Pray with Purpose

The Source of Illumination

03/21/2024

Our nation and world are going through what some call a dark time.

What can believers do?

We can shine brightly with the love, hope, and truth of our Lord, whom James 1:17 describes as the Father of Lights.

The prince of darkness, Satan, wants us to stumble in the darkness. But James points to our hope. “Every good thing is given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Commentary Charles Ryrie explains this reference to the Lord means “God is the source of all light – physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual – and He does not change.” 1

Rather than physically, intellectually, morally or spiritually stumble, we can pray with our heart, mind, soul, and spirit.

We can walk through our day in the light of the Father of Lights. We can spread His light to others. Will we?

FATHER OF LIGHTS, illumine our heart, mind, soul, and spirit with Your Light so we walk as children of Light and spread Your Light to others.

1 Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update (Chicago: Moody Press, 2008).

Want to learn more about living a victorious Christian life? Watch Debbie’s teaching on Acts 28 : The 7 Characteristics of People Who Are More than Conquerors

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Knock, Knock

03/08/2024

How would you describe yourself? Would you ever use “door” to describe yourself? I certainly wouldn’t. But Jesus did.

In John 10:9, He said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved…”

Why would Jesus describe Himself as a door?

He wants us to know that there is an “outside” of heaven and an “inside” of heaven. Heaven is a place, and we are “outside” until we go “into” heaven through Jesus.

Make no mistake. Everyone will not live “in” heaven. Only those who enter through Jesus will be in heaven.

Our Heavenly Father sends a personal invitation to everyone to enter eternal life in heaven through Jesus who paid our entrance fee by dying on the cross for our sins. Knocking on the door is not required. Repenting of sin and confessing Jesus as Lord is.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being the DOOR through whom we can enter heaven and live eternally.

Would you like to learn more about Jesus being the door to eternal life in Heaven? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 10 by clicking HERE.

 

bible gateway logo

Share

The Gift of A Comforter

02/17/2024

One blanket. Two blankets. Three blankets. Four. Keith and I sat in front of the fire trying to get warm. The winter storm had brought a temperature of 3 degrees that felt like minus 11. If only we had power and water. We had neither.

The winter storm continued, and our driveway was too icy to get down. If you’ve lived in an area affected by winter storms, you know how devastating the cold can be, especially if you run out of wood, which happened to us. We couldn’t complain, though. We had a comforter. A comforter that we had once taken for granted, we now deeply appreciated.

So, too, our spiritual Comforter, who 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes as the God of All Comfort, is a blessing when we are experiencing life’s storms. Yes, when a person’s crisp tongue chills us to the core or the howling wind of despair blows through our heart, the God of all Comfort comforts us like none other. Why?

The Greek word for comfort means “to call to one’s side, speak to in the way of exhortation, console, teach.” God gives believers the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, never become threadbare, and never leave us. The more we blanket our lives with His teachings, the more we’ll know the warmth of His abiding presence. 1

Heavenly Father, You are the GOD of ALL COMFORT. Please comfort those who are suffering. Give them Your wisdom. Strengthen them as only You can.

1 Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, page 67. Copyright Howard Publishing 2006, Debbie Taylor Williams, Monroe, LA

 

bible gateway logo

Share

If You’re Faltering

10/29/2023

WATCH JOHN 4

I’ve had the blessing of holding our newborn children and grandchildren. Holding them was no problem. They weren’t heavy. As a matter of fact, it was a delight to hold them. I could intently gaze on their faces. I could pray for them. The more I held them, the deeper my love grew. Wouldn’t it have been silly if our little ones had argued, “Don’t hold me. I’m too heavy.” Or, what if they had said, “I don’t want to bother you. You don’t need to hold me.” In light of that, consider our Heavenly Father’s words in Isaiah 41:10, “I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will UPHOLD you with My righteous right hand.” In the Bible, God’s right hand symbolizes His strength. His right hand is a strong hand of righteousness. We can relax in His hands. As He upholds us, we become increasingly aware of His deep love for us. In case you feel like you are faltering, be assured – your UPHOLDER has you.

