The Trust Initiative - No. 2

“Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.”- Psalm 37:3 ^{Amplified Bible}

For this posting from The Trust Initiative, I have chosen this simple verse from the Psalms. 

The Psalmist is King David, who had a heart after God. ^[1] No doubt thru his own experiences, David asks his readers to place their full trust in God and not in men, who are perishing like the lilies of the field that is here today and gone tomorrow. All of mankind is fading from this earth beginning on the day of their birth and are limited in what they can do. The Lord’s riches, wisdom and strength are limitless. In God we can trust both for things temporal and eternal, of the body and the soul, now and forevermore.

                  David follows his pitch for trusting the Lord by saying that we should “do good”. Now since Jesus said in Mark 10:18 that no one is good except God the Father, this implies than men are inherently NOT good at their core. Hence our need for forgiveness, aka, redemption. However, since God is good and we are his children, we are to emulate his goodness as we become closer to his heart. Our fruit will reveal our faithfulness.

                  Our trust in God is largely, if not exclusively, based on his faithfulness to us. We love because he first loved us. ^[2]Everything that is good and loving and kind and compassionate emanates from Almighty God. Salvation is designed to lead us to behaving like our Heavenly Father.

                  The final statement, I believe, is referring not just to the land we dwell on this side of heaven, but also in the heavenly realm. As sheep in their pasture would peacefully feed, we are to feed without fear on the faithfulness and goodness of our God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

^[1] 1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts 13:22

^[2] 1 John 4:19

The Trust Initiative - No. 1

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”-Proverbs 3:5-6

            Trust is an outcropping of our faith. The greater our faith in God is the more likely we are to trust him with our lives. There are some key words in these 2 verses that reveal how we should live this life. 

                  One’s heart is where their soul resides. Our trust in God must come from the deepest part of our soul. Man’s ability to understand is inferior to a God who dispenses wisdom freely. If we rely on our own understanding, we are shortchanging ourselves in a big way. If we trust God, we must let go of all that would encumber us and have the patience to allow his will to materialize before us.

                  To acknowledge God is to accept his existence as true. This is what we are to do with every fiber of our being in every aspect of our life. If we’re going to trust the Lord for all things, we certainly must accept that he is real. We must have no doubt. Doubt causes a lack of trust, which is exactly what we don’t want. Our faith and trust mustn’t be conditional, as in, if God does this or that then I will trust him. It doesn’t work that way. We must trust him FIRST, then have that faith bolstered by the answer we’ve sought.

                  Life is full of crooked paths. Without the guidance and direction of our spiritual GPS, the Holy Spirit, we will not end up where we were intended to go. Trust in God spills over into trust in the Spirit. The Lord will lead us where we are to go as long as we don’t go racing off ahead of him. We must fine tune our ability to discern that which is from the Lord and that which is not. These verses are the initial step in trusting God. They are elemental in nature and fairly easy to abide by. I refer to them as ‘the gospel in a nutshell’. These are the first two verses I ever memorized. Starting here provides a launching pad, allowing you to take off into new and exciting areas of your walk with Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 20

“You, therefore, pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us the food we need today. Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us. And do not lead us into hard testing but keep us safe from the Evil One. For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.’ Amen.’” – Matthew 6:9-13 ^{Complete Jewish Bible}

                  Here we have Jesus’ example of how to pray. It’s a model that may be recited verbatim if you so desire or can be treated as a sort of guide to follow. Let’s break it down.

                  First, it establishes that we have a Father who resides in heaven. This obviously would make us his children. Secondly, it states that we should keep his name as holy even as he is holy by virtue of his stature as the eternal King and Lord, judge and Savior. In our prayers we should acknowledge his holy nature. This is, in effect praising him for who he is. Next it asks that God’s Kingdom may come quickly according to his will, which has already been set since the foundations of the earth. His kingdom on earth will be established once all evil on the earth is destroyed. Even though God could eradicate all evil with the snap of a finger, wouldn’t it be interesting if he used believers to rise up with the purpose of destroying evil on the earth in his name?

                  Our need for sustenance is addressed in the direct request for the food needed for the day. This acknowledges that God is our provider and sustainer in this life. We may think we provide for our needs ourselves, but if you really think about it, God already knows what we need and meets that need each day.

