Taking a Look at Prayer 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 problem 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 blessing 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 prayers and 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 unless they are seeking forgiveness with a sincere heart. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL 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.”

A special Thanksgiving Day message.

 

         I am of a mind that for the Christian, EVERY DAY is Thanksgiving!!! Sure, we celebrate it nationally on the last Thursday of November every year, but for the believer in Christ, we are thankful & grateful every day because we were once lost, but now we are found. But to us believers it means more than just that. It’s family & friends. It’s a time of reflection. It’s a time to mend fences with others. Forgiveness can play a big part during this holiday, but as Christians forgiveness is magnified. Almighty God forgave us from all our sins forever. They will never be held against us again. For that I am eternally grateful. How about you? 

Enjoy your holiday today. Enjoy food & family and of course, football. Keep the joy of the season in your heart always, and may our Lord fill your homes with peace for today and hope for the future. For with Jesus, there is always hope. God bless you all. Enjoy your holiday!!  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 miraculously 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 prayer. We must pray at all times for all people. 

                  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 from Genesis, Romans & Hebrews 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 if you look in the right places. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 repeatedly 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 over Israel. Unfortunately for them, 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 as the Suffering Servant ^{(Isaiah 52:13-53:12) .}

            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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

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

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 we 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.knowingjesus.com

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 is typically at odds with 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 all protection, 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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’s manifestation will usually be a wonderfully exciting thing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 5

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”- Philippians 4:6 ESV

            Anxiety appears to be a common problem for people, even believers in God. We allow that which we see to dictate how we feel emotionally. Let’s face it, humans are emotional creatures. Some show it more excitedly than others, but I think it is safe to say that we’re all emotional, especially when things go wrong in our lives.

             The Lord tells us not to be anxious about anything, but rather pray about everything with a thankful heart. Remember, God looks at the heart, not what lies on the outside. We overreact to situations, but we truly don’t need to. What God says he means so when he tells us not to be anxious, concerned, or worried, that means he has provided a way to remain calm even in the most trying of times.

            Prayer is really just talking to God.  How often do we make the time to talk to God AND then also take the time to listen, giving the Holy Spirit time to minister God’s wisdom to our hearts? Must we really be in such a hurry that we avoid that which can take our anxiety away and fill us with peace. Now if you are bound and determined to worry and fret about things, then there may be no help for you. Oh, make no mistake about it, the help is there, but you won’t avail yourself of it. Don’t allow the enemy to erode your faith and trust in the Almighty for Satan is a liar and will do whatever he can to spiritually neuter you. Stand strong and place your unwavering trust in God, for he hears your prayers and answers them in due time. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 4

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”- Jeremiah 29:12 NIV

            How would you like to be told that you would be going into captivity in a foreign land for 70 years? I can’t say I would like that very much at all. But that is the message God gave Jeremiah to share with the people of Israel. He also let them know that after that time had passed the Lord would bless them with all the things he had promised them. 

                  Israel is a great example of our own walk with the Lord. With all the times they turned their back on God, he still loved them … without conditions placed upon that love. Think of King David … adulterer, murderer, general disobedience mixed in with being an incredible man of God and was referred to as a man after God’s own heart ^{[Acts 13:22]} and the apple of God’s eye ^{[Psalm 17:8]}. 

                  God’s promise to Israel and by association believers today is that when we call on God and pray to him, he will listen. What a wonderful promise. No matter who you are or how undeserving you may think you are, you are no better or worse than the rebellious Israelites or the adulterous, murderer King David. Make no mistake, their sins had dire consequences associated with them, but the punishment was meted out of love. You see, God knows what is best for us and while we CAN go our own way, he tries to guide and direct us by his Holy Spirit. The spirit was with David for he did many mighty deeds in the name of his God. The Lord was also with the people of Israel and performed great things on their behalf. 

                  Know that when you pray your prayers are heard by the creator of the universe and man’s first breath. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 3

“…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 ^NIV

            Israel has a long history of turning their back on God. In the 6th chapter of 2nd Chronicles, King Solomon asked God for provisions for the people when they sinned. God placed 4 conditions necessary to receive forgiveness: 1) humble themselves by admitting they had sinned; 2) pray, asking God for forgiveness; 3) continuously seek the face of God and 4) make a 180 degree turn from their sinful lifestyle. 

