Day Off

I am taking off today and wish everyone a most blessed, healthy, prosperous,
and most of all....fruitful new year as we stand together serving our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ in this new year. Blessings to you and your family.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email
at bkeller@liveprayer.com

Christ’s Return

(Matthew 24:36; Psalms 90:4)

Personally, I will be glad when tonight is over, the year 2000 is here, and the incredible hype is behind us. As one who loves the Scriptures, I have actually found it amusing as I watched the doom and gloomers manipulating people with their Y2K scenarios. It is actually disgusting to watch many fine men and women of God utilize the fear many have surrounding this date to profit from a nonevent. I will not argue that man’s invention of the computer has a very real problem with the change from 1999 to 2000. But to take this problem and extrapolate it into the natural fear many have, and then play on that fear to make money is very distasteful. I came to a scriptural stance on this issue a long time ago and frankly have not even paid much attention since. The scriptures teach that God is not bound by the time limitations we use to guide our lives. We have manufactured a system to track time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. God didn’t manufacture that system...man did. So, right off the bat, you have got to understand that anything we deal with in relation to time cannot even be factored in when dealing with God. That is why we so urgently need this or that prayer answered within a certain time period. If it’s not, it seems like God has ignored us or not heard. What you must understand is that God is not bound by our man-made way of tracking time. Is He sensitive to the need? Yes. Is He aware of the urgency? Yes. But God’s timing is not our timing.

In dealing with the return of Christ and end times, again, the Bible is perfectly clear. It is not even a debatable issue. Jesus emphatically stated that ONLY God knew the date and time. Personally, trying to look thru the Word for clues is an interesting exercise, but really pointless. Instead, I have always tried to learn the lesson Christ taught over and over and God allowed to be recorded many times for emphasis. Don’t worry about when He will return. Understand it is an event that will happen, and it will happen at a time only God knows. Our job clearly is to be ready for that event. How? By living for Him each day. By serving Him each day. By living every hour like it may be the last before His return. That is what Jesus tried to teach in His earthly ministry. Be prepared. Be prepared by serving God, so when He does return, you will be found faithful.

Other than marking the new year in our man-made way of tracking time, today is another day, a day like every other that should find us faithful to our relationship with the Lord, faithful in our service to Him. I pray that you will have a safe and blessed day and night. Be safe, fear not, because God is on the throne and in control, and above all, make sure that when that incredible moment of Christ’s return does come, you are found faithful in your service to Him.

Being Lazy

(Proverbs 18:9)

Being lazy. Many people ask me each day where I get the inspiration for
these devotions every day. I literally sit down and write these every
morning
around 5am. It is quiet in the office, my mind is fresh, and hopefully God
is speaking into my heart what to share with you. Some days what I feel
God leading me to write makes sense, other days it doesn't. This is a
"doesn't day" but here it goes. I am convinced through Scripture that God
expects us to be busy, to be active, and to be productive in our lives. It is
through
this activity that we earn our living or get an education, participate in
sports
and other recreational activities, interact with family and friends, and
most
important, serve Him. You see, lazy people make bad servants. The Bible
tells us to be busy working while there is still light, because night is
coming. That means that until Christ returns, we need to be busy serving
God
so that His plan can be fulfilled.

Now I realize that many take a scriptural position that we really don't have
to do anything because God is going to do it anyway. Others put the
dependence on the actions of man for God's plan to unfold. I have always
tried to see the blending of those extreme positions where it becomes the
sovereignty of God working in conjunction with the activity of man. I know,
these can be deep theological concepts which is why I try to concentrate on
my responsibility and not get too caught up in the theological debates. As
far as the issue of being lazy is concerned, the Bible clearly tells us in
many passages that it is a sin to be lazy and nonproductive. That is why
today I want to encourage you not to fall into this trap, and if it is an
issue you battle, it is time to recognize it and battle to conquer laziness
just like any other sin in our life.

I will be praying today that you take a few minutes to analyze your life and
if laziness is something you fight, that God will give you the strength to
become more active and productive in your daily life. It really is about
having focus, having goals, and having projects to complete at all times.
In
other areas of your life, you have a lot going on, but often the sin of
laziness the Bible is speaking of occurs in our service for God. We have
a lot of energy to do other things, but in our service to God, we tend to
slack off. My prayer is that you will be just as energetic in serving the
Lord as you are in other areas of your life.

I love you and am praying for you. Make this an active productive day of
service for the Lord. Make the year 2000 an active, productive year of
service for God. He has blessings above and beyond anything you could ever
imagine if you just follow Him, love Him, and serve Him each and every day.
May this be a most blessed day.

Alcohol and The Christian

(Isaiah 5:11)

Alcohol and the Christian. Before I even start, I know Jesus drank wine.
In
that culture at that time, there was no bottled water, even tap water. Wine
was used in that day much like we use water today. Jewish scholars have
reported that the day-in day- out wine drank in the days of Jesus had a very
small alcoholic content. I am also not going to try and lay a guilt trip on
anyone who has a glass of champagne on New Year's, or a glass of wine with
dinner, or a beer every now and then. I have never been one to condemn
people for the decisions they make, just try to point them to scripture and
let the Holy Spirit deal with them. As I say so often, you cannot force
someone to do something. It takes God moving on a person's heart to make
change. On top of all of the scriptures in the bible that support
abstinence
from alcohol, I often use 1 Corinthians 6:19. In context, this verse is
dealing with our bodies in sexual matters, but it is also appropriate for
use
in the area of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and piercing.

Rather than preach to you on the issue of alcohol, let me refer simply to
that one verse and ask you if you feel it is right to pollute the temple of
the Holy Spirit with something as harmful as alcohol that alters your state
of mind. I am going to let you pray on that question and work it out with
the Lord. For Christians, alcohol also becomes a stumbling block for those
nonbelievers in your life. Not only is it harmful to your temple, but is
also a bad witness to those you are in contact with. Never forget, your
strongest testimony is how you live your life before others. Respecting the
intelligence of those who receive this devotional every day, I am not
feeling
led to say anything more about this issue. The supporting scriptures for
abstinence are very clear. The reasons to abstain from alcohol are equally
clear. Like everything, it is up to you and the Lord to work it out in your
own life. I will tell you, like any bondage, if this happens to be yours,
God
is able to deliver you...whenever you are serious about quitting and ready
to
let Him. I will be in prayer today for you or anyone you know who is
struggling with this issue.

Being Patient

(Romans 12:12)

Being patient. One of the virtues that I am most lacking would have to be
patience. I have a difficult time waiting, sitting back, not moving
forward.
While God wants us to be active, to be busy about our life and work for Him,
there are times and situations that call for us to be patient. There are
times and situations when we just have to wait on Him. It takes spiritual
discernment to be able to know whether we should be moving forward on
something, getting more involved, or just allowing God to do His work.
Again, just as in hearing God's voice, having this kind of discernment
requires that close, intimate daily contact with the Lord to know what we
should do. From my experience, let me give you a few things I have learned
about waiting on God.

In those big decisions in life, where to live, where to work, who our spouse
will be, where we should go to college....those major decisions that can
dramatically change our life....waiting on God is critical. That doesn't
mean we sit in our room with the curtains drawn, waiting for a lightning
bolt
from the sky. It means we move forward, but slowly, watching the signs God
gives us along the way, not trying to force our will into the situation.
God
is really good about letting us know when we are headed in the wrong
direction, but it requires us to WANT to hear him. So often we want
something so bad, we try to make God point us in the same direction. I am
not saying that our will and His will aren't the same at times, but they are
also different at times. You must be willing to put your will aside and try
to see what God wants. He will guide you, closing doors to show you that is
not the right path to walk down, and opening doors to show you that is the path
He
wants you to walk down. Patience is waiting on God to show us His way
instead
of simply doing it our way, and hoping God approves.

Of course, there are many circumstances where patience is the only option.
These would involve other people. You are not responsible for the actions
of
anyone but yourself, and you CANNOT change another person's heart. Only God
can do that. In those cases where others are involved, patience is your
only
option because it usually requires God moving on the heart of another.
These
are the times when your faith is tested. You must draw closer to the Lord
for
support instead of pulling away, and trust that He is in control. These are
most difficult, because it is so easy to just give up. But trusting God is
what this life is about, and being patient while God works out those
complicated situations in our life are what makes us strong and mature
spiritually.

I will be praying for you today to find the patience you need in your life
to
wait for and trust God. Patience is actually a test of our faith because we
are saying "I trust you God and will wait on you to move". I love you and
am
praying for you to be patient today in those circumstances that require God
to move in your life. Never forget that His timing is perfect and is
seldom
our timing. Be patient and wait on God!

