Daily Devotional for Tuesday February 26, 2002

Hearing What God has to Say

(Ecclesiastes 5:1)

This can be one of the most difficult things we do each day. In some cases, we "just know", and in others, we just aren't really sure. When we "just know", we need to boldly move ahead; when we aren't really sure, we need to be patient, because He will always send us confirmation. When God gave me the vision for Liveprayer.com about this time three years ago, it was one of those "just know" messages. Having enjoyed great success over the previous four years creating programming for Christian TV stations nationwide, my life and ministry were going very well. But despite things going so smoothly, I knew deep down I was on cruise control and God wanted more from my life.

I have to be honest with you and share that I originally put God on hold about Liveprayer.com. After doing the initial research, doing what God was asking me to do was going to require several hundred thousand dollars to launch and sustain, AND a huge commitment of my time. For both reasons, I started to find excuses not to move forward. Then one night I was reading about Jesus calling His disciples from their lives to follow Him. The Holy Spirit told me that what I was reading about were the ones that responded to the call. What was NOT in the Bible were the ones who did not answer the call to follow Jesus. No doubt there were some who Jesus called who did not respond, just like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 who "went away sorrowful" because he did not want to pay the cost of discipleship. Talk about missing the opportunity of a lifetime.

Under great conviction, I asked God to forgive me and quickly turned my entire focus to preparing and launching Liveprayer.com to reach people on the Internet for God. When I signed on the website on August 30, 1999 at noon EDT, Liveprayer.com was the only non-adult website, and still is today, to literally broadcast LIVE video 24/7 over the Internet. In less than 30 months, we have had over 8 million visitors to the website, have prayed over and responded to just under 10 million prayer requests, and now send the Daily Devotional to over 900,000 email accounts each morning. More importantly, we know of at least 9,000 people who have professed Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and have seen countless miracles in people's marriages, health, and finances. God is still in the miracle business in the year 2002!!!

I share this to encourage you today, that when God is speaking to you--LISTEN and OBEY. It is unlimited what He can do with a life totally yielded to Him. He took a few totally sold-out men after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and not only turned the world of that day upside down, but changed the course of human history forever, as untold millions, maybe even billions have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior because of their obedience. Remember, God uses our obedience and faithfulness to accomplish His plan and purpose, and nothing we do for Him is in vain, although we will never fully see the fruits of our labor.

In closing, let me say thank you to those who have supported me in prayer and those who have already been faithful in giving to this work in the past. After being on the road preaching in over 500 churches in 3 years, having produced hundreds of programs for Christian TV stations nationwide, I can honestly say that what I am doing now is the most rewarding time of my ministry. Helping people in their daily lives is what real ministry is about. I have to admit that I get discouraged from time to time because of the financial burdens it has caused in my ministry and home. But God clearly showed me that as long I was faithful to do the work He called me to each day, He would bring people to help sustain this ministry and help it make an impact on the lives of those who are on the Internet and beyond. God doesn't lie, so I walk by faith daily and count on the faithfulness of you to stand with me.

Please know how much I have grown to love and care for you. I do pray for you daily and having responded to thousands of your prayer requests personally, I feel I know so many of you. Be richly blessed today as you listen to God's voice and are obedient to His calling on your life.