Debbie Taylor Williams
Which Star Are You Following?
Curious and apprehensive about who was scheduled to perform for a halftime show since some past stars had been inappropriate, I did a quick search. Watching a few minutes of one of his music videos, I was relieved that his performance appeared to be family friendly.
Today, there are many influential stars. They have fans who follow their every move, who believe what they say or write, and imitate how they dress and what they do. When they perform, their producers shine bright lights on them.
Thank goodness, there is another star, more famous than anyone. His influence is positive and remains long after other stars have come and burned out. His name is Jesus Christ and in Revelation 22:16, He announces, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Jesus is the bright morning star who outshines all others. He is the star on whom we are to set our gaze. He is the star we are to follow. His voice is the one we should listen to so often that we know His verses by heart and we hum them through the day.
So when you watch earthly stars rise and fall, be assured that Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, will shine brightly forever.
Jesus, BRIGHT MORNING STAR, there is no one more glorious than You.
Turn your gaze to the Bright and Morning Star by spending more time in His Word. Explore our Bible studies to guide you. You can purchase printed studies from our shop HERE, or access our free online Bible studies by clicking HERE.
Feeling a Little Wilted?
Have you ever walked through an unwatered garden of wilted plants? If so, you noticed there was little fruit, if any.
What a difference when you walk through a well-watered garden; one loved and tended to by the owner. Flowers and fruit abound. The garden has a fragrant aroma. The gardener has withheld nothing and has committed everything to care for the plants.
In Jeremiah 31:12 God is described as a Gardner and His people like a well-watered garden. “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.”
If you are languishing and are spiritually wilted, I understand. Life can drain us at times. But rather than stay that way, go to your Heavenly Father. Open your Bible. Soak in His words. Be refreshed by His Spirit.
BOUNTIFUL Lord, thank You that although life can be draining, I don’t have to be dry and languish. Rather, in You, I can find an ever-present supply and flow of love, joy, peace, and strength that provides bountifully for all I need. I praise You and give You thanks.
Do you make it a habit to spend time with God each day? If this is something you struggles with, 365 Days of Praise is the perfect devotional to help you deepen your time in His presence and reflect on His incredible attributes. Get your copy HERE.
Remember, “So That”
Does sin weigh you down? It does me when I sin. As long as we’re in earthly bodies, we’re going to sin. But, and this is big—because Jesus died for our sins, we’re declared righteous and we’re also called to be righteous.
In other words, we are to die to sin as 1 Peter 2:24 explains. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” Jesus bore our sin in His body “so that…”. Jesus suffered so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
One thing God convicted me about years ago was that if it is important enough for Jesus to die on the cross so sin might be removed from my life, then I should want sin removed from my life. I should despise it and turn from it.
If you’ve read my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, or have been to my P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference, you recall how we can mindfully P.R.A.Y. (praise, repent, ask, yield) in response to knowing Jesus bore our sins. Will you pray with me the following?
Lord Jesus, I praise you. Savior, who BORE MY SIN in Your body on the cross so that I might die to sin and live to righteousness. Forgive me when I fail to acknowledge how offensive my sin is to You. Quicken me to yield to You rather than sin when I’m tempted. Help me mindfully yield to Your Spirit and power.
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.
Hitch Your Wagon to the Right Star
Are you familiar with the saying, “Hitch your wagon to a star”? It’s an idiom that means “to commit to an aspirational goal or course of action that will lead to fulfillment.” [1]
One would think that people would choose to “hitch their wagon” to Creator God, who Romans 1:25 says is blessed forever. However, many people hitch themselves to other things and people. The Bible warns that there are serious consequences for rejecting Him who is Blessed Forever.
What are the consequences?
The Blessed Lord eventually gives people over to that which they have hitched themselves: over to impurity, dishonor, degrading passions, and depraved minds (Romans 1:26-31).
Creator God is Blessed. We are to hitch our lives to Him. Are we? Are we encouraging others to hitch their lives to Him? Are we explaining why it is important that they do?
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus, who are BLESSED FOREVER, help me to examine my life and release anything to which I am hitched that is not of You and therefore not blessed by You. Use me as Your instrument to point people to You, who are Blessed Forever.
Are you looking to deepen your relationship with Christ? Check out our Bible studies! You can purchase printed Bible studies in the shop by clicking HERE. You can also complete free online Bible studies by clicking HERE.
Disheartened or Confident?
Have you ever come to the conclusion that there are few people you can really trust? When we’re told one thing and then find out the person never intended to follow through on their promises, it’s disheartening. That’s why we appreciate descriptions of God like we find in Psalm 18:30, “As for God, His way is blameless.”
Once again the Bible reiterates what we need and long to hear—that we can look to and fully trust our Lord. He is blameless, which in Hebrew means “whole, entire, sound, complete, wholesome, unimpaired, having integrity, entirely in accord with truth and fact.”
Reread the definition of blameless and celebrate and praise the Lord for who He is. Confidently voice your faith in Jesus Christ. Let the integrity of the blameless Lord shine through you.
Lord, thank You that I can look to and trust You, Your Word and ways, BLAMELESS One!
Want to learn more about building your confidence and trust in God? Watch this video by Debbie.
If You’re Alone, Broken, Sick
Are you alone? Are you emotionally all over the place? Are you broken? Are you sick? Ezekiel 34:16 tells us that God is in the business of tending to the lost, the scattered, the broken, and the sick. Listen to God’s promise. “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick.”
Yes, there are times in our lives when we feel like we can’t take one more step or perhaps we can’t get through the day or night. How do we manage in those times? We remember that our Heavenly Father sees us, cares for us, and is with us. We turn to Him. We pray. We read the Bible, and are reminded of His love and guided by His truths.
God didn’t create a scattered, lost, and sick world. He created a world that was beautiful, peaceful, and perfect. All that for which our heart longs we will one day experience in His presence.
If you are struggling, begin keeping a gratitude journal of God’s faithfulness. It will encourage you, gladden your heart, and strengthen you.
Heavenly Father, Thank You that You are a God who BINDS UP the many ways I am broken and brings restoration to my soul. I love You.
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. Purchase your copy HERE.
Jaw Dropping Love
Have you noticed that hate between people seems to be in the news more than love is in the news? That’s what makes God the Father and Jesus’ love for us so jaw dropping.
Think about it for a minute. Jesus, at age 12, described the temple as the house of His Heavenly Father and in so doing claimed familial intimacy with God. At Jesus’ baptism, His Heavenly Father claimed intimacy with Him, saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). “Beloved Son” is a term that means esteemed, dear, favorite Son.
Yes, believers are sons and daughters of God. Yet when we ponder the magnitude of our Heavenly Father’s sacrifice in sending His favorite only begotten Son to die for our sins (John 3:16), and when we think of the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice when He left His Heavenly Father to come to earth to die for us, we can’t help but have profound gratitude and wonder at their love.
Heavenly Father and BELOVED SON, I praise You for Your magnanimous love, grace, and sacrifice. Thank You! I love You.
One of our key verses today is John 3:16. If you’d like to watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 3 on YouTube, click HERE. To listen to her teaching on Spotify, click HERE.
The First and Ultimate Sustainer
No doubt, we are living in what feels like very uncertain and unstable times. Our world seems to be tearing at the seams with increased lawlessness, economic and political instability, fractured families, and the list goes on. As Christians, we know we’re not supposed to give into worry and fear, but it can be a struggle not to.
What can we do when we find our minds wandering down the dark paths of worry and fear? We can redirect our focus to God’s Word and promises. Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” This verse reminds us that God is preexistent and the ultimate sustainer who holds all things together.
Yes, our world may seem like it’s falling apart, but we can trust that God is still sovereign and in control, even in times of uncertainty and chaos. If Christ is before all things, sustaining all things, then we should be encouraged to place our trust in Him. We should make Him the number one priority in our lives, knowing that He alone has the power to sustain us and grant us peace in times of instability.
Lord, I thank You that You are BEFORE ALL THINGS and in You all things hold together. I am comforted by this truth, knowing that You are the ultimate sustainer. Help me to turn to You in times of worry, fear, and uncertainty. I thank You for the peace that only You can provide.
Would you like to develop a deeper prayer life? Get a copy of Debbie’s book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, to learn how.
When You Need a Rallying Point
Do you ever feel like the world, your flesh, or the devil are bearing down on you and you need a rallying point where you can find victory over your fallen nature and temptation? If so, remember how Moses looked to the Lord as his rallying point.
When Moses held high the banner of the Lord, the Israelites were victorious over their enemies. They fought in God’s name and strength, not their own. So significant was the Lord’s presence and reason for their victory that Exodus 17:15 says, “Moses built an altar and named it, ‘The LORD is My Banner.’”
God is just as present to help us as He was to help Moses. The Lord is our banner. When we lift His name high in prayer and look to Him for strength, we find victory over our sinful nature and the enemy. We fight strength to stand against worldly influences that are counter to Christ and His ways.
The next time temptation or your old nature starts to get the best of you, lift high the Lord’s name: Victorious Warrior. Prince of Peace. Faithful. Guardian of My Soul. Praise the Lord as Moses did and continue to praise Him throughout the day.
Lord, I praise You and lift high the BANNER OF YOUR NAME – victorious One.
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!
Why Awesome Is an Important Word
A few years ago, the word “awesome” became a catchphrase for any and everything. “Can you go Monday night? Awesome!” “This meal is awesome!” “I read an awesome book!”
If you’re like many, we began to tire of hearing the overused word. However, rather than throw out the word, the Bible points us in the right direction for when to use it. For example in Genesis 28:17, the word “awesome” is used in relation to heaven, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Exodus 15:11 uses the word “awesome” in relation to God and His works, “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”
Yes, we might want to scale down on our use of “awesome” in relation to everyday events, but let’s use it often in relation to God.
I praise You, AWESOME GOD, and thank You for Your awesome works.
Our God is an awesome God, and so much more! Dive deeper into God’s Word and become better acquainted with His many attributes with the 365 Days of Praise devotional book. Purchase your copy HERE.