Taking A Stand

Taking a stand. In today's politically correct society, taking a stand on
any subject can be dangerous. Someone will be offended. Therefore, as a
society and people, we have learned how to believe in many things, but take
a
stand on nothing. We give lip service to the things we say we believe in,
but when it comes time to stand up and be counted....to take a
stand....often
times we are nowhere to be seen.

This is most evident in our church. This is not a blanket slam against
every
church, because there are some tremendous churches doing great things for
God
every day. But the collective church as a whole has refused to take a stand
against the very things it states it believes in. You don't have to be a
biblical scholar to understand that we are living in the last days. If not
now, when? If those of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ,
recognizing that He is "the way, the truth, and the life", then why are we
so
hesitant to proclaim that message to a world dying in sin and desperately
looking for answers. We are the people with THE answer, yet we refuse to
speak up.

I want to encourage you today, and make you think about how many times just
in the last week you had an opportunity to take a stand for God and didn't
do it. Mostly these come in the multitude of decisions you make. The
greatest witness you have is that of your life, not the words you say, but
the life you lead. People are always watching you..and the most effective
way to take a stand for Christ is in the way you lead your life, not just in
church on Sunday, but every hour of the day, 7 days a week. Taking a stand
is living for Him 24/7...regardless who is watching.

The End Times

(Matthew 24:6-8)

The end times. You don't have to be a Biblical scholar to read the Bible
and
understand we are in the last days. Many have pointed to this Friday as the
start of something big. A few weeks ago, I gave you my analysis of this
whole Y2K phenomenon. The bottom line, some minor things will probably be
affected, probably in smaller foreign countries, but we will not miss a beat
here. Actually, the greater threat is the opportunity by some extreme
terrorist groups to use the occasion to gain publicity for their cause. I
have always remembered that the Bible says in many places, no one knows when
time, as we know it, will be over except God. That is good enough for me
because it is something I cannot control. What I can control is God's
admonition to me and you to be busy working for the Kingdom when that time
does come.

The focus over the next 5 days on every news outlet will be the last few
days
of 1999, the potential for problems via computers failing or activities by
extremist groups. To be honest, I have been more focused on the work God
has
given me to do each day rather than get caught up in the hype. I would like
to give you two suggestions for this New Year's Eve though. I would never
condemn anyone for wanting to go to some New Year's Eve celebration and
having a good time. My personal opinion is that drugs, alcohol, and tobacco
consumption is not something a follower of Christ should be involved in
because (A) our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and why would you
want
to pollute your temple, (B) it is a bad witness to others who know you are a
Christian and watch how you live, and could be a stumbling block in their
search for the Lord, (C) it causes you to do and say things you normally
wouldn't without that influence. Having said that, if some sort of big
celebration is not already planned, either go to a Watch-night service at a
local church and bring in the New Year that way, or join me on
Liveprayer.com
and join a worldwide prayer meeting as we bring in the New Year all around
the globe.

There will be a special announcement in tomorrow's devotional about our New
Year's Eve plans, but we will have people worldwide logged on to our live
video feed, giving us updates on the start of the new year from around the
world. We will be praying for special needs that night. I will be on from
11pm EST through 3am EST as we bring in the new year from New York to Los
Angeles. It is going to be a great night and you can be part of the only
LIVE worldwide prayer meeting.

I want to pray today that you put your faith and trust in God this week and
have no fears about the coming new year. Plan now to be part of a spiritual
event on New Year's Eve. What better way to start the New Year than in
prayer. It will be exciting as we begin a new century, full of
opportunities
to see the Kingdom of God expanded. I am so full of hope and excitement as
we use this great new technology on the Internet to literally reach hundreds of
thousand worldwide every day for the Lord. God says to you today, "Fear not
for I am the Lord your God, on my throne, and in control". Have a blessed
Lord's day today as we praise and worship the only One worthy of our love
and
adoration. I love you, care about you, and want to hear from you today if I
can help in any way. As we stand together in His strength, all things are
possible.

He Gave

(John 3:16)

For God so loved the word, HE GAVE. Today is the day we celebrate the
greatest gift ever given. We celebrate today the birth of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, God's gift to the world. Today is truly a day of
rejoicing. Because of this gift from God, we can be forgiven of our sins,
and reunited with our Creator for eternity. So much of what I deal with
each
day in this devotional is to help you walk through this short journey here
on
earth victoriously and productively. But we must never forget that our time
here is very short, and there is an eternity waiting for us when this
journey
is completed. I want to focus for just a minute on this most blessed day,
to
that split second when our life on this earth is finished and we are
launched
into eternity. Do you this day have the assurance that when your life is
complete, your eternity is going to be spent in Heaven?

If the answer to that question is anything but a resounding YES, then let me
just share this simple truth with you. You see, our God, our Creator so
loved this world, so loved His creation, that He sent His son, His only Son
to be part of this world. Jesus had one mission in this life. It wasn't to
be a great teacher, though He was a great teacher. It wasn't to be a great
prophet, though He was a great prophet. It wasn't to be a great miracle
worker, though He did work many great miracles. No my friend, Jesus came to
this world with only one job...to die. You see, the reason it was vital for
Jesus to be born of a virgin was so that he was not infested with the same
problem you and I were born into this life with, sin. Otherwise, the best
He
could have done was die for His own sins. Jesus lived on this earth for
some
33 years before it was time to complete His work. That work was finished on
a cross on the hill called Calvary where He hung, and than died as the
perfect sacrifice for the sins of this world. That is why, whosoever
believes in Jesus, shall not perish for eternity, but have everlasting life!
Believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved because it was Jesus who died
and was sacrificed for our sins. There are no other ways to be saved, no
other roads back to God, and no other plans of salvation. This is
God's one and only plan to reconcile his fallen creation back to Himself.
This is the only way you can escape eternity apart from the God who created
you in His own image. It is through His grace and by faith in Jesus Christ!

There are many incredible mysteries in the Bible. There are many doctrinal
issues that will never be fully understood until we are in Heaven. But God
made the most important decision of this life very easy and simple to
understand. He gave every one the opportunity to have their sins washed
away
and be assured of an eternity in Heaven. That is why we celebrate Christmas
today. That is why we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The most
important decision you will make in this life is not who you will marry,
where you will live, or what kind of job you will have. The most important
decision you will make in this life is to accept Jesus Christ as your
personal Lord and Savior. If you have not done that yet, the Bible says
that
today is the day of salvation. I would invite you to go to my website,
www.liveprayer.com and click on the button that says PLAN OF SALVATION.
Read those words, pray that prayer, and accept today God's gift to
you this Christmas, the gift of His son Jesus.

I love you and care about you deeply. For those of you who already know
Christ as your Savior, I would encourage you to forward this email to
someone
you know who is lost and without hope this Christmas. What better present
to
give someone than the opportunity to know Jesus as their Savior. I pray
today you will take time out of the busy day of travel, visiting friends and
family, to focus on the gift God has given to us in His son Jesus. He gave
His very best gift to us, which is why I will continue to encourage you to
give your very best every day to Him.

The Reason For Joy

(Luke 2:20)

The reason for joy. This is the time of year when the word joy is
everywhere. Joy to the world. I have joy in my heart. Isn't this a joyous
time. Joy, joy, joy, joy. Let me just take a minute today and tell you the
reason we can even say the word joy. God, our creator, has opened our eyes
and shown us His plan. He has shown us His son being born of a virgin in a
manger, He has shown us the example of the perfect life as we read about
Christ's earthly ministry in the Gospels, He has given us the one and only
sacrifice for our sins in Christ's death on the cross, and He verified it
all in the resurrection of our Lord on that 3rd day.... assuring us of victory
when we put our faith and hope in Jesus. I don't know about you, but if
that isn't reason for joy, I don't know what is. You better stand up right now,
because I think I might start preaching.

I know many of you are struggling with your finances....you should still
have joy today because God said you have riches beyond anything this world can
offer! I know many of you are depressed today because you are alone...you
should still have joy today because God promised He would never leave you
nor forsake you! I know many of you today are having marriage problems....you
should still have joy today because God can mend your broken heart! I know
many of you are fighting addictions to sex, drugs, alcohol, food, and tobacco
today....you should still have joy today because God can clean you up and
make you whole again! I know many of you are facing battles at work or
school....you should still have joy today because God said He would fight
for you! I know many of you are dealing with health issues today....you
should still have joy today because God is still in the healing business! It
doesn't matter what the situation, what the struggle, what the problem....you
should still have joy today because Jesus Christ was born, lived, died, and
rose on the 3rd day, giving you the assurance that when this short time here
on earth is over, if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus you will
spend eternity with Him!

Don't let the cares of this world steal your joy on this Christmas Eve. God
is still on the throne, still hearing and answering the prayers of His
children, still working miracles. I love you, care about you deeply, and
want you to know the joy this Christmas that those shepherds knew on that
first Christmas because of all that God had shown them. Because of His birth, we have the true joy of Christmas!!!!

