Debbie Taylor Williams

Have you read the book of Isaiah or perhaps some of the following of Isaiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah and how he describes Jesus? With which of the following are you familiar? 

Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 

What about Isaiah 19:20 where Jesus is described as a Champion? “It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” The word “Champion” in this verse is from the Hebrew word “raḇ” and means “Mighty One.” 

Yes, Isaiah describes the Lord as not only Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Savior, but also as Champion, the Mighty One. Are you in a battle and need a win? Do you know someone else who is struggling and needs victory in their life? Call on the Lord, who is Champion over all.

Lord, You are Savior and CHAMPION, the One who can save and deliver me. I look to You in praise.

Want to learn more about living by Christ’s divine nature? Get Debbie’s Bible study on 2 Peter, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.

A few years ago, during the height of Covid, my morning started off peacefully. However, after my quiet time and while scanning the news, I became increasingly anxious as I read an article that listed 98 symptoms of Covid. 
An increasing number of concerns are causing anxiety to rise. Disease, war, political turmoil, gender identity, hate crimes, poverty as well as new threats such as AI (artificial intelligence). 

What is important for us to remember is that Jesus is with us, He cares for us, and doesn’t want us to carry our anxiety. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 

Did we get that? Jesus cares for us. He tells us to cast our anxiety on Him. He can handle it. Just like a fisherman casts his net on the water, we are to cast our anxieties on Jesus. 

What are you anxious about today? Knowing that Jesus cares for you, will you cast your anxiety on Him? 

Jesus, thank You for CARING for me. Thank You that I can cast my anxiety on You; that You will take it and help me.

Would you like to learn how to experience more of God’s grace and peace in your life? Grab a copy of Debbie’s Bible study on 1 Peter, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying online videos and podcasts HERE. 

We talk about it. We sing about it. But, how much of it do we have? What am I talking about? Faith. 

We place our faith in the person of Jesus Christ and that He substituted His body on the cross in place of ours. We stand at a distance and say, “Whew! That’s great. I didn’t have to go through the scourging and crucifixion. Thank You, Jesus. I believe.” 

But when God says to exercise our faith in regard to cutting off our sin we say, “No way. Can’t do.” He says to exercise our faith and forgive as He forgives us and we say, “Not gonna do it.” He says to lay aside our old self and put on the new self which was made in the image of Christ Jesus, and we march through our day as if we didn’t hear Him. He says to take up our cross and follow Him by laying down our life and we go on with our day as if He wasn’t talking to us. 

If we really had faith that God “calls into being that which doesn’t exist,” as Romans 4:17 states, then wouldn’t we obey Jesus’ commands and trust Him to lead us? 

The question is, where is our faith…is it in ourselves or in Jesus? Here’s another question – how might you exercise your faith today by doing something He has told you to do that doesn’t come naturally to you? 

Jesus, You CALL INTO BEING WHAT DOESN’T EXIST. Please call into being my total obedience to what You tell me to do.

Would you like an organized and convenient way to record your praises and prayer requests? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal HERE.

Have you ever looked at yourself and thought, “I need a makeover”? Have you wondered how you could build a better life? If so, the answer is found in Hebrews 3:4 which tells us God is “the builder of all things.” 

Yes, Jesus was more than a small-town carpenter. He built the heavens and earth. Jesus built a global church from a small number of men and women. If He can build the heavens and all creation and if He can recreate us at our spiritual birth, He can remodel us and in fact, wants to. 

If we have attempted to improve ourself but failed, perhaps it’s because we have been attempting a DIY (Do It Yourself) makeover and we need a professional. 

Ask the Lord, the builder of all things, to reconstruct your thoughts, to remodel your desires, and to enlarge the sunroom of your heart so it is a place where He and you meet. Ask Jesus to remodel you to think and look like Him. 

Jesus, BUILDER OF ALL THINGS, You are my Savior Carpenter. You took nails that were meant for me on Your holy body. Reconstruct my mind and heart so I am a holy place in whom You dwell; where others can draw near and see You. 

Are you enjoying the 365 Days of Praise e-devotional? Use the social media icons, below, to share it on your favorite social media platform to help others discover it too!

The 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional is also now available in print. Purchase your copy HERE. 

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.

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.

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.