Debbie Taylor Williams
If You’re Drowning In….
Have you ever thought of God as being a Life Preserver? Psalm 116:6 describes Him that way. “The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.” The word “preserve” in this verse means to save a life. No doubt Jesus fits the description. He rescues those who are drowning in sin when they call on Him for salvation.
We understand the need for someone to save us from raging waters. Do we understand the need for Jesus to save us from raging sin? We understand the need to be saved from physical death. Do we understand the need to be saved from spiritual death?
Jesus, You are the only One who can rescue us from sin and PRESERVE our soul for eternity. We call to You.
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When You Can’t Seem to Please Anyone
Do you ever feel like you can’t please anyone? Or at least, you can’t please someone you want to please? Maybe it’s a co-worker, spouse, parent, child, or friend. You do your best, but it seems they’re never satisfied.
Trying to please people who are never pleased can cause us to feel defeated and drained. Unless we keep in mind that we can’t please everybody, and we focus on pleasing the most important person – our Heavenly Father. Jesus models doing that even when others were disappointed in Him. For instance, the disciples were no doubt shockingly disappointed when Jesus didn’t resist being crucified. Martha and Mary were disappointed when Jesus delayed coming to their sick brother’s side. John 8:29 explains Jesus’s position. “He (the Father) who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” No, we can’t always please others. But we can follow Christ’s example of pleasing our Heavenly Father.
Following are some of the ways Jesus pleased the Father. Which are you already doing? Which do you want to begin doing?
- Jesus used Scripture to stand against Satan’s temptations. We can do that.
- Jesus shared His Father’s kingdom principles, how to be forgiven, and how to be saved. We can do that.
- Jesus was sensitive to others and reached out to them. We can do that.
- Jesus looked up in prayer and thanked His Father for hearing Him. We can do that.
- Jesus prayed before He made decisions. We can do that.
- Jesus followed His Father’s leading rather than doing things on His own initiative. We can do that.
Heavenly Father, as Jesus was PLEASING to You, help us please You.
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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 he 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.
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 Your Soul. Build an altar of praise to the Lord as Moses did. Return to the altar of praise throughout the day and praise God.
LORD, we praise You and lift high the BANNER OF YOUR NAME – victorious One.
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Rethinking to Whom and What We Bow
As we have studied, there are times when God announces, “This is who I am. This is my name.” Such is the case in Isaiah 42:8 when God announced, “I am the LORD, that is My name”
He continues in the same breath, explaining what it means that His name is LORD. He states He will not give His glory to another.
What does He mean? He means we are to praise Him and Him alone.
His announcement should cause us to think about our lives and if we are giving praise to anything or anyone besides Him.
In other words, are we making anything or anyone besides God the priority of our lives? If we are, then we must bow before the LORD, repent, and profess Him as LORD. We must realign our lives so they are a praise to Him. Is ours?
Heavenly Father, Lord God Almighty, You alone are LORD. Forgive me for putting anything or anyone before You. I bow in humble reverence and praise before You.
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Who Is Your Spirit Guide?
When you were a child, did you play “follow the leader”? If so, you probably remember how important it was to do what the leader did. If they placed their hand on their head, you were supposed to place your hand on your head. If they touched their toes, you were supposed to touch your toes. In order to follow, you had to keep your eye on the leader. You had to pay attention to the leader’s words. In Isaiah 48:17 God explains something that is not child’s play. Rather, it’s an incredible offer by our Spirit guide and leader from on high. He says,
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.”
Many people seek a human guide, palm reader, or turn to Tarot cards for direction. Yet they are mere human instruments. God freely offers Himself, His Holy Spirit, to lead us. How closely are we listening to Him? How well are we following His lead?
God, You are our LEADER! What a blessing to follow You!
Have you ordered a copy of Debbie’s newly published book, From My Heart, Poems of Faith? Within the pages, Debbie beautifully records her thoughts and prayers through the following sections: “Prayers to the Father,” “Poems of Faith,” and “Poems to Encourage.” As you read through each poem, you’ll find words of hope, comfort, and encouragement that deeply resonate with your heart. Grab a copy HERE.
It’s a Head Thing
I recently heard a television anchor report on a well-known religious leader whose viewpoint on a moral issue was contrary to the Bible. She then invited viewers to weigh in. “Let us know what you think. You can Twitter if you agree or disagree.” As she continued with the next story, my mind lingered on her words. Does she not know that our opinion or even religious leaders’ opinions are not what matters, but rather Jesus’ stance?
In Ephesians 1:22, Paul clearly states, “And He (our Heavenly Father) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus’) feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.”
We have seen in Scripture how Jesus is head of man, head of the church, head over all rule and authority. Paul now with a broad sweep of his pen summarizes that Jesus is head over all things.
