Debbie Taylor Williams

“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

1 John 2:2

PROPITIATION. That’s a mouthful! It’s even harder to type. And, it’s probably not the first word you think of when you’re praising God. “Lord, You are love, joy, peace” rolls off our tongues a little easier than “Lord, You are the propitiation for my sins.” However, what trouble we’d be in if this did not describe our Savior. What does it mean? Satisfaction.  Do you remember the song that included the lyrics, “I can’t get no satisfaction”? Until Christ offered His life as a sacrifice for our sins, man tried every way to make up for sin. But, we might have heard the words, “I can’t get no satisfaction” flowing from heaven’s throne. Man’s attempts did not satisfy Holy God. Jesus Christ did satisfy God. And so we sing His praises!

Lord, thank You for being the PROPITIATION for my sins and for the sins of the whole world!

*More hints for living the Christian life can be found by clicking HERE. Record God’s names and titles in Prayers of My Heart prayer journal so you’ll have a keepsake of all 365.

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Do you ever fear for your life or the lives of loved ones? Recently, after speaking at a church, a young mom approached me and confided that she feared for her child. Part of her fear was because she had been molested as a child. Part stemmed from the culture in which we live, which is increasingly immoral. What comfort can we possibly find in the day in which we live? Prayer. As Jesus instructed in the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to deliver us from evil. We ask Him to protect us and others. 

Lord, You are faithful. I praise You for strengthening and PROTECTING us from the evil one!

*More hints for living the Christian life can be found by clicking HERE. Record God’s names and titles in Prayers of My Heart prayer journal so you’ll have a keepsake of all 365.

“…Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people.”

Luke 24:19

Do you wish you knew the answer to your problems? Have you ever prayed, “Lord, direct me!” Or, “Show me what to do!” What if you were a prophet who could foretell the future. Would that be cool? Jesus was a prophet. He knew what was coming down the road. And, although the Bible doesn’t always outline the specifics of our day, Jesus used the Scriptures to point out events past, present, and future; a good reason to read what our Prophet taught. It will prepare you for today and tomorrow. It will help answer your questions.

Jesus, You are a PROPHET mighty in deed and word. I praise You!  

*Click HERE for daily encouragement.  Record God’s names and titles in Prayers of My Heart prayer journal so you’ll have a keepsake of all 365.

“…you put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.”

Acts 3:15

Can you imagine the conversations that took place after God raised Jesus from the dead? Some didn’t believe it at first. Others couldn’t help but acknowledge it when they saw Jesus, touched Him, and observed Him eating fish. He wasn’t a ghost. He wasn’t a figment of their imagination. 500 people witnessed seeing the resurrected Prince of life. In other words, they couldn’t kill Him dead forever. He took one walk down death’s corridor and experienced death in its fulness. But then He walked right back into life. Why? How? Because Jesus is the PRINCE of LIFE. He couldn’t stay dead. And, what’s more – He is your Prince of life. He won’t let you stay dead. He’s waiting on the other side when you walk the corridor of death. You need not fear.

Lord Jesus, I praise You, the PRINCE of LIFE. In you, death has lost its sting.  

*Find more daily encouragement HERE.  Did you miss an attribute? The list is HERE. Be sure to record them in your Prayers of My Heart prayer journal so you’ll have a keepsake of all 365 at the end of 2013!

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Peace? Continually? In every circumstance? Are you kidding?” we might ask someone and then continue, “You don’t know my circumstances!” Is the apostle Paul delusional? No. In fact, he knows loneliness, being ship wrecked, and the harshness of being beaten and wrongly imprisoned. His circle of ministry includes people who won’t work but expect handouts and others who are busybodies. He knows physical suffering. So perhaps he’s someone to whom we should listen. Why? Because what Paul is talking about is experiencing GOD in the midst of our circumstances. We have it wrong if we expect all peaceful circumstances on this earth. That’s what heaven is. But today, right now, God offers Himself: the Lord of peace and His presence to us. 