Going To Church

(Hebrews 10:25)

Going to church. This weekend is one of the two times a year almost
everyone
who even professes a belief in God makes it to church. The other is, of
course, Easter Sunday. I thought that would give me an opportunity today to
address something that I deal with daily in prayer requests I receive here
at
Liveprayer.com, and that is how important it is to go to church. Let me
make
this point perfectly clear up front. Going to church and belonging to a
local body of believers IS NOT AN OPTION. Read today's scripture verse from
Hebrews. This is God telling you NOT to stop meeting together. Even in
the early church this had become a problem. Never forget my friend, the
church is NOT a man-made idea, it is a God-made idea. This was another way
God provided for His children to remain strong, and live productive
victorious lives. Trust me, over my years in ministry I have heard every
rationale for not going to church, and the only one that is valid is when you
are physically unable. Sleeping in does not count as physically unable by
the way. Not going to church is living in rebellion to God's will for your
life.

The reason God has made this part of our life with Him is because to stay on
track, there are many basic things we MUST do. We MUST pray and read the Bible
every day. We must be part of a local fellowship because it is in that
fellowship we are spiritually fed and nurtured. It is in that fellowship we
make friends with other believers. It is in that fellowship that we usually
find ways to serve the Lord. It is in that fellowship that we grow
spiritually. Before you say it, let me. There is, never has been, and
never
will be a perfect church, simply because it is made up of imperfect people,
from the pastor on down. That is a fact. For those of you looking for a
church home, the best advice I can give you is pray, find a place where the
Word of God is preached in an uncompromising way, find a place that is not
operating in contradiction to the Word of God (example: A church that
promotes an unscriptural lifestyle such as homosexuality, or a church that
does not accept the basic tenants of faith such as the virgin birth, who
Jesus is, the work on the cross). You will have to pray about doctrinal
issues that are in contention and let the Holy Spirit guide you. But having
done in-depth study on the denominational differences, there are really no
major tenants in dispute among the major Christian churches). And find a
place where you feel you can grow spiritually as well as serve the Lord. I
have found after preaching in over 500 churches of every denomination, that
the key is the shepherd, the pastor. I have so much respect for those God
has called as pastors. I honestly prayed that God would never call me to
pastor. It is one of the most difficult jobs in the Kingdom. However, it
is
important to find a true shepherd as in John chapter 10.

I am praying today that this Christmas you will come under great conviction
about becoming part of a local fellowship if you are not already. It is
important to your life and relationship with God. You can and will never
grow spiritually mature without this being part of your life. It is
impossible. It is also a reason many are struggling in their life. You are
out there alone and make an easy target for the enemy. There is safety in
numbers. As I normally do, I am going to let you pray about this. One
thing
I realized early in my ministry. I cannot force someone to do something.
God didn't make us that way. He gave us the freewill to make our own
decisions. My job is to tell you what the Word says, what God wants from
your life, and how you can become all that He has raised you up to be. Like
in everything, there are basics. Without doing the basics, it just doesn't
work. Going to church, being part of a local fellowship is one of the
basics
and critical to your spiritual health. I am praying in earnest that this
message is finding fertile ground in the hearts that need to hear these
words
today. What better time to make that commitment than at the time when most
will be attending church this Sunday. Make it a part of your life not just
on Christmas and Easter, but part of each day.

I love you, am praying for you, and trusting God that those who are not a
part of a local church, will make that commitment this Christmas. Remember,
it is not an option, but something God requires. Be richly blessed today.

Christmas Love For Family

(1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Christmas love for family. One of the common prayer requests I see daily are
requests for God to reconcile family members whose relationship has been
broken for a myriad of reasons. One of our tests of spiritual maturity is
our ability to forgive, pray for, and love someone who has wronged us. It
is
especially difficult when that someone is part of our family. I am going to
challenge you today to exhibit Christlike love this Christmas as you share
this blessed time of year with family members. Regardless of who is at
fault, who is wrong, the circumstances involved, my challenge to you this
Christmas is to make an attempt to reconcile that broken relationship. I
realize in many cases this is going to be a very difficult task, but it is
what God wants you to do, and He will give you the strength and courage to
make the effort.

Let me say up front, you are not responsible for the actions of another,
only
your own. You cannot force a relationship with someone who refuses to
accept
you. But you can, and God requires you, to make the effort. At that point,
it is in His hands. He is the one who has to move on the other person's
heart. Much like in witnessing, you can never force someone to get saved.
But God requires you to give them the opportunity, and after that, it is up
to the power of the Holy Spirit to move on the person's heart.

I am not going to elaborate very much today, because the challenge God has
for you today is very simple, very straightforward. God is asking you to
make the effort to reconcile this Christmas season. Forget the reasons,
forget what has happened in the past, make the effort in Christlike love.
At
that point, you have done what God has asked you to do, and it is then up to
the other person to respond. I know this is not easy, and in many cases
very
painful. I will be praying for you. I will be praying for His strength,
words, and love to be with you in a way you never have known before. God is
love. It is His desire to see His children love one another. What better
Christmas present for God than to obey His voice and make the effort to
reconcile your relationship with that family member you are separated from.

I will be praying today specifically for you to heed this challenge and to
be
obedient to God's voice. I love you, care about you, and want to see you be
all God has raised you up to be. One way we do that is by doing those
things in life, even the painful things, that we know God expects us to do.
You will be surprised how much can be accomplished just with communication.
The problems don't disappear, they don't wipe away in some cases years of
pain, but God is able to heal and restore relationships. That is His desire
for you this Christmas.

Loving Each Other

(John 15:12)

Loving each other. I am often questioned about writing most days in my
devotional that "I love you". The questions usually are asking how I can
love someone I don't know, and if I really mean it when I say those words. I'll
be very truthful. In my own strength and ability, it would be impossible
for
me to love you. But because of Christ, because of the example that He left
us to "love one another as He has loved us", it is not only possible, but
required. I have been in full-time ministry for 9 years now, but prior to
the ministry, I was a very successful businessman at a young age. I was
married, divorced, and remarried now for 16 years. I have drank, experimented
with drugs, and gambled. What I am trying to tell you is that I have seen both
sides of this life and can empathize with 95% of the people in this
world. It is based on my life experiences that I can relate and try to
help you walk out of those dark places and live in the light each and every
day.

I do love you more than you can ever know because I understand the daily
pain
and struggle many of you are facing. I understand the battles many of you
fight. I also know there is a path to victory, a path to overcoming the
hold this world can have on your life which keeps you from serving, being
blessed, and knowing the peace and joy only a daily intimate relationship
with the Lord can provide. God has many ways in which to reach us with His
word and message. That is why I speak so often of listening to Him,
learning
how to hear from God. He speaks to us in so many ways. It is no accident
that you get these devotionals every day. It is no accident the message they
contain each day. I love you because I know God has placed on my heart each
day to write what I do because He is trying to reach many of you with a
special word that day. I never take this responsibility lightly.

During this Christmas season, this time of giving, the best present I can
give you is myself. I give you my love, my time, my prayers, as God has
brought us together even for a short season to work His will in both of our
lives. I have been approached and often tempted to do what many Internet
sites do. When a person sends in a prayer request, an automatic response
comes back saying they will be prayed for. I am not criticizing that
because
everyone has to do what God leads them to do. God has led me to create a
site with a LIVE broadcast 24/7 so you can actually see and hear a Godly
person pray for your needs. God has led me to take time each morning and
write these devotionals. God has led me to spend the bulk of my day
answering
the thousands of email requests that come to me each day. Why? Obviously
He
has a plan and He has found me worthy to be part of that plan in some small
way. So out of obedience I come each day and do what He has called me to
do.
I do it out of love for Him and out of love for you.

Even though Christmas is 4 days away, let this be an early Christmas present
from me to you. I am here, accessible, and ready to love you, pray for you,
and try to help you at those times in your life when you need someone
standing with you. You can count on me. Let this Christmas be a season of
unconditional love, the kind of love God had for us when he sent Jesus into
this world to die for our sins. It is the kind of love we can never have in
our own strength, but through Christ it is possible. In closing, I really
do
love you, care about you, and am praying for you.

Gluttony

(Proverbs 25:27)

Gluttony. Eating to excess. In my years of ministry, I could always get the
"Amen corner" into my sermons when I preached against homosexuality and preached
against the more visible sins. On those occasions when I mentioned gluttony,
it usually got very quiet. I realize this will be a difficult read for many
today, but that is one reason I am here...to challenge you. Let me say right
up front, gluttony is a sin. Anything you do in excess, to your detriment,
to the detriment of your ability to serve God, that is ahead of your daily
relationship with God, is a sin. I know that during this Holiday season many
will be sitting down to some incredible feasts. I am not saying you
shouldn't, and I am not saying you should not enjoy food. I believe God gave
us food to nourish our body, taste buds to enjoy food, and eating is part of
our life. Gluttony however refers to eating in excess. I know many fine men
and women of God who have tremendous lives and do great work for the Lord.
However, this is an area where they struggle and that is why I bring it to you
today.

Like all sin, gluttony can be overcome, not in our own strength, but in His.
Like all sin, if you fight this battle, you need a battle plan. God can give
you that plan, the strength to carry it out, and the perseverance to get victory.
Like in other sins though, the question becomes, do you really want to win?
Do you really want to conquer this foe? Do you even recognize this is a
problem in your life?

At this point, you have either accepted, through the prompting of the Holy
Spirit, that this is an issue in your life, or you have realized that this is
not something you battle with. If you are in the latter category, then I
would encourage you to pray for those who do fight this battle each day. I
have no doubt you know people in your family, school, workplace, and church that
are going through this struggle. Pray for them today. Pray that the Lord
would open their eyes and show them this is a problem. Pray that they will
have the courage, like anyone who is dealing with a particular sin, to admit
it and allow the Lord to walk them to victory.

If you are struggling in this area, I will be praying specifically for
you today. I realize what a difficult struggle this can be. God is more
than able to give you victory, but my prayer for you today is that you
recognize the issue is very real. I pray that you recognize it as a problem.
I am confident that if you take that first step, God can and will help you
overcome this struggle in your life. I love you, care about you, and realize
the sensitive nature of this sin like any sin. But there is no use in hiding
it or candy-coating the problem. It is time to recognize it as a problem,
and get busy fighting it and letting God help you become victorious over this
part of your life.

Don't hesitate to write me if I can pray for you specifically about gluttony
or whatever the struggle you may be facing today. It is no accident you read
this devotional, it is no accident God has placed me in your life for this
season, and it is no accident that God is speaking to you today. I will pray,
stand with you, and try to help anyway that I can to see you become all that
the Lord has raised you up to be.

The Day God Rested

The day God rested. Today, with Christmas only a few days off, all of the
Holiday activities in full swing at home, work, school, and at church...how
could you even think about resting? Today, let's take our cue from God and
rest, relax, and let Him refresh us. I found many years ago, that when I
put
all of the busy activities of life on hold and just kicked back for a day, I
was able to get much more accomplished. It makes sense. You are rested,
refreshed, your mind is clear, and you have renewed energy. In that state
we
can accomplish quite a lot. But when we are tired, we can't give our best
effort, we can't think clearly, we tend to make hasty unprayerful decisions
that come back to haunt us, and we just don't enjoy life.

If anyone ever needed this devotional today, it is me. If these words God
has led me to share with you today are for anyone, they may be for me. I
have a terrible habit of getting so focused, so driven by the things that
need to be done each day, that I sacrifice that quiet time, that time of
refreshing we all need on a regular basis. Again, if after 6 days of
creating the world and everything in it, God rested, maybe we should realize
that we need a day of rest too. Jesus in His earthly ministry is described
many times as "getting away by Himself". If Our Lord realized the need for
a time of refreshing from time to time, shouldn't we?

I am not going any deeper today than to give you this challenge. I know the
date on the calendar. I know the time on the clock. I challenge you today
to put off all of those "pressing" matters you "have" to take care of. Turn
off the cell phone. Maybe it is as simple as going home, getting into
something comfortable, and just watching TV, or playing with your kids, or
spending some quality time alone with your wife, or doing something relaxing
with your family or friends. Make today a day of rest. You need it. God
wants you to do it so that you can be fresh, sharp, and the best you
possibly can be for Him.

I am praying that in the midst of the hectic lives so many lead, you will
hear these words and make an effort to rest and relax today. I love you,
care
for you, and know God will honor your desire to be His instrument, sharp,
ready, energized, and prepared for the work He has given you to do. Let His
peace, His presence, and His love consume you this day. Let Him recharge your
batteries and rekindle that fire inside of you to serve Him. May you know
the calming presence of the Lord this day in a very special way.

Giving to Jesus

(MATTHEW 2:11)

Giving to Jesus. I was always impressed by the 3 wise men in the Christmas
story. Men of means. Men who were important, had busy lives. Yet on God's
word to them, they left and went on the journey of a lifetime to find the
baby Jesus in Bethlehem's manger. I was always impressed that they came
bearing gifts. They realized that this baby was something special, though
they never could have totally understood exactly how special. But when they
came, they brought their gifts, not so much to the baby Jesus, but as an
offering to God. You see, these men understood first of all where their
blessings and where their resources had come from. In addition to their
obedience in following God's word to take the journey to Bethlehem, they
also
understood that their offering to God was also an act of obedience, as well
as gratitude. Lastly, I am sure they realized that their gifts would be
used
by God to bless others. These men were not only close to God and close enough
to hear His voice, they also understood how God worked.

I know many of you will have a difficult time this Christmas because of a
lack of finances. I understand many right now are facing very difficult
situations. To you I say, find the real joy in Christmas, that being the
celebration of our Lord, not the celebration of presents. Secondly, know
that God has not abandoned you or left you. He is there, has a plan,
and will continue to sustain you because He promised He would. Many of you
though have been blessed and will have a very wonderful Holiday season with
family and friends. Many have taken the challenges of the past few weeks, as
well as being obedient to the Lord, and will be giving of your time,
talents,
and treasure this Christmas to help others. Let me encourage you, no matter
how much or how little you have, to do that. There is no greater gift than
that of yourself to others who are in need of someone to share the love of
Jesus with them this Christmas season.

The Path of Escape

(1 Corinthians 10:1)

Every day it is my pleasure to pray for people worldwide who write asking me to agree with them in prayer to overcome this sin or that sin. God is able to empower us to rise above sin, and prayer is the starting point to that empowerment. The Bible tells us something very specific and direct in today’s verse. First it tells us that God will not tempt us beyond what we can bear, which is encouraging. That means He knows our breaking point. I say this as a word of encouragement to all out there going through the fire right now. God knows your breaking point. You may feel like giving up, that you can’t handle any more. But trust His words. He knows you and promised to not tempt you beyond what you are able to bear.

The second part of that promise is what I want to focus on. He always has a path of escape prepared for us. Always! Here is my challenge to you today and the place where you need to just sit down and be honest with yourself. Do you really want to walk down the path of escape? I know in your heart you hate sin and want to live holy before God. But in the midst of your temptation, in the midst of your desire to sin, when God shows you the path of escape, do you close your eyes and pretend not to see it? From my own life, I can tell you that most of the time God not only shows me the path once, but twice, three times, maybe more, but the Bible only promises that one time, so I warn you not to play spiritual roulette with God. The question I ask you today still remains, when you see the path of escape, do you take it . . . or keep going right by it?

The Holy Spirit is telling me to say no more. This is such a clear and simple, very uncomplicated word from God for your life today. I will be praying that you will be honest with yourself. I pray today that when you admit you have seen the path but chosen not to take it, that you will seek His strength and forgiveness. I pray that you will ask for and find His strength to walk down the path of escape He has provided in the future. It is never too late. God is waiting. It is your decision, your choice. Feel free to write me and let me agree with you in prayer for His strength to walk the path of escape, the path to victory, instead of staying on the road of destruction.

Living With Confidence

(Psalms 3)

Living with confidence. Having been a sports fanatic my whole life, I often
wonder what separates those who win and those who lose. Talent, of course, has
a lot to do with the outcome, but when talent is even, it boils down to
confidence. At the professional level, there is very little difference
between players physically. They are a rare breed of a minute percentage
the population with the God-given physical and athletic ability to compete at
the highest level. Having lived for many years in Chicago, I saw first-hand
the Bulls basketball dynasty. Of course, they had one of basketball's
greatest players in Michael Jordan, but that team had an intangible called
confidence. Every time they stepped onto the court, they had that level of
confidence that no matter what happened during the game, they would find a
way to win. I use this analogy today because that is the exact same kind of
confidence those who know Christ as Savior should have every day of their
life.

When you know Christ as savior, you have determined the most important thing
you can in this life, where you will spend eternity. That alone should give
you such confidence to live this life in victory, because we know our time
here is only for a few short years, but we will spend all of eternity with our
Lord. In addition, we should have confidence each day from all of the Lord's
promises. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. He promised to
protect us. He promised to provide for us. He promised to fight for us. He
has told us to cast our burdens on Him. He said that when we were weak, He
is strong. He said we can do all things because He strengthens us. And
those are just a few. Armed with the knowledge of our eternal home, all of
the Lord's precious promises, why shouldn't we live each day with tremendous
confidence!

