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 and going without rest. God doesn’t expect us to be like an energizer bunny. He knows that we will become depleted and that we need restoration.

Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” 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, find your Bible. You’ll experience the restoration for which you long in God’s presence.

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.

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!

Debbie will be teaching an 8-week series on the book of James beginning September 17. Learn more and register HERE.

Can’t make it in person? We’ve got you covered. Debbie’s teachings will also be available on her YouTube channel. Click HERE to subscribe and get notified of new teachings.

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!

There’s still time to sign up for the James Bible study beginning September 17. Click HERE to learn more and register. If you can’t attend in person, the teachings will also be available on YouTube. Go HERE to subscribe to Debbie’s channel so you don’t miss the James study and future Bible studies. 

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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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.

Stay in the know about upcoming events! Visit the “Upcoming Events” section on our website to see upcoming women’s Bible studies, conferences, and retreats.

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

Are you a builder? If so, you know how important the cornerstone is when constructing the foundation of a building. Just as a cornerstone is necessary for a strong foundation, Jesus is the necessary foundation for our Christian faith as 1 Peter 2:6 points out. “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in Him (Jesus) will not be disappointed.”

Did you catch that? We will not be disappointed if we build our lives on Jesus. 

In addition, Peter uses the word “precious” in his description of Jesus as the cornerstone; meaning “honorable, noble.” Our faith is built on not only a firm, excellent foundation, but on the Father’s noble, honorable Son. 

Your faith is of great value. It is built on the precious cornerstone of Jesus, and as Peter writes, you will not be disappointed. Yes, we will experience disappointments on this side of heaven, but get ready. Get ready for what? The revelation of Jesus, the precious cornerstone of your faith, when you see Him one day in heaven. 

Lord Jesus, You are the PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE of my faith. I love You. I adore You. I am not disappointed, but rather enthralled with You. Thank You for the incredible, eternal blessing of being able to build my life on You. May others see my relationship with You and be drawn to also build their lives on You. 

Happy Labor Day! Find rest and renewal in God’s presence today by spending time in His Word. Use one of our free online Bible studies to guide you in your study.

Ladies, are you ready to be encouraged and challenged by God’s Word? Beginning September 17, we’ll study the book of James together in the 8-week Joy of Living series. Each week, women will meet in small groups to share insights from Scripture and then hear practical and faith-building teaching from Debbie Taylor Williams. Childcare is available Wednesday mornings (by reservation) and Thursday evenings (by voucher). Learn more and register today by clicking HERE.

“I’m so busy.” “There never seem to be enough hours in the day.” 

Can you relate? Do you know who else can? Jesus. During His earthly ministry, Jesus traveled to different regions sharing the good news, ministering to crowds, shepherding His disciples, and healing the sick. However, regardless of how full His day, He was intentional about His prayer time with God. “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there” (Mark 1:35). 

Not only did Jesus spend time with God in prayer, but did you notice it said He went to a secluded place? In other words, in addition to praying with people, Jesus also prioritized time alone with God. Jesus teaches His followers to spend time alone in prayer. “…when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6a). 

Prioritizing prayer like Jesus did—in the early morning, alone with God, to tell Him your needs and to listen to Him are important.

Jesus knew that prayer was necessary. It is the way we stay connected to our Heavenly Father, abide in Him, and do His will. It is the key to bearing His fruit through our lives (John 15:1-8). 

How faithfully do you prioritize praying first thing in the morning? How faithfully do you meet alone with your Heavenly Father?

Jesus, thank you for showing me what it means to be PRAYERFUL. Help me prioritize spending time alone with You and the Father in prayer. 

Learn to seek God in prayer through Debbie’s book, Pray With Purpose, Live With Passion. Purchase your copy HERE.

Trying to please people who are difficult to please can cause us to feel defeated and drained. However, it helps if we place our primary focus on pleasing the One who is most important – our Heavenly Father. Jesus models doing that even when others were disappointed in Him. For instance, no doubt the disciples were disappointed when Jesus didn’t resist being crucified. Martha and Mary were disappointed when Jesus delayed coming to their sick brother’s side. Jesus explains His actions in John 8:29. “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 ways Jesus pleased the Father. Which are you doing? Which might you begin to do?

• 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 reached out to people; to help 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 me be pleasing to You.

Looking for some more resources to deepen your relationship with God? Click HERE to check out the books and Bible studies written by Debbie. You can also access free online Bible studies by clicking HERE. 

Many of us today seek peace. We may watch a movie or scroll through social media to distract us from anxious thoughts. We may pursue financial security, hoping money will bring peace. 

Although pursuing things in search of peace may not be bad in and of itself, it’s important to recognize the source of true peace, which Judges 6:24 explains is the Lord. “Gideon built an altar to the Lord and named it ‘The Lord is Peace.’” 

The Lord is Peace. Jesus affirmed this before His ascension into heaven. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). The peace Jesus promised wasn’t just for the disciples, but for us. Jesus understood the troubles and trials of life. But in the midst of them, He gives peace that supersedes what the world offers. I came to know this peace when I was 29 years old and received a letter from MD Anderson telling me that I had Stage 1 ovarian cancer. I experienced it again in 2024 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and went through chemo, a lobectomy, and radiation treatments into 2025. Even now, as I take a daily pill that targets the gene that caused my cancer, I continue to rest in Christ’s peace. As I cried out to God, He assured me that He would be with me, my husband, children, and grandchildren. If I died, He would take care of them and I would be in heaven with Him. Jesus’ peace flooded my soul. 

Do you know His peace? Do you practice and experience Philippians 4:6-7 “…be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you don’t know the peace Jesus offers, cry out to Him today. Proclaim as Gideon did, “The Lord is Peace.”

Lord, thank You for the PEACE You give that is not of this world. 

If you or a loved one are walking through cancer or another difficult season, we invite you to visit Hope for the Cancer+ Journey. There you’ll find encouraging resources, uplifting music, and reminders of God’s presence to help you experience His peace day by day.