Taking a Look at Prayer 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 that 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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 tailor-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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 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, the fact remains that there is only ONE way to 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 were 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 available to us. 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 that sin. This is to whom we pray. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

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.

A New Year's Message

            Jan 1st. New beginnings. A fresh start. Resolutions. Personal Assessments. How will you allow yourself to grow spiritually? Will this new year be the 'same old same old', or will you attempt to branch out into new areas of influence. Being a Christian involves constant change. Growth. Bolstering your faith. Remember, NOTHING is impossible for Almighty God; therefore, nothing is impossible for you. Stretch your faith. Expand your trust in the Lord. Look toward the future with confidence as you continue on your journey to be more like Christ in every aspect of your being. You will be challenged, but that's alright. That's healthy. You should never sit still, because when you sit still you are losing ground because others are passing you by. Pick up the gauntlet and continue on in the race. Never give up. Listen to His still small voice and act accordingly. Growth will come as you press forward. Press on even when the enemy comes against you. The Creator is far greater than His creation and the enemy of our soul is a created being just like us. Enjoy the holiday and remain focused on that which is most important. All praise to the One and only King of the universe, Almighty God, the great I AM THAT I AM. May this new year bring you peace, and prosperity even as your soul prospers. Amen ... may it be so. And may God's will manifest itself in your life this year. In Jesus name. Amen. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries