Debbie Taylor Williams
The First and Ultimate Sustainer
No doubt, we are living in what feels like very uncertain and unstable times. Our world seems to be tearing at the seams with increased lawlessness, economic and political instability, fractured families, and the list goes on. As Christians, we know we’re not supposed to give into worry and fear, but it can be a struggle not to.
What can we do when we find our minds wandering down the dark paths of worry and fear? We can redirect our focus to God’s Word and promises. Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” This verse reminds us that God is preexistent and the ultimate sustainer who holds all things together.
Yes, our world may seem like it’s falling apart, but we can trust that God is still sovereign and in control, even in times of uncertainty and chaos. If Christ is before all things, sustaining all things, then we should be encouraged to place our trust in Him. We should make Him the number one priority in our lives, knowing that He alone has the power to sustain us and grant us peace in times of instability.
Lord, I thank You that You are BEFORE ALL THINGS and in You all things hold together. I am comforted by this truth, knowing that You are the ultimate sustainer. Help me to turn to You in times of worry, fear, and uncertainty. I thank You for the peace that only You can provide.
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When You Need a Rallying Point
Do you ever feel like the world, your flesh, or the devil are bearing down on you and you need a rallying point where you can find victory over your fallen nature and temptation? If so, remember how Moses looked to the Lord as his rallying point.
When Moses 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. So significant was the Lord’s presence and reason for their victory that Exodus 17:15 says, “Moses built an altar and named it, ‘The LORD is My Banner.’”
God is just as present to help us as He was to help Moses. The Lord is our banner. When we lift His name high in prayer and look to Him for strength, we find victory over our sinful nature and the enemy. We fight strength to stand against worldly influences that are counter to Christ and His ways.
The next time temptation or your old nature starts to get the best of you, lift high the Lord’s name: Victorious Warrior. Prince of Peace. Faithful. Guardian of My Soul. Praise the Lord as Moses did and continue to praise Him throughout the day.
Lord, I praise You and lift high the BANNER OF YOUR NAME – victorious One.
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Why Awesome Is an Important Word
A few years ago, the word “awesome” became a catchphrase for any and everything. “Can you go Monday night? Awesome!” “This meal is awesome!” “I read an awesome book!”
If you’re like many, we began to tire of hearing the overused word. However, rather than throw out the word, the Bible points us in the right direction for when to use it. For example in Genesis 28:17, the word “awesome” is used in relation to heaven, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Exodus 15:11 uses the word “awesome” in relation to God and His works, “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”
Yes, we might want to scale down on our use of “awesome” in relation to everyday events, but let’s use it often in relation to God.
I praise You, AWESOME GOD, and thank You for Your awesome works.
Our God is an awesome God, and so much more! Dive deeper into God’s Word and become better acquainted with His many attributes with the 365 Days of Praise devotional book. Purchase your copy HERE.
Since We Know, Are We Telling Others to Prepare?
In February 2021, a winter freeze took this Texas girl by surprise. Yes, I’d seen the warnings of a winter storm. In my mind, that meant cold weather and snow. I did think about the ice warning, but then went about my life. Then it got cold. And colder. And colder. I wasn’t prepared, and by the time I was in the midst of the snow, cold, iced-over roads, power outage, no water, and firewood running out, it was too late to do anything. I lived with the consequences of my lackadaisical unpreparedness.
As the water that had been collected in bowls froze inside our home, I thought of what I could do to be better prepared should we have another winter storm. I also thought of how terrifying it is going to be for people who have a lackadaisical attitude toward Biblical warnings of judgment and hell. Yes, many people are going on with their lives and not doing anything to prepare for the salvation of their souls. Thinking of the unsaved sitting in hell with no way to get out is a horrifying thought. Equally horrifying is to neglect Christ’s call to tell the unsaved how to be saved.
In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus tells believers with “all authority” to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nation.” In other words, sound the warning that a day is coming when everyone will stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives and will either live eternally in heaven or in hell. Are we obeying Jesus? Are we telling them how they can be saved? Are we making disciples?
Jesus, You are the AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. Forgive me when I ignore rather than obey Your commands. Create in my heart a passion to obey You and to go and make disciples.
Are you ready for Christ’s return and actively sharing your faith to help others prepare? Would you like some resources to help you better understand the times in which we live and to shift your focus to His return and eternity? Check out End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do. You can purchase the study HERE and access the accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.
Fun to Think About
Have you ever needed an architect to help you design your home, office, or some other building?
In Hebrews 11:10, we’re told that Abraham looked for a city that was built by a particular architect. What city? Who was the architect? He “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
Isn’t that fun to think about? Abraham. Looking for a city designed and built by God. It is not only fun to think about, it is amazing. And, do you recall what Jesus told the disciples in John 14:2? “I go to prepare a place for you.” Jesus is getting everything ready for our arrival in the city built by God.
We can learn from Abraham. What can we learn? To set our eyes on heaven, the new Jerusalem, whose architect is God.
