaven who saves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is. 

No matter the circumstances you are facing today, your Savior is facing them with you. This day will pass. Christ’s goodness and presence with you will never pass. For that, you can be thankful. 

Lord Jesus, UNDEFILED Savior, I love and praise You, the goodness in my life, my salvation. I am grateful for and love You.

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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.

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.

Access to information has increased exponentially the last few years. We can speak into our smartphones, ask a question, and get the answer to almost any question. However, not even the most sophisticated piece of equipment or brilliant person can comprehend God and His ways, as Romans 11:33 states. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

The word “unfathomable” that describes God’s ways is the Greek word anexichniastos and means “cannot be searched out, cannot be comprehended.” It is used in reference to not only His ways but also in Ephesians 3:8 to the unfathomable riches of Christ.

Although Christians know that God’s ways are unfathomable and cannot be comprehended, we can sometimes forget and question why He doesn’t answer our prayers in a certain way. 

When that happens, we can rest in the knowledge that God is good, loving, compassionate, and faithful (Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalm 145:9). We can remember that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We can place our trust in Him.

LORD, I praise You. You and Your ways are UNFATHOMABLE. I cannot begin to comprehend You or Your ways. May I never forget Your love and compassion. Increase my trust in You and help me rest in the knowledge that Your ways are higher than my ways. 

Are you facing disappointment or struggling with unmet expectations? Get a copy of The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World to discover how to take charge of your thoughts and let God reignite your hopes and dreams.

We are living in a time when deception abounds. The world promotes truth as subjective instead of an objective reality grounded in facts. As Christians, we should not be surprised or caught off guard by this. The Bible warns of deception, especially in the last days (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:1). 

How can we avoid falling prey to the lies and deception of this world? We can look to Jesus, the embodiment of truth. Jesus declared in John 14:6, …”’I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'”

Jesus is the ultimate reality and truth. To discern the things that don’t align with Him, we must stay anchored in His Word and in prayer. 

In a world that is filled with deceit, isn’t it a blessing that the One to whom we’re entrusting our lives is the truth? With whom do we need to share the good news?

Lord Jesus, we praise You, the TRUTH and the way to the Father!

Want to learn more about understanding the times in which we live and discerning the truth? Check out these resources to get started: End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do  and Contend Earnestly for the Faith Jude Bible Study.You can also access the free online accompanying videos HERE. 

Have you ever felt disturbed or shaken by circumstances in your life or the world around you? Maybe you were blindsided by the death of a loved one, a sudden job loss, or a diagnosis. Perhaps the everyday stressors and pressures of life, combined with what seems like dire conditions in the world, have left you feeling unsettled. Where can we turn in times of uncertainty and instability? We can look to the Lord. 

Isaiah 33:5-6 says, “The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.” 

At the time Isaiah spoke these words, God’s people were facing a serious threat from a treacherous nation and enemy who was bringing about unprovoked destruction. This threat and devastation caused God’s people to feel unstable and terrified. However, Isaiah declared that the Lord would be their stability. He would provide salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. 

Just as the Lord was the Israelites’ stability, He is also the stability of our times. He is the firm foundation on which we can stand in times of uncertainty, trouble, loss, and devastation. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we’re immune to trials and troubles in this life. Christ suffered while on earth. However, we can rest assured that if we look to God in obedience and reverence, He will stabilize us with His salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. 

Lord, You are the STABILITY OF OUR TIMES. Thank You that I can look to You as my firm foundation when I feel shaken by my circumstances or the world around me. Help me fully trust You and walk in obedience to Your teachings. 

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Do you feel under fire by a barrage of personal, financial, physical, spiritual, or other attacks? Have you attempted to shield yourself or your loved ones with your own efforts or things other than the Lord? Although your efforts may be well intentioned, the Lord is the ultimate, impenetrable shield. Any shield other than the Lord will fail to protect the mind, emotions, and hearts of you or your loved ones.^[1]

Jesus hasn’t left you alone to suffer through life’s trials by yourself. You can cover yourself with His love and truth.^[2]  You can call to your Heavenly Father, who David describes in Psalm 3:3 as a shield about him. You can put on the spiritual armor that He’s given you so that you can resist evil and stand firm (Ephesians 6:13). 

If your shield of faith is down, take it and hold it up. You can do this by taking “up” your Bible and taking God “up” on His Word. Soak your mind and heart in His Word and let it speak to and strengthen your soul (Psalm 119:97-98, 110-111, 114). ^[3] 

Lord, thank You for being a SHIELD about me. Help me stay under the protection of Your divine armor and Word.

Want to learn more about living a victorious Christian life? Watch Debbie’s teaching on Acts 28: The 7 Characteristics of People Who Are More than Conquerors. 

Have you ever been built up or torn down by someone’s words? No doubt, people’s words have an impact on our lives. So do Christ’s words. 

In Isaiah 49:2, the words of the “Servant of the Lord,” who is understood to be Jesus, are compared to a sharp sword. “He has made My mouth like a sharp sword,…;”

The imagery of Jesus’ words being like a sharp sword is also found in other places in the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 

Jesus’ Words are like a sharp sword in that they cut straight to the heart, to our thoughts and intentions.

Jesus’ Word is also a sharp sword in the believer’s defense against sin and the enemy (Psalm 119:11, Ephesians 6:10-17). 

As believers, do we use the power and authority of God’s Word to transform us? Do we delight in His Word? (Psalm 1:1-3)? Are we doers of His Word (James 1:23-25)?  Christ, His Word, a sharp sword, is vital to our lives. 

Lord, I praise You, a SHARP SWORD. Transform me according to Your living and active Word. 

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