Debbie Taylor Williams
HEAD of the CHURCH
“He (Christ) is also 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.”
Colossians 1:18
Christ is the founder of the church: the body of believers. Therefore, He is the rightful HEAD. And, as a body is lifeless without its head, so the church is lifeless apart from Christ. We may do what we consider to be important work for the church, but if it is done apart from Christ’s Spirit, it is merely human work. Therefore, may we each continually seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18); so that both our individual and corporate deeds flow from Christ’s mind and are done in His power.
Lord Jesus, I praise You, HEAD OF THE CHURCH and life of the body! May my words and actions be an extension of Your heart, strength, and power.
I’M ON A 6:45 A.M. FLIGHT TO NJ FOR A P.R.A.Y. WITH PASSION ACROSS THE NATION CONFERENCE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS FOR GOD’S ANOINTING ON MY TEACHING & THAT HE INSPIRE & EQUIP EACH TO PRAY MORE PURPOSEFULLY & LIVE MORE PASSIONATELY FOR CHRIST. THANK YOU!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
HEAD of EVERY MAN
“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man,….”
1 Corinthians 11:3
The word “but” is an important word, and in the context of this verse, we appreciate its significance. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the apostle Paul encourages believers to imitate him in seeking the good of others over the good of oneself. However, he is quick to follow his statement by explaining that he is merely an imitator of Christ. Christ is the true head of every man and the one we are to follow. Isn’t it wonderful that we have Christ as our HEAD leader?
Lord Jesus Christ, HEAD OF EVERY MAN, I praise You, my leader and the one I can imitate!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
GOD of the JEWS
“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also?”
Romans 3:29
“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” is an American spiritual that was first published in 1927. However, long before the song, God revealed Himself to Abraham, Moses, and others as the God of the Jews. It is with great praise that both Jews and Gentiles celebrate, “God is our God!”
GOD OF THE JEWS, I praise You for including me in Your gift of grace and salvation!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
FATHER OF MERCIES
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”
2 Corinthians 1:3
What was or is your father like? Strong? Caring? Harsh? Absent? In today’s verse, God reveals Himself as the Father of mercies. As Father, He is the the “originator and transmitter”* of mercy. So when we think about our Heavenly Father, we can be assured that He not only thought about mercy, He actually transmitted it to us. Does that cause you to sing His praises?
FATHER of MERCIES, I praise You! Thank You for not just thinking about being merciful, but for extending it to me. I love You.
*http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G3962&t=NASB
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
ESTABLISHES
“He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,”
2 Corinthians 1:21
Could you in your own strength and with out the help of equipment make a mountain? No. But, Psalm 65:6 praises God who “establishes the mountains by His strength.” Can you change times and epochs; remove and establish kings? No, but Daniel 2:21 reminds us that God does. Can you in your own strength be established in Christ? No. But, praise be to God, HE establishes us in Christ, meaning “causes us to be steadfast in our fellowship with Christ.”* Where we are in inept; God exudes power and does what we cannot do.
LORD GOD, I praise You, who ESTABLISHES mountains, kings, and me in Christ!
*http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G950&t=NASB
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
DEFENSE of MY LIFE
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”
Psalms 27:1
Have you ever feared how someone would respond to you or treat you because of your convictions about Christ? Have you ever dreaded talking to someone about a failure in your life? Isn’t it incredible that the highest of HIGHs and holiest of HOLIES is the One who has chosen to give us salvation and come to our defense?
LORD, You are incredible! Thank You for being my light, salvation, AND the DEFENSE of MY LIFE! I love You!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
COMFORTER
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”
2 Corinthians 1:3
On a cold winter evening, nothing feels quite as cozy as snuggling in bed under the warmth of a soft comforter like amish quilts. However, no blanket can compare to the God of all Comfort when life blows us off course, when a person’s sharp tongue chills us to the bone, or when the howling wind of despair beats upon our heart. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo, which means “to call to one’s side, speak to, in the way of exhortation, console, teach.”1 How awesome it is that God gives every believer the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. This Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, become threadbare, or leave us. The closer we stay to God in prayer and Bible study, the more fully we experience the warmth of His abiding presence. (excerpt from Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, pg 67)
LORD, You are the God of all COMFORT! I praise You for the blessing of Your presence!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
APPOINTS
“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.”
Daniel 7:9
Have you ever considered that God appoints people, times, places, and more? Contemplate the following: “So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him,” Genesis 21:2. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations,” Jeremiah 1:5. And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights,” Jonah 1:17. “So the LORD God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant,” Jonah 4:6. “He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, Mark 3:14. “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come,” Mark 13:33. “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” Hebrews 9:27.
Yes, our amazing God appoints times, people, places, events, and more.
LORD GOD, You APPOINT people, places, and times. Rather than fret, help me accept Your appointed times. Help me be sensitive to that to which You’re appointing me.
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
ANCIENT of DAYS
“I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.”
Daniel 7:9
Can you imagine being a godly statesman in a court of heathen monarchs? Can you imagine standing up for your faith, it being put to the test, but you remaining faithful to the one true God? Can you imagine God honoring your faithfulness by entrusting to you glimpses into heaven and the future? Daniel received dreams and visions such as the one in today’s verse, in which God is referred to as Ancient of Days. This reverence to God as Judge would have been a comfort to Daniel. He will judge righteously and with the wisdom of the ages.
LORD GOD, I praise You, the ANCIENT of DAYS!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
ALIVE FOREVERMORE
“I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore,…”
Revelation 1:18
Astonished. That might best describe how John felt. He had walked with Jesus during Christ’s ministry on earth. “Messiah, that’s who Jesus is,” John might have replied had we asked who him who Jesus was. But then, John witnessed Jesus crucifixion. “Dead,” would have been his reply. However, if we had questioned John about Jesus three days later, no doubt we would have heard an incredulous shout of praise, “Resurrected!” Days later, after watching Christ rise into the clouds, John would have announced to us that the Son of God had “Ascended!” Ever growing in his understanding of Jesus, John is now given a heavenly vision in which Jesus announces “I was dead, and behold, I am ALIVE FOREVERMORE! In our world of friends and family dying, isn’t it comforting to know that He who is alive forevermore promises life eternal to us, too?
LORD JESUS CHRIST, I praise You, my Savior, who died for me, but is now ALIVE FOREVERMORE!
Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.