How do we do that? We set our minds on the things above. (Colossians 3:2) We bank on heaven, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21; to store up our treasure there.
If our eyes have been on our earthly home and the life we are building here, it is time for us to switch our focus to that of Abraham and to do as Jesus advised. Why? No architect on earth holds a candle to that of our heavenly architect.
Lord, I praise You, the ARCHITECT of the New Jerusalem and of my salvation. Fill me with awe and gratitude as I think about You preparing a place for me. Focus my eyes and set my priorities on eternity and the New Jerusalem rather than the passing things of earth.
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. Purchase your copy HERE.
An “Appointment” Pop Quiz
True or False:
- God assigns individuals to particular tasks.
- God has appointed times in history.
- God appointed Christ to save you.
If you said “true,” you are correct. Consider the following:
“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…I have appointed you a prophet to the nation” (Jeremiah 1:5).
“He [Jesus] 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).
Of all God’s appointments, the greatest is Jesus. “…that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you” (Acts 3:20).
Yes, God appointed Christ to save us and He appoints times, people, events, and more. What has He appointed you to do?
Lord, who APPOINTS times, people, events and Jesus to be the Savior of the world. I praise and worship You. Help me faithfully fulfill what You’ve appointed me to do.
Our Lord, Jesus, has countless wonderful attributes that we can praise Him for. To learn more about His incredible qualities, purchase a copy of the 365 Days of Praise Daily Devotional HERE. You’ll be introduced to a different attribute each day that you can praise Him for.
When Waves of Hopelessness Pound Your Heart
You need hope. I need hope. Our loved ones need hope. Where do we find it? Do we practice “self-talk” and tell ourselves we are “happy and fine” when we aren’t? Or do we kneel, look up in praise, and cry out to the One who has gone before us to heaven and who intercedes for us?
Hebrews 6:19 describes our relationship with Jesus and why we can have genuine hope. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered…”
Our hope in Jesus is an anchor for our soul. Personalize that truth. My hope in Jesus is an anchor for my soul. Think about that. It’s amazing. We don’t have to be carried by waves of hopelessness into an ocean of despair. Yes, waves of hopelessness may at times seem like they will overwhelm us. But when you feel that way, place your hope in the Savior. You are not going to drift beyond His sight or hand. He’s got you. Our hope in Christ is an anchor for our soul.
Jesus, sweet Savior, thank You for being the One in whom my soul is anchored; for being the ANCHOR OF MY SOUL. I praise You that I will never drift from Your hold.
Are you facing disappointment or struggling with unmet expectations? Get a copy of The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World to discover how to take charge of your thoughts and let God reignite your hopes and dreams.
Why You Can Stop Fretting
“I don’t know where this is going.”
Have you ever said or thought those words in regard to the unrest in our world, nation, or perhaps your family or a personal situation? The past may be a blur and the future uncertain.
It’s no wonder we may feel uneasy at times. Yet in the midst of our ever-changing world, believers have this hope and promise: Jesus isn’t going anywhere. He’s right here with us, just like He was with us yesterday and just like He will be with us tomorrow. Revelation 1:8 records Jesus’ words of assurance to us,
“’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”
Our Lord was with us in the past. He’s with us at this moment. He’ll be with us tomorrow. We have an ever-present Lord to see us through our days.
Breathe a sigh of relief, thank Him, and confidently move forward in your day thanking Him for His presence with you.
Christ Jesus, ALPHA AND OMEGA, I praise You, the One who is and who was and who is to come. The One who is with me at this moment. I love You.
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Praise Almighty God
The Bible provides several examples of the Lord revealing Himself to people. One such example is when Abram, later known as Abraham, was 99 years old. The Lord appeared to him and introduced Himself as the Lord Almighty. Read the account in Genesis 17:1-2: “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.”
The Old Testament word for “Almighty” means “most powerful”. The New Testament word means “he who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all.” Together, these words reveal that the Almighty is the most powerful being who holds sway over all things.
God wanted Abraham to know His power and ability to hold sway over his life. God wants us to know, too.
ALMIGHTY GOD, I praise You, the most powerful One who holds sway over all things. Hold sway over my heart today so that I walk blamelessly before You.
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When We Question God’s Power
Whether we’re shopping for a car or a computer, we typically ask, “How powerful is it?” Why do we ask? We want to know if what we’re considering buying can do what we want and need.
We may not say or even realize it, but sometimes we may question God’s power. For example, we pray about something and then we worry.
If we really believed that nothing is impossible with God, then worry wouldn’t have a place in our lives.
Today is a good day to remember 1 Chronicles 29:11, that God is all powerful and we can confidently place our trust in Him. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”
Let that be our prayer. Let that be our mindset as we live out our day.
Lord, You are great, ALL POWERFUL, and the One to whom glory, victory, and majesty belong. Help me walk out my faith and trust in You today rather than fret over details.
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