I praise You, Lord, for Your PEACE and presence with me in every circumstance. 

*Find more encouragement HERE.  Did you miss an attribute? The list is HERE. Be sure to record them in your Prayers of My Heart prayer journal so you’ll have a keepsake of all 365 at the end of 2013!

“There is one God, and one Mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 2:5

31 flavors. Baskin Robbins wowed ice cream lovers when it opened. Instead of offering only a few flavors, it offered multiple ones through its combinations of flavors and cones.  Unfortunately, our world has adopted a “31” viewpoint about God. We’ve decided we can get to Him through self-improvement programs, buying our way, or the world religion of our choice. But guess what. God has already chosen His mediator: Christ. Jesus is the one mediator between God and us. God sent Him to save the WORLD. There are not 31 flavors of salvation. There is one. Let’s praise HIM! 

Christ Jesus, We praise You, the ONE MEDIATOR between God and us!  

*Use the weekend to be encouraged in your faith HERE. 

“O LORD, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.”

   Psalm 51:15

Shut your mouth. Close your mouth. Don’t say that. Often during the early years of one’s life, words of instruction center on keeping one’s mouths closed. However, David, the psalmist, understood that our walk with God isn’t only about what we don’t say. It’s also about what we say.  We may get a gold star for not cussing. But do we get a gold star for praising God? If not, perhaps we should recognize that God is the one who not only inspires us to refrain from evil words, but is also the one who inspires us to praise.  “LORD, open my lips. Change me from a grumbler to a praiser. Open my lips to praise You.” That’s a good prayer to the ONE who can open our lips that our mouths may declare His praise; don’t you think?    

LORD God, You are not just the One who tells us what not to say. You are also the One who is powerful and able to lift our spirits and OPEN OUR LIPS to praise You. And, that we do! 

*We pray you are blessed by 365 DAYS of PRAISE. If so, find more encouragement on our ministry page HERE. 

“Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us,

an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

   Ephesians 5:2

Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. I. I. I. I. I. I want… I want… I want… We probably won’t admit it, but in our innermost being we may be more self-centered than sacrificial centered. Our day may not begin with, “God, what do You want?” Rather, our first thoughts may be on what we want. Have you ever considered doing a 180: a complete turnaround based on Christ’s example? We’re told to “be imitators of God” and to walk in love, just as Christ….who gave Himself up as an offering and sacrifice to God. The result? His life was a fragrant aroma to God.  Why not follow His example? Offer our lives to God to use today in the way He wants. Change Me Me Me Me Me to You, God. You, God. You, God. 

Christ Jesus, You are the ultimate example of being an OFFERING and sacrifice to God. I praise You. 

*We pray you are being blessed by 365 DAYS of PRAISE. If so, please LIKE our ministry page HERE. 

“Ah LORD GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” 

Jeremiah 32:17

Do you, at times, find a task to be difficult? I do! I recently attempted to tackle a new project and found myself in “over my head.” I wanted to quit. Many of the things we find difficult are not those we can or should quit on. Our marriages, parenting, jobs, church commitments, and friendships all require that we stay the course. When we find them to be difficult, we can remember that with God nothing is too difficult. Rather than crater, we can call on God who made the heavens and earth by His great power and outstretched arm. What assurance we can have in our LORD GOD, with whom nothing is too difficult.  

LORD GOD, NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU! All glory and praise to YOU!

Need a word or song to lift your spirit? Find it HERE. 

“The LORD is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth.” 

Psalm 145:18

Near? Jesus told His disciples He was going to die, would return, would go to His Father in heaven, but would NOT leave them as orphans. Rather, He explained He would send a Helper to be with them, and not only with them, but in them – the Holy Spirit. Near. You can’t get much closer than to have God’s Spirit abiding within you.  Near. Not far removed. Not inaccessible. Rather, accessible – all the time. Call on God in sincerity and truth. He’s near. Call. 

LORD, You are NEAR, not far removed. Thank You! I praise You!

Need a word or song to lift your spirit? Find it HERE.