Daily Devotional for Friday April 24, 2009

Am I now trying to Win the Approval of Men or of God

(Galatians 1:10)

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

Pleasing God rather than man!!! Carrie Prejean is a classic example of what I challenge people to do daily, take a stand for their faith in the marketplace. Carrie took her stand on one of the grandest stages of all, before an international television audience in the final stages of the Miss America contest! Representing the State of California, and being one of the finalists vying for this year's crown, she was given her opportunity when she was asked a question about gay marriage by celebrity blogger and radical sodomite activist Perez Hilton.

Now, Carrie Prejean is not a pastor. She is a beauty pageant contestant. Her scores in the final round of the competition had her either in the lead or very close. Her answer in this final phase would ultimately give her the scores she needed to be crowned our latest Miss America. There was really no reason for her to do anything but give a typical politically-correct answer to appease the judges and viewers to secure her victory. It was a real-life example of choosing to please man or please God.

She started down a very safe road with her answer, expressing the fact that in this country we have choices. She had every reason to stay on that safe road, but at the moment of truth, Prejean clearly stated that according to how she was raised and her faith, marriage was between a man and a woman. In that spilt second, she decided that it was better to please God than man. Many have speculated her answer cost her the Miss America crown, but let me assure you, she may have lost that temporal crown, but in return she will receive a heavenly crown for taking her stand for God's Holy Institution of Marriage!!!

In the wake of her stand for marriage being between a man and a women, Hilton has castigated her calling her a dumb b* and recently referring to her as a c*, only showing what a low class, sad, disgusting, and troubled man he really is. Once again, Prejean has taken the path of our Lord and her only response to Hilton and the other critics that have hammered her relentlessly has been to state she is praying for them. AMEN!

Let me make this critical observation. In a time when high-profile Christians with huge followings like the gutless Joel Osteen and Rick Warren are compromising the Truth of the Bible to please men, it took a mere beauty pageant contestant to stand in the public spotlight and take her stand for God's Truth. She refused to worry about the personal consequences, has endured the wrath and hatred from those in the homosexual community, but instead of apologizing to them, she has stood firm in her faith. A great example for all.

I love you and care about you so much. Most reading this will never had to stand before a worldwide television audience and stand for Christ, enduring the public ridicule of the international media afterwards. However, every day in your neighborhood, at the grocery store, in the gym, at work, in school, on the athletic field, you get YOUR opportunity to take a stand for Christ and for Biblical Truth.

What example will you follow? The example of one high-profile Christian after another who goes into the secular media and compromises God's Truth, opting to please men over God? Or will you be like Carrie Prejean and boldly, proudly, take your stand for Christ? I pray today that regardless of the personal consequences, you will choose to please God over men. I am praying for you and for His boldness and strength the next opportunity you get!!!

***As we are heading into the last 6 days of the month, we need $40,000 to cover the rest of our April internet and TV/radio obligations. I am praying for the Lord to move on the hearts of each person in the Liveprayer family who is able, to send a gift by the end of the month to help me insure these obligations are met on time. I know many are facing difficult times, but I also know God has protected and blessed most through this economic storm. What better way to show your gratitude than by using some of those resources to bring His hope to so many lost and hurting souls.

It has been the faithfulness of many friends these past 116 months that has allowed us to be a blessing to millions. Now you can be a blessing to someone who needs Christ by sending the most generous gift you can today. The Bible teaches to give as you are able. For some that may be a gift of $20 or $50. For others it may be a gift of $100 or $200. Still others can give $500, $1,000, or even more. It is not the amount God sees, but your heart. Simply be obedient and give as the Holy Spirit guides you to give.

Also, we have had 15 people who have contacted me to let me know they would be part of the 300 I need to make a special commitment of $1,000/mo from April thru December in order for Liveprayer to pay off ALL remaining debt, and cover our existing monthly operational costs as we build a base of at least 1 million people in the Jonah Project to immediately lead this nation back to God and His Truth. Please pray today about making the sacrifice to be part of this special group of people God is putting together.

TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card on our secure server at: www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" link, you can give using your PayPal account using my email address: bkeller@liveprayer.com, or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.

Thank you for standing with me. Now is the moment, this is the time. It is a new year. We must forge ahead to lead this nation back to God and to Biblical values, and bring His hope to the lost. May you be richly blessed as you serve and follow Him. Together, God can use our lives to impact millions of souls in these last days for all eternity!

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