Forgiveness is spoken of in verse 12. Verses 14 and 15* reveal the danger of not offering forgiveness to those who have committed sins against us. This falls under the category underlined in Matthew 7:12 where it says to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ You forgive others because Christ forgave you … with no indecision, no remorse and no hesitation. You forgive others sins against you or God will not forgive your sins. This doesn’t mean your salvation is revoked, but rather, any sins going forward from that point wouldn’t be forgiven. Your lack of forgiveness blocks your connection to God as a blockage in your throat would impede your ability to swallow something. It’s not forever … only until you see the error of your ways and repent. 

                  Verse 13 looks at temptation, which we all battle regularly throughout our life on this earth. This version that is shown at the top of the post refers to temptation as “hard testing”. Sometimes we are tested to see how much we have grown. God is monitoring the situation and gives a way of escape when the time is right. Not all temptation is like this, but all temptation comes from the enemy. God just allows some as a means of spiritual growth. So, we pray for protection from temptation and safety from the enemy of our soul. 

                  The latter half of verse 13 is not found in the oldest manuscripts, but the Complete Jewish Bible does have it shown. It is simply ending the model prayer by acknowledging once again that Almighty Jehovah God is the one true King of all creation, whose power and glory emanates from his majestic being. The ending is the classic use of the word “Amen” which means either “so be it” or “let it be so”. 

                  So, we start with the acknowledgement of who God is; we praise him for who he is and what he has done; we ask for our daily sustenance; we seek forgiveness, making sure we’ve forgiven others; we seek his help avoiding temptation and circle around to the finish by once again acknowledging his kingship, power and majestic glory. May it be so. For those who are unsure how to pray or what to say, Jesus provided a outline or blueprint explaining just how to pray. Now go pray miracles into existence. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Matthew 6:14-15 - “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

 

NOTE:  This is the final posting regarding prayer. I hope you’ve enjoyed and gotten something out of The Prayer Project. Starting Monday, May 31^st, 2021 we will embark on a new word study – trust, in The Trust Initiative.

Word for the Day

 

The Prayer Project - No. 19

“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.”- Psalm 66:19

            I had, in a previous posting, referenced James 5:16 (“The prayers of a righteous man accomplish much”). I stated that we are righteous because God declares we are righteous. He knows our heart and our deep-seated motivation which enables us to live righteous, obedient lives in the name of Christ, our Savior. Christ’s death cleansed us, making us righteous in God’s sight. The fact that God listened to the Psalmist’s prayer shows that the requester had no iniquity in his heart. The same would apply to us today. This proves to the Lord that the Psalmist doesn’t love sin and therefore is in good standing with God.

                  It needs to be noted that prayer, or talking to God, isn’t simply for the things we may need or desire. It is very much about creating and establishing an intimate relationship with the Lord which is built on faith and trust in him. God knows the desires of our heart way before we even think to ask, however, he still loves to hear from us. It doesn’t matter whether we are asking for guidance and thanking him for something, because it creates a significant and lasting bond that draws you closer to your maker. Therefore, if we have established anything throughout this Prayer Project, it’s that God hears the righteous voice and honors their prayers to the extent of providing an answer. The caveat in this is that the answer may not be what we are looking for or expecting. Our trust in God must allow us to accept that God knows the future from the past and exactly what we need, not to mention when the best time is to provide this answer. Trust is the key to all of this. We must trust God and the fact that we are making a request of him does reveal some level of trust. 

Don’t just pray to God when you are in need, talk to him whenever you so desire. God is always there and is always listening. 

Don’t make the mistake of placing human characteristics on God. While scripture does this to illuminate God’s nature and behavior, he is not like us at all. Statements like ‘God’s eye is always on his child’ or ‘God’s holy hand smote his enemies’ are used to clarify the meaning of the text. We are asked to believe in an unseen God who loves us. He is trustworthy and will never let any of us who call on him down. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

The Prayer Project - No. 18

“… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”- 2 Chronicles 7:14

            If there were ever a verse of scripture that was taylor-made for the United States, it’s this one. It is a promise that no matter how evil things become in our country, we have an option that can heal our land. Things are super evil at this time in America. It’s as if the Holy Spirit had left. Unbridled sin is rampant everywhere you look. From gender-bending to child porn to mass shootings, multitudes of our country’s inhabitants are heading to hell at warp speed. But there is hope … as long as the final trump has not sounded there is always hope.  

                  If we look at the verse closely, we see that this option God has presented to us is no small order. Humbling yourself before God can be a tremendous challenge for many folks. It goes against the grain for a lot of us. The world pushes a different agenda then the Lord. The enemy wants to enslave you with lies and deception that look like precious jewels. God, however, seeks to make you the best version of yourself, but you must participate in this transformation. As the verse declares, you must seek the face of God and pray. You must also make a 180, meaning you must turn and go in the opposite direction from your current position and continue in that direction … God’s direction for you.

                  God will hear the cries of those who have humbled themselves and sought his face.  Justice is coming for the evil doers of this world, but the Lord offers grace and mercy. What a gift he has provided for us. Eternal life with him. What could this world possibly offer that could compare with that?  Do you know someone who is lost? Are you lost yourself? Heed the voice of the Lord and submit to a love that is precious and never-ending.  If you are already saved, pray for those who are lost. Make it a matter of daily prayer that the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the unsaved. It’s our duty and responsibility as ambassadors of Christ to do so. Until next time, walk with the king and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

The Prayer Project - No. 17

“For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator* between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…”- 1 Timothy 2:5 ^{Amplified Bible}

                  While some seem to think there are many ways to God, keeping them from making a concise decision regarding a singular way, there is only ONE God and ONE who reconciles God with his creation. Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God, is the only way to heaven. It is thru his unselfish act of allowing himself to be beaten bloody and nailed to a wooden cross that we are reconciled. What does this have to do with prayer? Who do we pray to? Only to Jesus. We have a direct line of communication to the Father thru the Son. This was proven by the veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the Temple being torn down the middle from the TOP TO THE BOTTOM. ^{[Matthew 27:51]} This was symbolic, meaning all now had access to God and the mediator between God and man was the lamb who was slain for the sins of the world. 

                  It is THAT mediator to whom we pray. We need not pray to anyone else, because it is only Jesus who now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for the saints. ^{[Romans 8:34 NIV]} Consider if Christ was a bridge. There is a chasm that needs to be crossed. You speculate as to how many ways there might be to cross the chasm, but in reality, only one is necessary. The chasm is sin, and the bridge is Jesus Christ. He alone can bridge the gap caused by our sin. For he is the only one who willingly came and died for said sin. This is to whom we pray. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

                  

Matthew 27:51 - “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

Romans 8:34 - “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

*Mediator - One that reconciles differences between two parties.

The Prayer Project - No. 16

“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” – James 4:2b-3

            Here James mentions the most common problems in prayer; the fact that we don’t even ask, that we ask for the wrong things or as ask for the wrong reasons. The question should be asked, do we talk to God at all, because that is what prayer is … talking to God. Sometimes we do all the talking but never take the time to listen. When you talk to God what do you talk about? Are you simply trying to satisfy your own desires? Do you seek God’s approval for plans you’ve already planned to do or already made?  Think of how powerful your prayers would become if you allowed the Lord to change your desires to correspond perfectly with his will for you. 

                  The Apostle John addresses that very issue in the following verses: “Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” ^{[1 John 3:21-22]} When your conscience is completely clear and you know you’ve sought his face with regards to a given matter, you can be confident that your requests will be heard. John is really just reaffirming the promise Jesus made in both Matthew & John when he said, ‘ask anything of me and you shall have it’. ^[paraphrase]

                  As I have said in other postings, asking for anything you want entails knowing and seeking out God’s perfect will for your life. You cannot ask for instant riches and expect to receive it. Prayer doesn’t work that way. This is why we are to draw close to God by reading and hearing God’s word. He wishes us to know him intimately as he knows us. There is nothing that is hidden from him regarding our lives. You can’t be a ‘Christian in name only’ [aka, a CINO] and expect to receive blessings from God. Take your walk with God seriously. Seek his face each and every day in good times and in bad. Know that he is with you and IN you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Let your walk accelerate as you bond more closely with the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            Yesterday we looked at what happens to the prayers of people who are not following God’s standards. Today I’d like to address something in the form of an addendum. There is a way for ungodly people to receive answers to prayers. It falls under the category of believers standing in the gap for non-believers. I would say most ungodly people would not have any inclination to pray for themselves or anyone else for that matter. They are ignorant of the power that could be at their disposal once they become a member of God’s family. So, make it a point to pray for those you know who do not know the Lord in an intimate way. Love your enemies and lift up in prayer those who persecute you. This is scriptural.

