Debbie Taylor Williams

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.

Have you ever thought, “I can’t believe I said that,” or “Why did I do that?” after saying or doing something you regretted and knew was wrong? Do you ever feel frustrated with your own sinful nature? I’m sure we’ve all been there. But here’s the good news—there is One who can purify us of our sins, and that One is Jesus. 

Hebrews 1:3 says, “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Jesus did what we could never do for ourselves. He became the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be purified and reconciled to God. Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice because He Himself is pure and without sin. One who is not pure cannot make another pure, but One who is pure can purify us. 

How do we receive Christ’s purification for our sins? First John 1:7 says, “…if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and walk in His ways, we are cleansed from our sins and made right with God. Oh, what a great and glorious work our Savior has done. He has purified us from our sins!

Lord Jesus, PURIFIER, thank You for Your sacrifice for my sins. I love, adore, and praise You!

Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify!

Would you like to be more prosperous? When you think of being prosperous, what comes to mind? 

Most of us probably equate prosperity with material wealth. However, there is another kind of prosperity which Jesus demonstrated and Isaiah 52:13 points out. “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13).

Isaiah says Jesus would be prosperous? Was He? In what way?

The word “prosper,” which is used in Isaiah 52:13, is translated from a word that means “successful.” Was Jesus successful? Yes. Although at times it appeared He was anything but successful or prospering, He was. He wonderfully fulfilled God’s will as no one else could have and secured our salvation for eternity in heaven. 

Jesus was successful because He was obedient to the will of God. His success story involved humility and suffering rather than wielding His power and authority. Jesus prospered, in fact, by making Himself nothing, by taking on the very nature of a servant, by becoming obedient to death on a cross. The result? God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:7-11). 

Yes, when you think of Jesus, think of Him prospering, succeeding on your behalf. 

Lord Jesus, PROSPEROUS ONE, I praise You. Thank You for successfully securing my salvation and a place with You for all eternity.

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The other morning, I looked out my window and saw a brush fire not far from our house. Orange flames and grey smoke rose to the sky. Then, with relief, I noticed my neighbor’s truck. Several men were tending to a fire, watching over it as it burned cedar.

You know, anger is a lot like fire. It’s not necessarily wrong if it’s righteous anger. For instance, the Bible tells us that God is at times righteously angry. Ephesians 4:26 tells us to be angry, but to not sin. Why? Because if we don’t deal with anger in the right way, the Bible says it gives the devil an opportunity in our lives.

Okay, so you may not believe in the devil, but Genesis to Revelation speaks of him, exposing him as an evil and powerful reality. Our anger, like fire, can be used purposefully or, if left unchecked, can damage our lives and others. Learn more about what to do with anger at debbietaylorwilliams.com.

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 me from sin and PRESERVE my soul for eternity. I love You and thank You.

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¹ “Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update (Chicago: Moody Press, 2008).