I am praying today that you will take a fresh look at your life today. In
the business world, people are paid millions to teach people to have a
positive mental attitude. There is no reason a Christian should have
anything but a positive mental attitude. We need to start dealing with our
life, including the tragedies we all have to face in this existence, with a
positive mental attitude...not because of who we are, but because of who
Jesus is! I realize many of you are going thru incredible trials. Many are
facing circumstances that are almost unbearable. All I can do today is
encourage you to stay positive because Jesus is on your side. Start dealing
with every aspect of your life in confidence. Confidence because the Lord is
with you, will give you what you need each day, and will walk with you every
step of the way. You have a lack of confidence because you are trying to do
it in your strength and wisdom. Start living in His strength and wisdom and
you will have a totally different outlook.

I love you and care about you deeply. I pray that you will start living with
more confidence because of who you are in Christ Jesus. One of your best
witnessing tools is how you live your life and deal with your problems. A
nonbeliever is going to wonder how you can be so confident in dealing with
day-to-day life and will give you opportunities to share with them that it is
not possible unless we have the Lord in our life. I pray the Lord will open
your mind and heart to receive these words and you will start living in the
confidence that will enable you to overcome life's problems and be a
fruit-producing servant for the Lord. He loves you and has given you all you
need to be a champion in the greatest game of all...the game of life.

Balance

(Psalms 8)

Balance. Probably the most difficult thing for most of us to do in our life
is achieve balance. Balance between our relationship with the Lord, service
to Him, live with our families, school or work, recreation... keeping it all
in balance can be one of life's greatest difficulties. I have been hitting
hard lately on serving the Lord, serving Him by serving others, your daily
time with Him. Let me tell you that if you do nothing but serve God and
neglect your family, neglect school, or neglect work, than you are not in
His perfect will. God call for us to have a life of balance. We are still
serving Him when we are with our families. We are still serving Him when we
are at school, at work, or at play. For people that are what society calls
overachievers, being out of balance is one of the most frequent problems and
leads to an unraveling of our life.

Satan gets to know you, your personality, your abilities. One of his tricks
and acts of deception for those who are gifted, is to get them so focused on
one aspect of their life that they neglect other aspects. Ultimately, the
areas they neglect will become a problem and in the end, make their service
to the Lord ineffective as they deal with the crisis in other areas of their
life. God gave you a brain to learn, God gave you talents to earn an income,
and God gave you bodies that need to be looked after and maintained. God has
given you a spouse, children, and family members. God has given you friends in
this life. Sometimes we can get so focused on one aspect of our life that we
neglect others, and it ends up causing a great deal of pain in our lives.
Some of the most successful businessmen I know are terrible husbands,
terrible fathers, and terrible in other areas of their lives. Some women put so
much into their families that they neglect their health, expanding their
mind, and making themselves a whole, balanced person.

I write this today just as a word of caution that you take inventory of your
life today and see what areas you may be neglecting. Staying balanced is
critical to serving God, because if other areas of your life are in order, it
makes you a much better servant in the other tasks God gives you to do. I
will be praying for you today. Take a good, hard, honest look at your life.
Write down those areas that need attention. Make a schedule if you need to to
insure you are paying enough attention to all areas of your life. It is
never easy. it is always challenging. But we must have our life in balance
to be the servant God has called us to be. He loves you and wants the very
best for you life. Finding that balance between the various elements that
make up our life is critical to long, fruitful, productive service to our
Lord.

Please continue to pray for Liveprayer. It is very busy here each day. So
many are in the holiday season and alone. We are glad that we are here to
give them hope and fill some of that void in their life, pointing those who
are without hope to the one who is our hope, Jesus. I'm here to serve you,
pray for you, help you any way that I can. Be blessed this day as you find
that balance in your life God has called us to have, to be the best we can for
Him!

Joy In Service

(PSALMS 126:5,6)

Joy in service. So many times, I see Christians with long faces, head down,
shoulders slumped, looking like the fans of a football team that just lost
the big game. Often when I talk to other believers, they tell me that life
is rough and serving God seems like a trip to the dentist for a root canal.
Is it any wonder why those who are without Christ aren't real excited about
"serving God." I'll tell you a secret that has worked well for me over the
years. When I am in trouble. When I have many problems all around me.
When
the enemy is attacking on all sides. My first response is to pray, then to
get busy serving God. I am a firm believer that if we are about His
business, He will be about our business. If I am serving Him, He is serving
me. That doesn't mean everything goes away and disappears. It isn't magic.
But it works because when our focus is on others, it allows God to work on
those things in our life only He can fix.

The key in service though is to serve with joy! Serving others should not
be
a task, but something we should look forward to and are joyful about. Joy
is
infectious. It spreads to others. Serving without joy almost makes your
service ineffective. How many times have you eaten at a restaurant where
the waiter or waitress was unpleasant. At times, you almost wish you could
just get the food yourself and not have to even deal with them because of
their bad attitude. Serving others should be a joyful experience, if for no
other reason because it is what God expects from us. When you focus on
why you are here, to serve and glorify God with your life, it should make
you
joyful because you are fulfilling the purpose for which God created you.

I am going to leave you with these thoughts today to ponder and pray about.
Do you serve with a joyful heart? Do people see your service as something
you do grudgingly or something you do joyfully? Joy is something you can't
buy and something most people long for each day. Have joy if you know
Christ
because your eternal destination in heaven is established. Have joy when
you
serve Him because that is part of the reason God created you. Show those
you
serve joy because they will have a desire to know the kind of joy you possess,
and you can use the opportunity to tell them that kind of joy only comes
from
knowing Christ as your Savior.

I love you, and am praying for you today. Never think it is a burden when
you email me your special prayer requests. It is a joy on my part to serve
you. It is no accident you are reading this devotional, it is no accident
that God is speaking to you about the problems you are facing. God can
speak
to us in many ways, through many people. I am hear to help you, pray for
you, and see you be victorious over the things in your life keeping you from
enjoying all of the rich blessings God has in store for your life. Let this
time of year be not only a time of joy, but let that joy be part of your
life
each and every day!

Quit Talking About Money

(Deuteronomy 16:17, 2 Corinthians 9:7)

Quit talking about money! In one of my first evangelistic meetings many
years ago, I was at a small African-American church in Chicago. It had been
a great evening, the Spirit was flowing and several people accepted Christ
during the invitation. After the service, I was having a bite to eat with
the pastor, a wise gentlemen who had been in the ministry for 40 years. I
was still excited about all that had happened and commented what a great
evening it had been. He looked at me and said it was wonderful, except that I
had robbed the people. The statement surprised me and I defensively told him
I had given everything I had to give, how did I rob the people? He told me
that I had forgotten to take the offering. It than hit me that indeed I did
forget and asked him why forgetting to take the offering was robbing the
people. He walked me through many scriptures to show me that God blesses His
people for obedience. Ever since the first tabernacle and priests, it had
been God's plan for His people to support the work of God. Giving was NOT an
option, but what God expected and was an act of obedience. It is the ultimate
act of surrender when you accept that not only your life, but your treasure
is His. As in other areas of our life, God blesses His children for their
obedience in following Him.

One of the greatest criticisms of unbelievers and believers alike, is that
there is too much emphasis on money. I am not going to sit here and defend
or criticize what other ministries, churches, or organizations do. God showed
me a long time ago, that I am only going to have to answer for my actions,
not those of others. My view on giving is this. Your tithes go to your
local church. Special gifts go to those places where you are being fed
spiritually, or that God places upon your heart to support. I am a firm
believer that you must be led by the Spirit in your giving, both to whom and
the amount. Never forget, you are ultimately giving to God, not a person or
organization. Many times, God asks you to give as a test of your love for
Him. How deep is your love? Is it in word only, or also in deed? Does your
love stop when He leads you to give money to His work? Think of this next
time God is leading you to give. Everything you have, your life, your time,
your talents, and your treasure...money...all belong to Him. Of course He
expects you to use the common sense He gave you, but never forget you have
been entrusted with resources, some more than others, to live and be a
blessing to others. Lastly, the bible is so clear about giving according to
ability. God doesn't expect you to give what you don't have. Again, use
common sense. But He does call you to be faithful with what you DO have.