True repentance is a lot more than just lip service … it’s changed behavior. Scripture tells us God looks upon the heart of an individual and not the exterior ^{[1 Samuel 16:7 NIV]}. It’s also what he looks at when we pray. Do we pray from a sincere and humble heart, or do we have some sort of agenda that drives our prayer? Remember, the Lord knows everything that can be known, so there is no fooling him. Our prayers, when coming from a heart that is hungry after God, shall be answered. The timing of the answers is known only to our Lord. Patience while waiting is very important. If we rush ahead of God, we will likely miss the blessing that comes with a perfectly timed, God-given answer. 

If we prayerfully repent as the Israelites did God will hear us and forgive our sin(s). This also applies to our great nation. If we corporately do that which is described in scripture than our land will be healed. We must pray for our needs, the needs of our friends, our loved ones, our government officials and so on, so as to bring about change, albeit slow change, but change, nonetheless. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 2

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ^NIV

            Because the topic is prayer, I would like to focus on the phrase “pray without ceasing”. Now I’d like to clarify that phrase if I may. I think it should be fairly obvious that we are not being told to pray continuously to the exclusion of all else. It means to never stop praying. God never takes time off, so by following his example, we are not to cease praying when things are going well for us. We are to pray in bad times and praise in good times. We are to pray for others and not just ourselves. 

            Prayer is a powerful weapon in our arsenal. God is multi-dimensional … ever-present, able to move and flow allowing him to know all things that can be known. Therefore, he knows what we will ask prior to our asking and has the ability to answer when the time is best and most advantageous for us. 

            I think praying without ceasing means that there is no situation that we cannot pray about. We should never be hesitant to seek God regarding anything. Look at the two phrases that act as the bread to the prayer sandwich … “rejoice always” & “give thanks in all circumstances”. We are not to rejoice & give thanks only when things are going well for us. We are to rejoice & give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, which implies that we will go thru times of trouble. Let’s face it, we can always find something to praise the Lord about; for the air we breathe, the food we eat, for life itself. 

            We must have confidence that our prayers are heard as they are spoken and not forgotten. Since it is impractical to think we can pray at all times, I believe we can most wholeheartedly be in a prayerful attitude, being ready at a moment’s notice to lift something or someone up to his throne of grace. So remember, pray for any and all things according to God’s specific will for your life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 1

In this series regarding Prayer I will be taking fairly common verses regarding prayer and expanding upon them. I hope you enjoy this series.

 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” - 1 John 5:14 NIV

            Did you know you can be certain that you will receive eternal life? It’s not based on any feelings, thoughts, or inadequacies you feel you may have. It’s based on God’s promise that we would receive eternal life through the blood shed by his Son Jesus Christ. Our walk with God ebbs and flows throughout our lives. We have good days and bad days. We have days when we feel spiritually strong and days when we feel like Samson after his hair was cut off. It’s not about us! It’s about what has been done FOR us. Remember that when you are down in the dumps. His love and forgiveness are unconditional.

            The notion of getting anything we ask for is largely misunderstood because of the individual’s blind eye to the phrase “according to his will”. This particular verse just says, “he hears us”, not that he gives us whatever we ask for. Verse 14 says, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” The way to know what pleases God is to read his word. 

The Apostle James wrote his letter “to the ‘twelve tribes’ scattered abroad”. He had something to say about not receiving what you ask for from God. In James 4:3 he declares, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” It is vital and required that what we ask for is according to the will of God for us as individuals. God has a corporate or general will for all believers, such as speaking the gospel message to an unsaved world.  He also has an individual will based on the gifts he has given you. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Mine are writing, preaching, teaching, encouraging, serving, and praying. It’s taken me years to hone them into usable gifts. If you pray to your heavenly father according to what you know, not think, but know your gift(s) are, then you shall receive what you seek … when God chooses to answer you. His timing is impeccable, so don’t lose faith. Patience is a trait that is learned by waiting for God to move. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Life Lesson 7

Disappointment 

“Unhappiness caused by the failure of one's hopes, desires, 

or expectations.” *

Does a Christian have the right to be disappointed?    