LORD, Thank You for UPHOLDING us with Your righteous right hand. Thank You for the depth of Your love for us. Thank You that we don’t have to be afraid.  

“For I am the Lord your God, who UPHOLDS your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”  Isaiah 41:13

*Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. This is the book that began my collection of God’s 365 names, titles, and attributes. It features chapters that give an in-depth description of 26 of God’s A-Z names and includes lined space for you to record your prayers, repentance, and praise. Also included are discussion questions for group or personal study. I pray it blesses and deepens your prayer life.

BUY NOW

bible gateway logo

Share

The Key to Not Living in Darkness

10/21/2023

Are you excited about all the ways Jesus is described? Every day when I select a description of our Lord to share with you, I have a renewed sense of awe. Often the way our Lord is described is in contrast to that which is in the world. Such is the case today. Many in our world are living in spiritual darkness. They are seeking to be enlightened by powers apart from Jesus Christ. But in John 1:9 we find the word “true” in reference to Jesus. Although there are many sources of “enlightenment,” there is only one TRUE LIGHT:  JESUS CHRIST. He enlightens our soul, mind, and heart when we turn to Him.  The world apart from Christ is dark. Take seriously His charge to let His light shine through you. His Light in you is a beacon to those living in darkness.

Lord Jesus, You are the TRUE LIGHT who enlightens every man. May we be lighthouses through whom You shine.

“There was the TRUE LIGHT which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”  John 1:9

Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion: How Praising God Can Transform Your Life – on Amazon

Friends, I’d love to have you join me any week on Wednesdays or Thursdays for our weekly Bible Study of John. Click here for more info.

Live outside of the Texas Hill Country? No problem! My weekly teachings and Listening Guides will be added HERE each week so you can follow along or use it for a group study. 

bible gateway logo

Share

How Are You When It Comes to Stinky Feet

10/11/2023

Watch:  The REALITY of the RAPTURE. Be ready for Christ’s return. 

Have you ever thought, really thought, about Jesus washing His disciples’ stinky feet? Have you seriously applied His words in John 13:14 to yourself?

If I then, the LORD and the TEACHER, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 

LORD and TEACHER – meditate on Jesus putting those two titles for Himself in one command. The Lord is on His knees washing dirty feet. Messy. Time-consuming. Dirty. Unpleasant. Didn’t He have better things to do?  Yet, His act demonstrated more than the simple act of washing feet. Jesus was teaching us the importance of humility toward one another. He was teaching us about servanthood and, yes, even forgiveness. Our Lord and TEACHER physically illustrated what He would do spiritually through His substitutionary death on the cross. It would be messy (a bloody mess).  He would wash our filth and sins from our inner man.  As His disciples, He instructs us to go and do as He did. Take the time to humbly forgive, to humbly serve one person at a time. And hopefully, prayerfully, it will gain us an opportunity to share with the person why we are doing it, and in whose Name we are serving.

Jesus, Lord, and Teacher, thank You for washing us and cleansing us of our sins. Make us increasingly mindful of following Your example. 

Do you want to live more purposefully and passionately for Christ or know someone who does?  Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. 

Friends, I’d love to have you join me any week on Wednesdays or Thursdays for our weekly Bible Study of John. Click here for more info.

Live outside of the Texas Hill Country? No problem! My weekly teachings and Listening Guides will be added HERE each week so you can follow along or use it for a group study. 

bible gateway logo
Share

When You Want to Run Away, Run Here

10/02/2023

Do you ever want to run away from your circumstances, the evil in our world, or perhaps your own wayward thoughts?  If so, go to God, who David likens to a STRONGHOLD. In Biblical times a stronghold was a high place, a place of retreat, and for many years it was David’s safe house. In 2 Samuel 22:3, after the Lord saved him from Saul, David wrote these words of praise,

My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my STRONGHOLD and my refuge.