It concerns me when churches and denominations vote their opinion rather than stand with Biblical teachings. Does it concern you, too?
LORD JESUS, HEAD OVER ALL THINGS, we confess our nation is drifting from You. Yet, some churches are also drifting from You and following cultural trends. Raise up strong, committed Christians who speak truth as recorded in Your Word and submit to You as being HEAD OVER ALL THINGS.
Do you ever wonder if we’re in the end times? Would you like to learn more about the signs of the end times? Grab a copy of End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do Bible Study HERE. Access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.
Hard Work, No Joy
Have you ever worked hard for what you thought was for Christ but you experienced little joy? As a matter of fact, you felt agitated as you worked? If and when that happens, it helps to step back and consider if what we’re doing is an assignment from Christ and if we’re doing it in His power. Or, are we doing something we decided was a good idea and we’re pushing through in our own strength.
Why is this important? Just as Christ is the head of every man, 1 Corinthians 11:3, He is Head of the church, His body, which he metaphorically describes in 1 Corinthians 12 as some members being the eye and some the feet.
Writing to the church in Colossians 1:18, Paul states Christ is “head of the body, the church, and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”
Christ is the head of every man. Christ is the head of the church.
When we do the work Christ assigns us it may be challenging and difficult, but we will also experience Christ’s joy. Matthew 25:23
How joyful are you in your service to the Lord?
Lord Jesus, we praise You, HEAD OF THE CHURCH and life of the body of believers. May our words and actions be an extension of Your will, strength, and power.
Would you like to better be able to discern the voice of the Lord to ensure that you’re walking in His will? Listen to Debbie’s teaching, “How to Discern the Voice of God,” on Podbean or YouTube.
Have You Ever Wished You Had Someone to Watch Your Back
Have you ever wished you had someone to watch your back? Or, better, to watch over your soul – your mind, emotions, and will? The fact is, believers have that person in Jesus. First Peter 2:25 tells us “…you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
Think about Peter’s description of our Lord: Guardian of Your Soul.
When doing research for my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, I discovered that the word “guardian” is translated from the Greek word episkopos and means an “overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things done by another are done rightly.” What a blessing for us to have God as the overseer of our souls.
God assumes responsibility for being the Guardian of our Soul, but it is our responsibility to follow what He tells us to in the Bible and at the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
Begin each day lifting up your soul to the Lord, praying as the psalmist, “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul,” Psalm 145:8.
Then, ask the Holy Spirit to fill your soul. Read His Word, the Bible, that will guard your soul. Journal His Word. Pay attention to and follow how the Guardian of your Soul leads you.
LORD, I praise You, GUARDIAN of My Soul. Help me be increasingly sensitive to Your Word and voice.
One of our key verses today is 1 Peter 2:25. To watch Debbie’s teaching on all of 1 Peter 2, click HERE. You can also check out her 1 Peter Bible study, “Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos” HERE. The study includes free accompanying videos and podcasts. You can access them by going to “Bible Studies” in the main menu or by clicking HERE.
Better than Bootstraps
Do you feel hopeless? Has the last bit of hope to which you’ve clung just flown out the window? Does your future seem bleak and although you’ve tried to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” as the saying goes, it hasn’t worked?
The good news is, if you’re a Christian, you have every reason to ditch thoughts of hopelessness. Why? You know the GOD OF HOPE. Not only do you know Him, He has promised to always be with you. What’s more, He’s not only with you, He’s in you.
Romans 15:13 helps us understand what we need to do when we feel hopeless. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Paul points out that what we need is for the Holy Spirit, the God of Hope, to fill us. We need Him who is joy and peace and power to consume our very being. What is our part? Believing.
In other words, our hope is not based on luck, our ability to make things happen, or what another person does or says. It’s not even a question of if we have hope. If we’re a believer, we have hope in the Holy Spirit as Romans 15:13 points out. “Now may the God of hope…” “Fill you…” is the key.
When we are down, we must ask ourselves, “Am I allowing the GOD OF HOPE to fill me with His joy and peace?”
You can experience hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Believe God is on the throne and that He sees you and loves you. In faith, pray, “GOD OF HOPE, fill me with the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit.”
GOD OF HOPE, thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit so we can abound in hope by Your power. We love and adore You.
Praise is a powerful weapon we can use to turn around feelings of hopelessness or discouragement. Download this free printable of the attributes of Jesus from the book of John. As you read through them, praise God for each one!
Exalted
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. 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.”
“The Lord is exalted in the earth and also above the heaven and earth,” Psalm 148:13.
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, we praise You, bless Your glorious name, and thank You for regarding us.
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