Debbie Taylor Williams
When What You Want is Different from What God Wants
Friends, I’m so honored to be asked to be a contributor to The Christian Post. Please take a glance and pray readers take it to heart.
There are times we’re called to do something we’d prefer not to do it. Perhaps for you, it’s a medical procedure. For a tired mom, it may be changing another diaper. A worker may wish they could stay in bed rather than go to work. Then, there are those excruciatingly painful occasions when we may be called to help with an intervention, or change the lock on a door to keep an abusive person out of the home. But, only one person has known the great sacrifice of dying on the cross so mankind could be saved. Jesus asked His Father for a way other than the cross, but when it was the only way, submitted His will to His Father. Is there something you don’t want to do or perhaps want to do that is contrary to God’s will? What will you do…what your Heavenly Father asks of you or what you prefer to do?
Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling being submissive to the Father’s will for the ultimate good of all. We love and praise You.
“He went a little beyond them and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’” Matthew 26:39
Are You Poor or Wealthy
Many times our search for wealth comes up short. Have you found that to be true? The all powerful dollar is held before us as the “end all” we should seek, but Jesus tells us the opposite; that we’re to lay up treasure in heaven. The wealth that should be our goal is best summed up in Isaiah 33:6. Listen to how Isaiah describes the Lord in terms of wealth. “And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” So the question is, are you poor or wealthy? God’s estimation is that if you have Him, you have a wealth of salvation and a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we lived like paupers when we have a treasure in the Lord?
Lord, You are a WEALTH of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Thank You for all we have in You!
FIND MORE encouragement HERE. Record God’s daily descriptions in Prayers of My Heart.
Just You Wait and See
Things aren’t always as they appear. Just you wait and see. For instance, Jesus had no earthly possessions, wasn’t married, and when arrested, His friends abandoned Him. He was lied about, mocked, and beaten almost to death. Mark 14:61 records the high priest questioning Him prior to crucifying Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” How incongruous. Blessed? Yet, Jesus was and is the Son of the Blessed One. So, when we think about our lives or circumstances, they may not seem to add up to “blessed child of God” or “bride of Christ.” But that is who we are. Things aren’t always as they seem. Just you wait and see.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON of the BLESSED ONE, and for the blessings You’ve promised us.
“Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” Mark 14:61
We Want Proof and We Have It
The world is sickened and in shock by the horrifying confirmation that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who walked into a Saudi consulate on October 2, has been confirmed dead after being tortured. Can you, would you, expect to see him walking around and eating with his friends after confirmation of his tragic death? No, of course not. Does that help you in any way better grasp why people didn’t believe that Jesus was alive after they witnessed His torturous scourging and merciless crucifixion? Matthew 28:6 gives the shocking angelic announcement of Jesus’s resurrection to Mary as she stood outside Jesus’s empty tomb. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” In addition to Mary and the disciples, more than 500 eye witnesses saw the Risen Christ. The grave couldn’t hold Jesus because He is life. He breathes His eternal life into each person who acknowledges they are a sinner and asks forgiveness in the RISEN ONE’s name.
RISEN LORD, we celebrate Your victory over death and worship You.
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6
When You’re Devastated by the Separation, Take His Hand
Have you ever been separated from someone and you desperately wanted to be with them? Whether the separation is due to death, divorce, disease, distance, or destruction such as a weather related tragedy like Hurricane Michael, the pain of not being able to reach a loved one is indescribable. “Indescribable.” That’s a word victims and survivors use when trying to explain their loss, suffering, and sadness. Jesus understands such depth of emotion. He loves us and created us to live in union with Him. Indescribable love drove Him from heaven’s glory to earth to seek and save us. Jesus, separated from sinners by unimaginable holiness, crossed the chasm separating heaven’s glory to earth’s despair to offer His holy hand of redemption. Will we take His hand?
Lord, we praise You, who are SEPARATED from SINNERS, yet humbled Yourself to come to earth to save us.
“it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;” Hebrews 7:26.
Prayers of My Heart Journal – Record God’s character traits each day as you praise Him for His great love.
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When You’re Concerned About Shifting Views
UPDATE: Thank you for your prayers for the Indianapolis P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference! It was a blessing and YOU are a blessing to partner with me with your prayers and support.
Are you concerned about shifting views about the Bible and Jesus Christ? If so, take comfort. Jesus is who He says He is – the solid Rock truth and Savior. We can build our lives on Him and His Word. As a matter of fact, in Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says we’re wise if we do. Listen to His counsel. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Yes, friend, we are wise to build our lives on Jesus, the solid Rock.
“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.”
When Your Title and Circumstances Don’t Match
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When you think of blessings, what comes to mind? Most likely good, positive things: family, supportive friends, peace, financial security. Does Jesus’s title in Mark 14:61, ”Son of the Blessed One,” seem an apt description for Jesus as He stood before the high priest: beaten, abandoned by friends, no earthly possessions, and betrayed? I think we’d agree that Jesus’s title and His circumstances at that time didn’t appear to match. Could it be a message to us that things aren’t always as they appear? Perhaps we should take a look beyond today’s difficult circumstances to the title God has given us – bride of Christ; knowing we’ll experience the full blessings of our God given title in heaven.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON of the BLESSED ONE, and for the blessing of being His bride.
“Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” Mark 14:61
Does Your Battery Need Charging
Do you think God expects you to be superman or super woman? 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 drinks and other highly caffeinated drinks may give a temporary kick or a 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, not your cape. It’s in God’s presence you’ll experience the restoration you for which you long.
Lord, we praise You, the RESTORER of our soul!
Praise to the Lord My Banner
“Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15).
Do you need a rallying point: some place you can go to find victory over your old nature and the devil’s temptations? Moses discovered that the Lord was 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. The same holds true for us. The Lord is our Banner. When we lift His name high in prayer and look to His strength, we find victory over our sin nature and the enemy.
LORD MY BANNER, we praise You and lift high Your name over our flesh and the devil.
Praise to Our LEADER
“‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who LEADS you in the way you should go.'”
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, then you were supposed to place your hand on your head. If they touched their toes, then you touched 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. God LEADS us in the way we should go, in the way that is profitable. How closely do we listen to Him and follow His lead?
God, You are our LEADER! What a blessing to follow You!