                  If we want our lives to flow with the power of the Holy Spirit, we need to stay plugged in to the word of God. This way we can feed our spirit on a regular basis and build up our faith. Faith leads to trust, which leads to hope, which leads to peace. We should pray for those outside God’s family so they can have the opportunity to experience life to the fullest thru the benefit of all God’s blessing that are afforded to his children. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 15

“If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”- Proverbs 28:9  

                  This verse in Proverbs shows a distinct contradiction to Proverbs 15:8 & 15:29 (shown below), in which both speak of how God is far from the wicked & detests their sacrifices. The author goes on to say the prayers of the righteous are heard & are pleasing to him. That is a sharp contrast between the upright & the wicked. 

                  There are many people whom I would classify as CINO’s or “Christians In Name Only”. They ‘talk the talk but don’t walk the walk’ as the saying goes. Those type of people give Christians a bad name. Non-believers have a bad tendency to lump Christians in one group and call us all hypocrites. While that may be unfair, it’s the reality of the situation. We are judged by those who don’t know any better, but before we’re too harsh on them, shouldn’t we acknowledge that we do the very same thing?

God has much to say about drawing close to him and knowing the word. Because we have a free will we can do as we choose, as in do what pleases us. It would be one thing if what we chose to do was pleasing in God’s sight, but once the bridle and the reins are taken off, we have an odd tendency to do that which is displeasing to God. The temptation to sin is real and formidable, but it’s not without remedy.  If we live a life that has God at the center, then he sees and hears us and as scripture declares, God will provide a way of escape from any and all temptation. ^{[1 Corinthians 10:13]}

                  Those who think they can fool the Lord by praying in Jesus’ name, yet live in the shadows out of sight, remember, nothing is hidden from God. Nothing. ^{[Hebrews 4:13]} Scripture is very clear; it is impossible to mock God. What you sew you will reap in the form of consequences that will not bode well for you. I’ve known believers who have slid back in sin. Sadly, the enemy has fooled them into believing that God is not who he says he is. Please understand that if you return to a life of sin, or perhaps you say all the right things, but never stopped sinning … God will not hear your prayers. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

                  

Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Proverbs 15:8 “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.”

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”

 

Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Word for the Day

The Prayer Project - No. 14

“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”- James 5:13-16 ^NLT

            The initial verse in this grouping is a further example of what I had said previously. We should pray both in hardship and when things are going well. God knows all about it already, so why must we pray? I believe prayer is for our benefit, not Gods. God knows he will answer our prayers AND he knows how and when. We do not, so waiting is designed to bolster our faith and trust. When the answer comes it acts as a sort of reward for exercising our faith and trust until that answer came. Things don’t always move quickly in God’s economy. That’s why patience is an important component with prayer.

                  While Jesus is the Lord over body and spirit, the sickness James speaks of in this case is physical illness. Some people feel prayer is a last resort when all earthly methods fail, but actually, the reverse is true. We should pray FIRST. God can and does use medicine, doctors and/or surgeons to bring about a total restoration of one’s body. He may choose to miraculous heal someone. There are also times when the healing comes in the form of someone passing on, which I refer to as the ULTIMATE healing. We must understand that God knows what is best for the sick individual and in heaven there is no sickness or pain, so while is it extremely difficult to part with loved ones who pass on, it is for their best that this takes place. We need to understand that all prayers are subject to God’s will.

                  We must remember that all prayer is to come from a sincere and humble heart. This is what is pleasing to the Lord. When you pray do you expect it to be heard and have an answer forthcoming? Don’t balk at praying and don’t doubt for doubting God’s ability to hear you and act on your behalf is the enemy of effective praying. We must pray at all times for all peoples. 

