Grab the Keys!

Greetings,

Matthew 16:19 “You have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

One of my favorite TV shows is the 1960's sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.  It’s such a funny, wholesome show, and it seems like almost every episode someone winds up in jail. The main characters, after all, are Andy the town sheriff and Barney, his inept but lovable deputy. One time a character named Otis was locked up for the night and waiting to be released.  Unknown to him, however, was that all along the keys were right outside his cell hanging on a peg.  That’s one of the running jokes of the show: The keys are always hanging on that peg within easy reach of anyone who is locked up.

I hate to admit it, but I am a lot like Otis.  Sometimes I find myself imprisoned in a jail of worry, confusion, stress... and I forget the keys are right there.  Or worse, I doubt whether they will really unlock the door or not, so I don't reach for them.

What keys am I really talking about?  The keys to the kingdom, which are PRAYER and more PRAYER.  It always comes back to prayer. Many of us stay locked up in fear, loneliness, hopelessness, sickness, and need because we don’t use the keys.

Prayer is the means by which heavens doors open up and bless us here on earth.  Prayer eliminates barriers. Prayer gives us complete and free access to everything God has to offer.  (Please refer to Psalm 103 for a quick summary of what  those blessings are). 

Prayer is the means by which God decided to make a bridge between heaven and earth.  Christ gave us His life to build that bridge, and like they were for Otis, the keys are within easy reach. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for so freely giving us the keys to the kingdom.  Some days we forget to use the keys, we forget they are right there, or doubt they work.  But thank You that they are the easiest things to access; all it takes is a little talk with Jesus.  We say “YES!” to Jesus and the health, protection, peace, love, guidance, and hope that He offers right here where we are on earth.  And we say “No!” to anxiety, disease, worry, fear, loneliness, and hatred.  Heaven agrees with us, and we receive it! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!