His Word

(Matthew 24:35)

His Word. Having preached to several hundred thousand people in evangelistic
meetings at churches of all denominations, having ministered to millions over
the years via our television production ministry, and having prayed for and
intimately counseled thousands and thousands of people over my 9 years of
ministry...I would have to say the biggest problem I have encountered with
believers is the vast majority have never read the instruction manual.
Statistical research shows that less than 10% of professing Christians have
ever read the entire Bible. The church as a whole is Biblically illiterate!
From time to time in my devotional I will give my opinion on an issue, and I
am very careful to always let you know when it is Bill Keller's opinion.
Most of the time I just let God's words speak for themselves. There is not
one issue, one thing we deal with in everyday life that is not covered in His
word. How many people are in terrible marriages where one spouse is a
nonbeliever. Do you think God admonished us to "not be unequally yoked" for
nothing? How about those dealing with horrible illnesses because they abused
themselves over the years with alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Does God not tell
us our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit? How many families are ripped
apart by bitterness and hatred when the Bible commands to "have love one for
another," "forgive as Christ has forgiven you," "love your enemies." I have
to be honest. In many cases it is not rebellion to God's Word, but complete
ignorance of God's Word.

Like many men, I get a new electronic toy and the first thing I do is open
the box, toss the instructions to the side, and start "putting it together."
Usually after a period of time when it is not working, or I have broken
something, I grab the book and put it together correctly. How much easier if
I would have done that first. So is our walk with God. Many people claim
they can't hear God. God may be talking to you and you can't hear Him
because you don't know what to be listening for. The Bible is the INSPIRED
INERRANT WORD OF GOD. If you want to hear God, just read the Book. That is
God speaking to us. I have come to the conclusion that those who are getting
this devotional each day are of above average intelligence, which is why I am
very direct, to the point, and don't hammer things over your head. I say it,
knowing you are smart enough to know what you are expected to do, I don't
have to paint a picture. So if you ever listened to me at all, hear what I
am going to say to you now.
This applies to everyone, even those that may have read the Bible cover to
cover 100 times.

It takes an individual of average reading ability 90 hours to read the entire
Bible. That is one hour a day for 3 months. Most people make New Years
resolutions. Here is one for you with eternal rewards, and it will be more
valuable than losing 10 pounds that you will just put back on. Carve out one
hour every day starting January 1st and start reading at Genesis 1:1. One
hour. I suggest that for 90 days you get up 1 hour earlier than normal and
do it the very first thing. Trust me, God will give you the strength you
need during the day. Losing one hour of sleep for 90 days will not kill you.
Quite the opposite. It will save you 100 times that in lost sleep over the
years from problems caused because you didn't take time to read the
instruction book. Now listen, I understand that some of the Old Testament
can be dry. The Jewish laws, the genealogy of kings, some of the prophetic
books can be very confusing and at times boring. Plug on. Don't get
discouraged because you don't understand everything you are reading. Having
read the Bible cover to cover many, many, many times, every time is like a
new experience as I learn more each time. WARNING: I am not the Bible
answer man, so don't start flooding me with questions. I'll pray for you
anytime, but I cannot handle thousands of Bible questions. I do suggest
though you keep a note of questions and talk them over with your pastor.

Trust me when I tell you, those 90 days will change your life. You will see
things you never thought were in the Bible. You will see God's warnings and
promises to help you through tough times. Most of all, you will start to
understand a little about how God thinks. How can you please God if you
don't understand how He thinks. He knows you are not a mind reader. That is
one reason He gave you the Book, so you could begin to understand a little
about what is expected of you. I promise you, the 90 days of doing this will
be the most important 90 days possibly of your life. I cannot emphasize
enough the importance of what I am challenging you to do. Start at the very
beginning. That way you can see God from the creation of our world, to the
end. It is better than any book or movie you have ever read or seen.

The Bible is our final authority for all matters concerning this life. In
this day of being politically correct, accepting everyone's beliefs and
ideas, we are in the mess we are morally and spiritually because we have
gotten away from the black and white truth of God's word that this nation was
founded upon. We have none to blame but ourselves. In this day of instant
gratification, drive thru food, cell phones, fax machines, email, Federal
Express, jet travel, we want what we want now and refuse to wait. We have
become lazy which is why we don't take the time to read the Bible. I
guarantee you will spend 90 hours plus in front of the television, the
computer, with the newspaper, doing something that you enjoy over the next 90
days. I am not saying quit living and enjoying your life. What I am saying
is that you have the time, it is now a matter whether this is a big enough
priority to take the time.

I love you, care about you, and my heart breaks every day as I read and try
to respond to the thousands of special prayer requests I get. How much
heartache and pain could have been avoided if people would have only read the
Book and followed the instructions. You cannot believe how much sense this
life makes when you are living under the direction of God's Word. I will be
praying that the Lord really opens your heart and conviction floods your very
being as you read these words. I can't force you to do it, you have to want
to do it. I will be praying and trusting His Holy Spirit is moving on your
heart even now as you read these words.

Prayer Works

Isaiah 65:24

Prayer works. How often do we pray, but never really expect anything to
happen? Praying for many has become almost like a superstition. How many
pray with confidence? How many pray expecting God to answer? You see, prayer
works because God gave us this way to communicate with Him. We do it almost
as a chore at times. We do it usually when we have failed and we don't have
any other answers. Prayer should never be the last resort, but the first
option. So many emails I get each day state that God doesn't hear their
prayers. God isn't answering them. First of all, God's timing is not our
timing. Many times you are praying and God is trying to answer in a
different way. Prayer is not like buying a lottery ticket. If your number
doesn't come up, you lose. God ALWAYS hears your prayers, and God ALWAYS
answers your prayers. Maybe not in the time frame you want, or in the way you
want, but God does answer.

The problems I find with most people's prayer life is the unrealistic
expectations they have. In so many cases, their own rebellion and
disobedience has put them in a difficult situation. Now they run to God like
He is a genie in the bottle, expecting everything to be fixed overnight.
That is not real life. Can God do it? Of course, but that is not the way it
normally works. In the midst of a tragedy, people pray, and then when
everything isn't better, they think God has not heard them or that He doesn't
care. Again, you have unrealistic, unscriptural expectations of God. God has
a plan, a plan that works if you have read the end of the Book. He is on the
throne and in control at all times. He knows what is going on. Can I then
explain why He allows some of the horrific things that happen in the world
to people every day? No. I am not even going to pretend to
understand all God is doing. I do know this. He loves us. He cares about
us. He promised all things will work together for good to those who love
Him. It doesn't say it will work together the way we want it to.

So if all I have just said is true, what is the point of praying? Because
that is how we communicate with God. That is sometimes how He communicates
His wishes to us. He told us to come boldly before the throne of grace.
Over and over he exhorts us to ask, to pray, to seek Him. One thing prayer
does is confirm who is in control. Another thing it does is help us to know
God better as we see Him working in our life. Prayer also reaffirms our
dependence upon Him and is a way of surrendering our will for His. These
are all things we need to do daily to mature as believers, to better know
God, so ultimately we become more productive servants of our King.

Liveprayer is about one thing...prayer. It is the most powerful thing we can
do. Our men and women of God who sit before our camera 24 hours a day, 7
days a week are there simply to pray for the needs of people worldwide who
need God. Our chat room is usually filled with wonderful Godly people who
pray, believe God for those who visit the chat room, and understand the power
of prayer. The response I give, my staff gives to the thousands of personal
emails each day all revolve around prayer. Above all, we pray because in
many cases, we have no other option.

I will be praying for you today, praying that you will better understand
prayer and its power. Use the great access God has given us to Him, not
just in out time of need, but every day. I love you and am praying that
today you will open your heart and let God speak to you about how you can
see more results out of your prayer life, as you focus more on what God wants
and less on what you want. Prayer does work, and it is our greatest weapon.
Don't neglect it.

Working Together For God

( 1 Corinthians 3:9 )

Working together for God. One of the first lessons I learned early in my
ministry is that there is no person, NO PERSON who can do God's work alone.
Not only can no person do God's work alone, God never intended for us to
even
try. God has given each of us unique and special gifts for which to serve
Him. Some people are more gifted than others, but there is no one that has
all of God's gifts. Some of the most successful sports teams in history
have
been teams where there were no real superstars, but teams where everyone did
their job and played their role. In a movie, there may be some actors that
are more prominent than others, but it takes the entire cast to make the
movie successful. More than that, it takes the behind-the-scenes people,
such
as make-up artists, set designers, writers, producers, technical people all
working together to make a successful movie. The point I want you to
understand is that God's people must work together for significant things to
happen in the lives of people.

As an evangelist, it is always a wonderful moment when someone comes to the
alter at the time of invitation to accept Christ as their Savior. After one
service early in my ministry, there were hundreds who made that commitment
and afterwards I was feeling a sense of personal pride for the souls that
had
just been won for Christ. Well, the Holy Spirit got hold of me real quick
and we had a little meeting. Not quite a woodshed meeting, but close. God
showed me clearly that when a person makes that commitment, the evangelist,
the one who gives the invitation, is just the last piece of the puzzle. Over
the years, many people had prayed for that person. Seeds were planted in
many cases over a lifetime by family, friends, Christian media, street
preachers, books, articles, and just a variety of ways that God shows
himself
to this unbelieving world. We often never see the fruits of our prayers or
work for God, but our obedience is used as building blocks in the lives of
people, that at the right time, at that right moment, are realized as the
Holy Spirit brings it all together in a person's heart and they make the
most
important decision we can make in this life...by the grace of God and
through
faith, accept Christ as our Savior.