                  As a means of clarification regarding our own righteousness, we are righteous because of our right standing with God. While we still trip up and sin from time to time, we are righteous because our faith in the Lord is credited to us as righteousness. ^{[Genesis 3:6; 15:6; Romans 4:3 & Hebrews 6:13]}   The verses listed to the left speak of Abraham believing God, which is the same as placing his faith in him. That faith or belief was accounted or credited to him as righteousness. The two verses in Genesis say this very thing and the Apostle Paul quotes that verse from Genesis to make a point. We are righteous in God’s sight because of our persistent faith and trust in him. Therefore, our prayers contain great power and produce wonderful results. So, pray with confidence, because God hears you every time and he WILL answer you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 13

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” - Matthew 6:5-7 ^{New Living Translation}

            This portion of scripture could be called The Pretentious Prayers of Hypocrites for it points to those who do NOT pray sincerely with a humble spirit. They pray publicly. They pray loudly so all can hear. They do this to appear to be pious, however, they are anything but. They wish to draw attention to themselves so that they are thought highly of by those around them. In reality they have an over inflated sense of importance that will not find them favor with God. To the Lord they are nothing more than self-seeking, over bloated, hypocrites whose pretentious prayers shall not be heard or answered by God. They are nothing more than clanging cymbals to him.

            We are called to pray privately, away from the spotlight. Sure, there will be times when we will be called upon to pray publicly, but aside from praying with individuals or in a church setting, our prayers need not be publicized. A humble and sincere heart is one who doesn’t seek attention; whose only intention is to commune with the Lord in a quiet, worshipful manner. 

            God knows our heart. Nothing is hidden from him. Even our deepest secrets that no one knows are an open book to him. When we pray, we also shouldn’t ramble on and on as if to recite some magical incantation. Repeating one’s request repeatedly over the course of time is admirable and acceptable, for it is scriptural to pray with persistence. ^{[1 Thessalonians 5:17]}

However, our prayers mean no more by the number of words used, then if we simply utter a simple phrase. God knows not only our heart, but our hearts desire and is intimately aware of our every need. Therefore, we can utter our prayers simply and succinctly and know that they shall be heard and answered by our loving Heavenly Father. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

The Prayer Project - No. 12

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”- Colossians 4:2 ^{New Living Translation}

            This is another verse meant as an encouragement to pray continuously. Never give up when it comes to praying. If the answer doesn’t come immediately does that mean prayer is no longer effective? Scripture says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” ^{[James 5:16 NLT]} What does the word ‘earnest’ mean? It means “serious, sincere and/or determined”. 

            We shouldn’t be praying only out of dire need. We should be praying a prayer of thanksgiving for answered prayer or a prayer of thanks for who God is and who we are in him. There are a multitude of things we can pray for. It shouldn’t only be when things go wrong. We also shouldn’t allow our faith to die when answers don’t come in a timely fashion. It would be human nature to get tired of praying for the same thing over and over and over again. Let’s face it, we either believe God hears us and answers our prayers or we don’t. Our trust in God may be tested by delays with regards to answers to our prayers, but many times the best things don’t come to us when we want them. God knows best what is needed and exactly when it is needed most.

            Our persistence in prayer will speak loud and clear as an expression of our trust that God will answer said prayers. We are to be thankful that God exists and that he always hears us when we speak to him in prayer. If there was no God and we had to rely on our own intellect and resources we would be doomed, because our abilities are inherently inadequate. Our intellect is an acquired thing thru study and hard work, but all resources are limited, based on their original source. But we do believe in the existence of a God who creates, loves and is merciful to the point of sending his own son to, by his own actions, remove our sin permanently. There is no true freedom, no true life without God in our lives. Trust God and that trust shall be rewarded. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 11

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”- 1 Timothy 2:1-4 ^NLT

            In light of everything that is transpiring in our nation at this time, it may be very difficult for us as people of faith to honor these verses of scripture, but it is not a suggestion or option. God wishes all men (referring to all mankind; women and children implied) to be saved. Even those who have done evil. Men do not need to be separated from God forever. Salvation is available to all. We are to “intercede on their behalf”, for a multitude of people would not have the slightest inclination to pray for themselves. 