Life’s filled with disappointments. We have hopes, desires and dreams. Though they may be unrealistic we have them all the same. Media outlets of all types fill us with unreasonable expectations based on our basic materialistic desires for comfort and pleasure. Do we as Christians have the right to be disappointed with anything in life? Well, not really. It all depends on our expectations and whether they are reasonable and/or God driven. We get caught up being disappointed because things don’t turn out the way we had hoped, not realizing at the time that God has something much more valuable in store for us.

 

Disappointment is tied to patience.  

How long are you willing to wait for God’s will to be manifest in your life, as long as it takes? Many folks say that but show they don’t mean it by their actions. Look at Abraham and Sarah – God promised a son, but because 20 years had passed, and they were old Sarah told Abraham to lie with her Egyptian servant Hagar. He did and she gave birth to Ismael, but he was not the son God promised. Impatience caused disobedience. Sarah became angry and jealous and cast Hagar out of her presence. The enemy will use any delay to discourage us to the point of distraction allowing doubt to creep into our soul. Don’t set your expectations too high. Let God set your expectations based on his promises from scripture.

       

Disappointment is tied to happiness 

They say, ‘being happy is a decision’. Should our happiness be tied to life’s disappointments? It often times is, but should it be? It depends on the driving force in your life. Are you running with a worldly engine or a heavenly inspired one? Do you seek God for wisdom and guidance or comb the Internet for inspiration? I believe it really is a decision we make each day to be happy or unhappy. Each day we must touch base with our Heavenly Father in an effort to feed our spirit man. Perhaps it’s thru the lyrics of a song, a devotional read, a scripture verse we stumble upon or an email from a brother or sister in the Lord telling us what a blessing we are. These small things elevate our faith and drive out unhappiness and disappointment. Just reading a Psalm per day can rev up your spiritual engine.

            Below you will find scriptures dealing with disappointment: Don’t wait to be spoon fed … dig deep into the richness of God’s soil and feed on the truth of his word. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Bible verses dealing with disappointment:

Jeremiah 29:11

Isaiah 55:8-9

Romans 8:28

Psalm 55:22

Philippians 4:6-7

Matthew 6:6

Psalms 27:14

Isaiah 40:28-31

Philippians 4:13

*The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Life Lesson 6

Depression“A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness 

or inability to experience pleasure combined with other symptoms including poor 

concentration, indecisiveness, sleep problems, changes in appetite, and feelings of 

guilt, helplessness, and hopelessness.”

 

Should a Christian ever get depressed?

                  If we were perfect in every way and not prone to stress, disappointment, and heartache I’d say we would have a chance. But since we are subject to emotional highs and lows, it stands to reason that we would indeed become depressed at one point or another. God can defeat depression, but we must first let go of the things that drag us down. As it is with most issues we encounter, it becomes a matter of focus or more specifically, what or who we are focused on.

 

Conquering depression … 

                  It is imperative that we place our sights squarely on that which can alleviate our depression. In this case it’s all about God. He’s provided everything we need to combat and be victorious over depression. I say this from personal experience because I have dealt with bouts of depression from time to time. It can be debilitating if we let it be. If our focus is on that which is causing us anxiety that can lead to depression. Below are listed powerful Bible verses to help you defeat depression. Reading Bible verses can alter your disposition which is an excellent place to start. You want to trust the Lord, but when you become depressed there are times you can barely hold your head up. Negativity festers and drags us deeper into the abyss. It’s like being stuck in quicksand. The more you move the faster you go down.

 

Scripture has the answer … 

                  Take the time to read thru the following scripture verses as a means of solidifying your faith foundation. Strengthening your faith puts you in the proper position to stand upright and move forward, leaving your depression behind. Sometimes all you can do is cry out for help or ask someone else to pray for you. That’s okay. God understands and wants to help you grow to a place where you can pull yourself out of your funk using the scriptures the Lord has placed before you. 

Make the time to feast on the wondrous word of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Here are some Bible verses to DEFEAT Anxiety / Depression:

Philippians 4:8

Deuteronomy 31:8

Psalm 34:17

Psalm 40:1-3

Psalm 3:3

Psalm 32:10

Psalm 42:11

1 Peter 5:6-7

John 16:33

Romans 8:38-39

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

1 Peter 4:12-13

Psalm 37:23-24

Isaiah 41:10