This ties in with what I am talking about today. We must all work together.
We must be faithful to use the gifts God has blessed us with to further His
Kingdom. We must use the strengths and gifts of others to see the fruit of
our work for God. Here at Liveprayer, we are touching tens of thousands of
lives every single day. It takes the talents of our men and women who are
on
our live video feed 24 hours a day praying for people's needs, giving them
hope when they are hurting. It takes our prayer warriors who faithfully
pray
for this ministry every day as we are going right into the front door of the
enemies headquarters on the Internet and taking it back for God. It takes
the gifts of our technical people to keep the website, the live video, the
mailing of our daily devotional, all of those functions operational 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week. It takes the Godly wisdom of our ministry team that
responds in a personal way to the several thousand special prayer requests
we
get daily via email. It takes the resources of those who God has blessed to
support this work and keep it growing. I never forget for a second that God
has brought together many, many talented and wonderful people to make this
ministry work each and every day to be a beacon of light and hope to people
worldwide. I am in awe sometimes when I think about the fact that 4 months
ago this did not even exist, and how God has raised up Liveprayer in such a
short period of time to touch so many lives daily.

My prayer for you is that you never forget that it takes all of us working
together to make things work in the Kingdom of God. I pray that you will use
your talents each and every day to help further His work at home, school,
work, in your church, community, and all the places God has placed you. When
God's people work together, there are no limits to what can be accomplished
in His name and for His glory!

Killing Our Wounded

(Luke 10:33,34)

Killing our wounded. It has been said many times that the Christian army is
the only army that kills it's wounded. How true. In these verses from the
famous Good Samaritan story, it is interesting how the religious men who saw
the wounded traveler passed by on the other side. How much that is like
religious
people today. Rather than unconditionally helping someone who is down,
hurting, they sit back and talk about how the person got that way. They
talk
about the sins in their life that put them in that wounded state. They talk
with spiritual pride about how they could never do the things the wounded
person did. They almost take joy in seeing their brother or sister hurting.
Trust me, I know that the mail is going to start pouring in from this
devotional before it is even 5 minutes old. People will be outraged that I
had the audacity to say such things. The trouble is they are true!

How easy would it have been for Jesus to condemn the adulterous woman at the
well. Instead he talked to her and rather than condemn her, tried to show
her
another way. Each day in these devotionals, I sometimes point out words,
God's, not mine, to try and warn you from behavior that could lead to great
heartache and pain. God loved you so much He put these warnings in His Word
to try and save you from going through the tragedies so many are going
through every day, because they chose to ignore God and do it their way. But
what is our response to be to the one who has rebelled, the one who has
fallen, the one who is hurting? Condemn them? Tell them how stupid they
are? Ignore their pain and keep on going on with our own life?

I want you to think hard today about how you respond to people who have
fallen, those who are hurting. God still loves them. He didn't stop loving
Adam and Eve even though he kicked them out of the garden. God doesn't stop
loving us even though we have failed Him. I pray today that you will allow
God to use you as an instrument of healing in the life of someone who is
hurting today. Right now, this very second, you know someone who needs
love,
support, and kindness. You know someone who is "laying wounded by the side
of the road" that God has placed in your path to minister to. Will you
respond to that opportunity the way those religious men did on that dusty
Jericho Road, the way so many "religious" people respond today? Or will
you
be like the Good Samaritan and help that person recover. God is challenging
you through these very words to be like the Good Samaritan and help those
who
are fallen, hurting, and needing His love.

Let me challenge you one last time. Find someone today that is hurting and
needs help. Go there with the love of Christ and let them know that Jesus
loves them, cares for them, and will help them get back on their feet. I
love you, am praying for you. I am continually challenged what a few, for
the most part, uneducated men who followed a Jewish carpenter 2000 years ago
were able to do in regard to touching the world. With the great technology
we have today, how much can a few sold-out for Jesus people do if we are
serious. Let's make a difference in our own lives, and then in the lives
of
others.

The Ambush

(Jeremiah 51:12)

The ambush. One of the most famous ambushes in history happened 58 years
ago
today when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Sneak attacks have been part
of
warfare since it's inception. It is a strategy and can be used very
effectively. Catching your enemy off guard gives you a tremendous advantage.
In our spiritual lives, we are often the target of an ambush by satan, and
God has warned us to be prepared, to be ready so we are not caught off guard.
Incredibly, we are most susceptible to the ambush when we are strongest.
When things are going well, when we are on top of the things going on in our
lives, we get lulled into a false sense of self-confidence. We get lazy.
We
forget to do the things we did that made us strong. That is when we are the
most ripe to be ambushed.

As God warned the prophets of old, today He is warning you. Be prepared.
Keep watch. The battle is never over, and when you least expect it is when
the enemy will attack. This is not meant to scare you or have you living
in
fear, thinking what will happen next. This is to prepare you for the
inevitable. As long as you are living, loving God, serving God, you are
going to be a target. All God wants you to do is be prepared. The way you
do
that is by maintaining that close, personal daily relationship with Him.
Battling each day the sin in your life so the enemy has no foothold in your
life. Fulfilling God's purpose for your life by serving Him each day,
loving
others, helping others.

My goal today, my prayer today for you is that you open your heart, look at
your life, and ask yourself if you are prepared if the enemy launches a
sneak
attack on your life today. If the answer is yes, I am prepared, then
continue doing the things you have to do each day to stay strong. If the
answer is no, then it is time to change the things you need to change so you
are ready. Trust me, the ambush, the attacks are not going to stop.
Prepare
for them now, because once you are in the middle of the fight, it is tough
to
think, to respond the way you need to respond to be victorious. I am praying
today that you will stop whatever it is you are doing and make sure you are
prepared for a sneak attack on your life this very day.

I love you and am thankful for your prayers and support of our work here at
Liveprayer.com. A lot of what we do here is help people through the crisis
in their life. They are already in the battle and need God's help to be
victorious. That is why I take opportunities from time to time to try and
prepare you in advance for the attacks that will eventually come, so that you
are prepared. God loves you and has given you all the tools you need to be
victorious. Make sure you are using them and doing everything you can do to
stand strong, so that you are not only victorious in your own life, but you
can help others be victorious as well.

I am grateful for all of you that email me daily with your special needs.
As
you know, I answer each and every request and try to impart some Godly,
scriptural advice to help you in your time of need. Never hesitate to write
me since I am sure God has placed me here, not by accident, but for a divine
reason. He loves you and speaks to you in many ways, so never hesitate to
use all of your options during those difficult times to hear from Him in
every way possible. Make this a great day as you serve Him, while insuring
you are prepared for whatever the enemy may decide to throw at you.

Being Kind

Ephesians 4:32

Being kind. How many times in a day do we lose our temper, snap at those we
love, ignore those we work with, go to school with, and interact with each day?
Sometimes, we are so wrapped up in our life, our problems, what we are
trying
to get done, we simply tune out others. You see, being kind requires us to
care for others. It requires us to concentrate on their needs. It forces
us
to look away from ourselves and look at others.

Like most of the things I write about each day, this is something we usually
overlook, often take for granted, and seldom think about. If you asked most
people, they would tell you that they are "kind" to others. Most of the
time
they are probably right. But God has told us to be kind to others and
again, in our attempt to be living within His will, this is another facet of
our life we must be aware of. Being kind in a Biblical sense means that we
need to put others before ourselves. Look at serving others instead of
serving ourselves. Kindness requires our focus be on someone else.

One thing I learned early in my ministry was that only God can change a
human heart. He uses us as instruments to touch peoples lives and soften
their hearts so He can speak to them. Our acts of kindness to others is a
way
for God to speak to someone who needs Him. You never know where a person
really is in terms of their life, but God does. Our kindness to someone at
a
critical point can be the act that opens them to hear God's voice speaking
to
them.

I will be praying for you to focus this day on being kind to others.
Never underestimate how God is using you. It is usually in those simple
acts
that God uses us the most. Practice being kind to others each day so that
it
becomes natural. Our nature is to focus on ourselves first and others
second. God wants us to change that nature to focus on others first and
ourselves second. That means we must trust God to look out after our needs.
I am praying that your faith be increased to trust Him to care for you,
while you
care for others.

This is a great day today. It is unique because it is like no other day,
and
when it is gone, will never be back. Make the most of it for Him.