                  We are not to allow our feelings or prejudices to enter into our prayers. Our faults and sinful behavior did not keep God from redeeming us. We must lift up our leaders, both local and national, for it is not beyond the realm of possibility that our prayers could turn them toward the light. Anyone can become a child of God. No one is beyond his reach, no matter what we may think. We are to live in obedience to God’s directives in scripture, knowing that in the end we will be able to do just as scripture says; “live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity”. 

                  While it is true that not all will embrace the truth and live to serve God, it is no different than perfection. Just because we will never achieve perfection this side of heaven is no reason not to strive for it. In like manner, just because all will not be saved is no reason to not pray for their salvation. God is a miracle worker who does as he wills for his creation and we have no idea who will turn and who will remain in their sin. So pray. Pray every day for those who are lost in both high and low places. Remember what God has done for you and pray that it would happen for all mankind. The truth can be elusive to some, but it is easily attainable is you look in the right places. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 10

“Never stop praying.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ^NLT

            By Paul saying this, he is not implying that we are to pray continuously throughout the day without stopping. That is impractical and not at all what he means. It is more of an attitude of prayer that we can have at all times. This is our way of acknowledging our complete and total reliance on our God. We must recognize that his presence is within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Once we fully realize that he is with us always, wherever we go, then we will realize that what is meant here is short, spontaneous prayers frequently offered up throughout one’s day. This should become a natural thing to us, like breathing.

            While there is no doubt that we become tired of praying for something or someone at times, we are to never stop praying for that thing or person. That is another meaning that can be derived from today’s verse. Our persistence in prayer is an expression of our faith in God and his ability and willingness to answer our prayers. Don’t allow your faith to wane if the wait for the answer is long, for delays only mean God is working out his will in the situation.

            We must understand that God is always with us in the present and is always listening. His answers are either yes, no or not yet. We mustn’t allow our desires to override God’s plan for us for his will is inextricably tied to the forthcoming answer. You may be assured that an answer to your prayer(s) is forthcoming. Everything in this life takes time, even answers to prayer. Patience is required. We are in a hurry, God is not. He knows how long things will take yet doesn’t tell us because prayer is a lesson in faith, like so many other things in life. Trust God and do not fret or be concerned. This is where the peace that passes all understanding comes in. ^{[Philippians 4:7]} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 9

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”- Matthew 5:44 ^NIV

                  This is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Jews of Jesus day were expecting the Messiah to be a military leader because they wished to retaliate against Roman oppression. In their minds he was to lead a revolt that would end the Roman rule of Israel. Unfortunately, this is not at all what God had in mind. Jesus taught the people to respond to injustice with love. He wished them to give out justice and mercy rather than to receive it. This was offensive to many Jews who wanted revenge, but God specifically says “vengeance is mine” ^{[Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19]}. Take note that it is said in the OT and quoted from the OT in the Letter to the Romans by Paul. 

            There is much persecution taking place in the world at this time. It’s easy to say God will avenge the injustice done to us until it becomes real; until it happens to you or someone you love. It is then you want revenge. This is a normal human reaction, but remember, we are not of this earth. We are just passing thru on our way to glory.  The previous statement adds some color to the thoughts of the Jews back in Jesus’ day. They were not feeling the least bit merciful, so you now can see why many were having a problem seeing Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the OT scriptures.

            The power of prayer is supremely great! An enemy is afforded the same forgiveness as a Jew. Especially since Israel rejected Jesus, which resulted in the grafting into God’s family of any and all non-Jews, aka, gentiles. ^{[Romans 11:11-36]} It is not for us to say who should and/or shouldn’t be saved from their sin. It was freely offered to us, and we are no better or worse than a hardened criminal in God’s eyes. We must pray and ask our Lord to help us see all others as he sees them … always. Our natural inclination to judge others works against us as we strive to walk as Christ walked. This is why we must pray and seek to put on Christ’s disposition and behavior. This can be a very difficult command to honor and while not obeying will not deny us entrance in heaven, it is expected of us. Just think of how many lives the Lord can change thru an obedient heart. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Scripture notes for the text; The Life Application Study Bible.