Is God your stronghold? If so, you are well aware that He wants you to come to Him. You are well aware that you can leave your fears, Satan’s lies, and your waywardness and go to the Lord, your stronghold. Do you have a story of a time when you sought God as your stronghold? You retreated in prayer or to your Bible and by doing so, He kept you spiritually, mentally, and emotionally safe? I’d love to hear your story. Comment below.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our STRONGHOLD. Thank You that we can scale the heights of heaven and Your Word and find renewed strength in Your presence.

Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion: How Praising God Can Transform Your Life – on Amazon

bible gateway logo

Share

If You’re Under Attack

09/17/2023

LISTEN

Do you feel under fire by a barrage of personal, financial, physical, spiritual, or other attacks? If so, call out to your Heavenly Father, who David describes in Psalm 3:3 as a SHIELD about him. Put on the spiritual armor He’s given you.  (Ephesians 6:13) Take His Word and soak your heart and mind in it. (Psalm 119:97-98, 110-111, 114)  Jesus hasn’t left us alone to suffer through life’s trials by ourselves. Cover yourself with His love and truth. (from Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion)

Lord, thank You for being a SHIELD about us. Help us stay under the protection of Your divine armor and Word.

“You, O Lord, are a SHIELD about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.” Psalm 3:3

Learn more about Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends, I’d love to have you join me on Wednesdays or Thursdays for our weekly Bible Study of John. Click here for more info.

Live outside of the Texas Hill Country? No problem! My weekly teachings and Listening Guides will be added HERE each week so you can follow along or use it for a group study. 

bible gateway logo

 

Share

Have You Ever Wished You Had Someone to…

09/16/2023

Have you ever wished you had someone to watch your back? Or better, to watch over your soul – your mind, emotions, and will?  The fact is, believers have just that person in Jesus. First Peter 2:25 tells us “…you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”  When doing research for my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion about God being the guardian of our soul, I discovered that the word “guardian” is translated from the Greek word episkopos and means an “overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things done by another are done rightly.” (page 98) What a blessing for us to have God as the Guardian of our souls!

God assumes responsibility for being the Guardian of our soul, but it is our responsibility to tune into Him and follow what He tells us to do both in the Bible and when the Holy Spirit prompts us during the day. Begin each day prayerfully greeting God and lifting up your soul to Him. Invite Him to fill your soul, then pay attention to His prompts throughout the day. You know how I value opening my prayer journal every morning and recording His attribute that I share with you. Being still in God’s presence with pen in hand and journal open is an invitation for God to prompt us how to pray and also what He wants us to do.  If you haven’t yet tried journaling, this time in our lives is a perfect time.  Prayers of My Heart Journal

LORD, thank You for being the GUARDIAN of our souls. Help us be ever sensitive to Your Word and will. 

Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion

Friends, I’d love to have you join me on Wednesdays or Thursdays for our weekly Bible Study of John. Click here for more info.

Live outside of the Texas Hill Country? No problem! My weekly teachings and Listening Guides will be added HERE each week so you can follow along or use it for a group study. 

bible gateway logo

 

Share

Has Anyone Ever Sacrificed Something for You

09/07/2023

Has anyone ever sacrificed something for you? Have they sacrificed sleep so you could sleep? Have they sacrificed advancing so you could? Have they sacrificed their plans so you could do yours? Sacrifice. Sometimes we sacrifice but do so begrudgingly. But Ephesians 5:2 tells us Jesus willingly SACRIFICED His life for us. He thought of us, not Himself. Hill Country Ministries is dedicated to telling others of Jesus’s great love and sacrifice. One way we have done this is by taking our P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference to every state. Christians are inspired and equipped to pray more purposefully and live more passionately for Christ. Seekers are given the opportunity to respond in faith to Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly giving up Your glory, Your comfort, Your life for us; for being a SACRIFICE to God on our behalf so that we can be reconciled to You. Help us sacrificially fulfill Your commission to us to tell others about You. 

“…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.

Friends, I’d love to have you join me on Wednesdays or Thursdays for our weekly Bible Study of John. Click here for more info.

Live outside of the Texas Hill Country? No problem! My weekly teachings and Listening Guides will be added HERE each week so you can follow along or use it for a group study. 

 

bible gateway logo

 

Share