A TIME TO REFRESH

We have become so busy every day, our lives so tightly scheduled, that we
never seem to have an opportunity to just relax and allow our minds and
bodies to refresh. When was the last time that you took a few hours and did
nothing but just relax? In this fast-paced society where we push ourselves
to the limit constantly, it is no wonder why so many turn to alcohol, drugs,
and illicit sex. It is no wonder why so many end up in the hospital. We end up
burning out our minds and bodies, and try to find the temporary relief to
just get through one more day.

God never intended for his creation to live this way. Productivity is fine,
but to never stop and relax, allow ourselves the time to recharge, is
destructive. Our original purpose was to serve and glorify our Creator.
How can we do this when we are so focused on all of the things of this world
that occupy our time. In our busy day, the first thing we neglect is our
time
alone with God, our time of fellowship with Him, in prayer, the Word. How
can we truly have a personal relationship with someone that we never take
the time to be with?

Let me encourage you today. Slow down. Make time each day to fellowship
with God. You can do more in His strength than you could ever do in your
own. Why try to do it all with the little bit you have, when He can do it
all with the might and limitless power of the creator of the universe!
Today, the Lord is saying to you, "Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest." Stop, relax, refresh. Take the
refreshing that can only come from God. My friend, you will be able to do
more, accomplish more, feel better, and enjoy life, when you are living each
day in His unlimited strength and not your own.

Pride

(Proverbs 16:18)

Pride (ego) and the fall. I have come to realize that the majority of people
who are getting these devotionals each day are very intelligent, mature, and
gifted. Many are what society would call overachievers and successful. That
is why today, I want to give you a warning from God's word to help you from
having to endure some of God's "tough love" we read about in Hebrews 12.
First of all, there is nothing wrong with being ambitious, driven, people of
achievement. The trouble comes when our priorities are out of place and our
efforts are more focused on what the world expects from us, and not so much
what God expects. Let me remind you, the gifts, talents, and intelligence God
gave you was for the ultimate purpose of serving and glorifying Him. There
are so many ways God uses us, and in may cases He allows us success in "the
world" in order to serve Him better. Again, I am in no way condemning
success in the world we live in. We need more driven Christians who are
successful in order to use all of the resources..finances, man-power,
influence, creativity....to further the Kingdom. I am only trying to get you
to stop for just a second to revisit where your priorities are and if you
are overachieving in the world and underachieving for the Lord.

The Bible, history, daily life gives us unlimited examples of people falling who are
successful. That fall can ultimately be traced back to their ego and
pride. It is one of satan's greatest plots against God's most gifted
children. It is an easy trap to fall into. At a certain point, you think
all of your success is because of you and forget it is only because of God.
You start to believe you are in total control of the "world" you have
created, being reminded how little control you really have when your spouse
leaves, your children are in trouble, people close to you die, you find out
you have major health problems, and a multitude of things you have absolutely
NO CONTROL over. God blessed me in so many ways, but after a period of so
much rebellion, He took mercy on me and allowed me to fall in order to build
me back into what He wanted. You see, that is where pride, the "first sin,"
since it was because of pride Lucifer was cast out of heaven, becomes deadly.
We end up in control of so much of the world we live in and are so good at
it, we start to act like we can do a better job at being God than God can. As
much as you may think you are, you are not omniscient, you are not
omnipotent, and you are not omnipresent. You are not God!

I was led to write this devotional today because there are many successful
people who need to hear this warning. There are many students reading
this devotional that need to learn early how to prioritize their life.
Success in the world is tremendous, but at the expense of being successful
for God it is not worth it. Why trade success for a day, when you can be
successful for eternity? I love you, care about you, and sometimes have been
criticized for not being more upbeat, more pleasant in the things I write each
day. The trouble is, I am one of the most upbeat people you will ever know,
and what I write is all based not on my words, but on His. Too many want to
read the promises and gloss over the warnings. It is like driving down the
street and going thru the green lights and ignoring the red lights. You may
do it a few times, but eventually it will catch up with you and the results
could be deadly. You are committing spiritual suicide by not heeding to the
many warnings God has placed in His Word to protect you, mostly from yourself.

I will be praying for you today. This is a great warning for everyone, but
there are some who need this word desperately today. My prayer is that you
adopt a plan I have been using for the last 10 years. On my mirror in the
bathroom, the first thing I see every morning is the verse out of John,
"without me you can do nothing." My prayer every morning is that I never
forget that without Him, I am able to do nothing that will stand the test of
eternity. I have found that when I humble myself before Him, it become much
easier to humble myself before people.

Helping Others

(Galatians 6:2)

Helping others. So much of the mail I get each day involves people trying
to
understand God's will for their life. I have talked about this subject many
times, since many of our problems in life are because we are living outside
the will of God. There is a unique and specific plan for each one of our
lives, but there is also a general plan we all share. Today, I want to look
at one area of that general plan we all share if we are to be in the will of
God. It is helping others. You can read for yourself all of the passages
in
the Old and New Testament that talk about helping others. Jesus talked
extensively about our duty, not our option, but our duty to help others.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians says that when we bear one another's
burdens, we are fulfilling the law of Christ. You see, God doesn't try to
trick you, or make you guess what His will is. He comes right out and tells
you what He expects from you to be in His will.

Helping others can take many forms. Praying for someone else's needs.
Listening to someone who needs to talk about their problems. Stopping to
help someone who is in need. There are many ways to help someone, but I
want
to reiterate, it is not something you do if you want to. If you truly want
to be in the will of God, you need to be actively looking for ways to help
others. You see, our ultimate service to God comes when we are serving the
needs of others. God put us here to serve and glorify Him with our lives,
and one of the most effective forms of service is by attending to the needs
of others. I have to tell you, for many years I spent 50 weeks a year
doing
evangelistic meetings in churches of all denominations all over the country.
The last 5 years, my ministry has been producing programming for Christian
television stations throughout the nation. I have been very fulfilled in
serving God through these years of ministry, but I have never been more
excited as I am now about the work I am doing here at Liveprayer.com. Why?
This work is serving others in it's greatest form. Being available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, accessible literally to people all over the world,
our
only mission being to share the hope and love we have in Christ with people
in their time of need. It doesn't get any better than this.

I will be praying today that you get very serious about helping others. not
just during the Holiday season, but 12 months a year. Again, it is not an
option, but a command from God. Trust me, when you make it a priority to
serve others, God will open those doors and keep you very busy. On a
personal note, I can tell you from my life experience, that as I stayed busy
serving the needs of others, God was busy taking care of my needs.
Sometimes
you get so focused on your needs that you forget others. Instead, focus on
others and you will be amazed how God will work out your problems. I always
say that if you are about His business, He will be about your business.

Patience

(Hebrews 10:36)

One of the things I lack more than anything in my life is patience. I have done better as I get older, but it is still something that I have to pray about and work on almost every day. Many of the problems that I read about in people’s lives each and every day can be traced back to a lack of patience. How often do we jump out, do something without really thinking it through or praying about it . . . and then not waiting on God to see if it is something that He wants us to be doing . . . and end up in a major mess? It doesn’t matter what the issue is. Finances, relationships, where we should be working, living, recreating, going to school. Everything we do in our life should be done with careful thought, prayer, and leading by the
Holy Spirit.

Yesterday, I spoke about hearing from God. Obviously, this is where patience comes in to play. Now this doesn’t mean we are to just sit in our room, praying, fasting, and waiting for God to speak to us from the heavens. To be very honest with you, I really hope that never happens to me. I’m comfortable hearing from God in the ways I spoke of yesterday. We just can’t be paralyzed, we need to live our lives. But as we are making those key important decisions of life, we need to think them through, ask ourselves what does the Word say, what would God want us to do. I can tell you, almost every decision we make during the day can be made using those two questions as your guide. In the bigger decisions, those that will affect our life in a major way, we need to exercise patience and see what God wants us to do. Don’t forget, He has a plan and purpose for your life already drawn up. He will show you the way, give you direction on those key important decisions. He won’t be silent. The big problem becomes when our desires aren’t His desires. We often try to see what we want to see and ignore God when He is obviously closing a door in our life, or perhaps opening one. One reason we often don’t have much patience is because we may already know what it is God wants and it isn’t really what we want. It is called rebellion. and it will cause you pain and heartache every single time. Maybe not right away, but trust me, when you are doing it your way and not His, there is ALWAYS a price to pay.

I care about you a great deal. It is no accident you receive these devotionals every day, and I never take lightly the opportunity God has given me to encourage you, challenge you, stand with you as He continues to make you the man or woman of God He intended, as He speaks to you and leads you into the service he has planned for your life each and every day. I will be praying today for you to have patience and to wait on God during those critical decisions you must make at times in your life. I will be praying that you hear Him clearly and then follow His direction. Not rebel, but obediently follow Him in the direction He wants you to go.