Word for the Day

 

The Prayer Project - No. 8

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”- Matthew 6:6 ESV

                  It should be considered a privilege and honor to get alone with our God and commune with him in prayer. Meeting with him daily should be one of the most important things that takes place during that day. It may not be possible to shut yourself up in a small, private room or closet, but your place of private prayer could easily be in your car once you’ve arrived either home from work or at your destination during that particular day or evening. 

                  It is not so much where you pray as why we pray. It is the attitude of our heart that should drive our desire to commune with our God. The Pharisees were the example of how NOT to pray as they should on public street corners and raised their voices in prayer so as to appear pious in a display of their supposed religiosity. While there are times when we will pray in public, private conversation with God should take precedence in our lives. It is our way of revitalizing our souls and tapping into the power that IS God.

                  Nothing we do is unseen by our Lord. Our secrets shall be seen & heard clearly by him. This includes our prayers.  He most assuredly will hear us when we pray and will answer as he sees fit to give us the biggest benefit and blessing. Our prayers should be according to his word and not out of our own predetermined or prejudicial feelings. This is why we must read and learn the meaning of scripture. 

                  Having a humble spirit is emblematic of proper Christian living. It needs to spill over to every aspect of our walk with Christ, for it is how he lived … with a humble spirit … humble unto death. Prayer is a critical component in a Christian’s life. Do not take it lightly. Put the proper emphasis on its practice and you will reap the benefits of a closer walk with God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.knowingjesus.com

Word for the Day

 

The Prayer Project - No. 7

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”- John 17:15 ^NIV

            In this verse Jesus is praying to the Father for his disciples. It would be a wonderful thing to be removed from this world once we become reborn, but that isn’t how it works. Now it’s a fact that the world literally hates believers in Christ. The reason is quite simple: our values differ from theirs. We refuse to join in the sin that is prevalent in this world, therefore, we are living, breathing indictments of the world’s immorality. The agenda the world follows belongs to Satan, Christ’s greatest enemy.

            If Jesus asked for God’s protection for all Christians from Satan, then we can count on the fact that we’re protected. We have a glimpse of this protection found in Job 1:10. Satan seeks to test one of God’s children. God mentions Job, his obedient servant. The enemy says, naturally Job is going to fear God (as in revere or be in awe of), because the Lord had placed a hedge or wall of protection around him, his family, his property, his possessions. Remove the wall, says Satan, and see if he curses you. Well, we know from the account in the Book of Job that he doesn’t. 

            I present to you the thought that we have no idea how many calamities God has spared us from because of his hedge of protection. You see, the devil is a toothless lion. He can do nothing to God’s children without God’s permission. However, all bets are off if one doesn’t know the Lord. God is not obligated to save or protect anyone who isn’t his child. Give praise to God for his mercy and his protection for Christ prays for us continuously. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Prayer Project - No. 6

 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”- John 15:7 ^ESV

                  Here we have a statement made by Jesus to his disciples at the Last Supper.  It is instructional in nature. It is also what is called an “if-then” clause. If you do thus and so, then as a result this will happen. There is a basic understanding that if you follow the Lord’s example you will be blessed. If you love the Lord it stands to reason that you will love his word (the Bible). If you love his word you will know his word. If you know his word you will have a written guide regarding how to live which will line up with God’s personal will for you.

                  Once again, it stands to reason that if your heart is in the right place you won’t be wishing for a Maserati (expensive Italian sports car) or a 1 million dollar home, for while they are just material things and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with wanting or owning these items, I dare say most people don’t really need such items and nothing good would come of owning them in the long run (my opinion).

                  We have the words “and it will be done for you”, but this is a conditional phrase; the back end of the “if-then” clause. It might be done right away or you may have to wait for what God considers to be the appropriate time to receive your answer. Knowing all that can be known entitles him to make that judgment. We get antsy and impatient like small children on Christmas Eve when we have to wait. The unknown can be frustrating. Ask what you will and then wait for the answer as long as it takes for God to administer it. It manifestation will usually be a wonderfully exciting thing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

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Word for the Day