Daily Devotional for Monday February 18, 2019

My birthday present to YOU!!!

(Luke 4:18)

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: Dear Lord, thank you for another day of life. Let me never get so caught up in just 'getting through the day" I don't appreciate each day for the gift from You it is! Bless this day, and allow me to use it in some small way for your glory. Thank you for this life, and most of all, for my eternal relationship with You! In the name of Jesus I pray...AMEN!

Today is a special day for me as I celebrate my 61st birthday. I never forget that tomorrow is promised to none of us and that each day is a gift from God. So I am most grateful for the Lord blessing me with these years of life, and am even more grateful that He allows me the honor of waking up each morning to serve Him.

My hand is to the plough, I am not looking back, and am so excited each morning at what God is going to do in people's lives that day. I look forward to sharing the Truth of God's Word and the hope and love of Jesus Christ with the lost and hurting in the world until He says my work is over and calls me home.

It is normal on your birthday to receive presents. You may get a new pair of shoes, some clothes, a watch, maybe a nice dinner out, or even something as extravagant as a new car. However, even though it is my birthday, I have a present for YOU today. It is better than new shoes, or new clothes, or a shiny watch. It is even better than a new car. My present to you today will actually add YEARS TO YOUR LIFE!

You see, I really do love you and care about you. I am so thankful for you being part of my life and I want you to be around for many years to come should Jesus tarry in His return. Even though it is God who will have the last word when our life is over, we can make the free will choices to do things that can literally shorten our days. So today, my present to you is how to live as long as you possibly can to enjoy this life and be a productive servant of our Lord until the moment He calls you home.

Over the past 20 years here at Liveprayer I have spoken many times on how our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and how we should do all that we can to keep our temples in the best shape possible. I have spoken often about how it is our responsibility to be in the best physical shape possible to be able to serve God to our best ability for as long as we possibly can.

Less than 10% of those reading this today exercise regularly or even try to eat the right foods. OVER 90% OF THOSE READING THIS TODAY ARE OVERWEIGHT AND THOSE EXTRA POUNDS ARE SHORTENING YOUR LIFE!!! Today I am going to help you lose weight. MORE IMPORTANTLY, KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF without spending thousands on joining a health club, buying machines, or becoming a slave to the latest pills or juices that will cost you $50 a month and NEVER do what they promise.

There are two elements required to lose weight. First is exercise. You MUST be on a disciplined exercise plan and be faithful to that plan to burn the calories necessary, not to mention the positive effects it has on your heart and muscles. Second is what you eat. There is NO way to lose weight, maintain your optimum weight, unless you are watching what you eat and drink. Sweets, soft drinks, alcohol, snack foods all have tons of calories that will put pounds on you.

If you are doing lots of exercise, you can get away with eating some things that are not the best for you to be eating, but you must be aware of all that you eat and drink. I hate to be over simplistic, but the fact is, if you are exercising regularly and watching what you eat, you can and WILL lose weight and MAINTAIN your ideal weight.

Please let me add this VERY IMPORTANT fact. Everyone has their own ideal weight. Genetics DO play a factor in this, and how God created our bodies is an issue. There are some people who simply will carry more weight than others. There is NOTHING wrong with being what some may consider overweight. Nobody can be the media's definition of perfect, nor should we try. We have to use common sense and accept the fact that some people are simply created to carry more weight than others. The key is, are you where YOU need to be at for YOUR body???

From the amount of emails that I get every day, I know that this is a major issue for many of you. Here is the secret. It is a battle like any other battle you fight in life. It is first a spiritual battle. The strength you get to stick to your exercise routine, to eat the right things each day, do NOT come from a pill or from yourself, IT HAS TO COME FROM GOD!!! You need to take the time each morning and pray to God for the strength and diligence to stick to your exercise plan and what you eat. IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!

People fail in their sincere efforts in this area because they have left out the spiritual element to it!!!

FORGET THE $50 A MONTH PILL OR JUICE AND REPLACE IT WITH PRAYER! All that pill or juice does is remind you that this is a commitment that you have made. Period. Prayer will not only remind you, but strengthen you to stick to it and see victory!!!

I love you and care about you so much and am grateful to be able to give you this present today! I will be praying for you that God will inspire you to take action in this area of your life. HE IS SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT ADDING YEARS TO YOUR LIFE! You don't need the latest pill or juice to lose weight.

You need to exercise, watch what you eat, and PRAY! That is the special element. God will give you the strength and motivation to get victory over this area of your life. He will help you. Like in all things, when we are serious and ask God to help us, HE WILL!!! You will not only lose the weight you desire, but keep it off as long as you are willing to exercise, watch what you eat, and pray about this daily!

Losing weight and maintaining a certain weight is like every other battle we face. We must have a battle plan that we work faithfully each day, and that plan must include accountability to others and God. We aren't strong enough to get and maintain victory on our own. We need to have others in our life to hold us accountable and to keep us where we need to be in our day-to-day actions. I realize that this is an issue with many who are reading this right now. Know today that there is hope, there is victory waiting for you!

Exercise, pay attention to what you eat, have people in your life who will hold you accountable to your exercise routine and what you eat, and pray daily for God to give you the strength and resolve to stick to the plan. IT WILL ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE! This is an important issue because the better you feel, the better shape you are in, the more fit you are, the better you will be able to serve and glorify God with your life for many years to come!

***If you would like to give me a great birthday present, pray about a gift of Liveprayer of $61 ($1 for each year), $610 ($10 for each year), or $6100 ($100 for each year)! There is nothing I desire more each day than to see souls saved, the Truth of God's Word heard in the marketplace, and to see this nation repent!

YOUR love, prayers, and sacrificial support is what allows me to do all God has called me to do and I thank you as together we turn our nation back to the Almighty and His Truth!!!

In His love and service,

Your friend, brother, and co-laborer in Christ,

Bill Keller