Coffee With The Lord

Proverbs 3:1-12, for me, expresses several key life-principles that have guided my life over the years.  I read them over again this morning with relish.  I would have to say these are core concepts that I have personally embraced – they have made all the difference in the quality of my daily life.  Each comes with a wonderful promise or assurance.  I highly recommend them!  Here is a fresh personal statement of those principles…

1.  Don’t forget the reliable life-lessons you been taught by the key influencers in your life (especially godly parents)!  What they have invested in you will adorn and distinguish your life.

2.  Embrace and live out your covenant relationships with devotion and faithfulness!  God will honor you… and so with others.

3.  Trust in the Lord completely – don’t try to run your own life.  The Lord will smooth out your path and work out all the details.

4.  Reverence the Lord and live out that reverence humbly.  It is the healthy way to live and you discover fresh vitality in your life.

5.  Honor the Lord with your possessions.  He promises to prosper you!

6.  Accept your Heavenly Father’s discipline.  It is a sign that he cares about you – that he deeply loves you and you’re his child.

Take it from me… this passage is worth committing to memory!

When I don’t know how to pray, or what to pray, or flounder with my emotions in prayer because my heart is groaning over some situation and need… I depend on the inspired truth Apostle Paul taught us… “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness… The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God!” (Romans 8:26-27) Oh blessed thought… He can turn my groaning into a prayer – an effective prayer!

Here’s a scene that came to mind as I read from Proverbs 1:8-19 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

An old, experienced soldier, veteran to many battles, and a new, inexperienced recruit are in enemy territory!  They are traveling through rough terrain and a dense forest engaged in guerilla warfare!  It has been a long challenging day – they are tired and hungry.  Tension is high and there is a palpable sense of dread.  Suddenly an opening… the heavy brush clears and there appears to be an abandoned campsite with provisions left behind… The young recruit appears ready to step out into the open… just then he hears an urgent whisper in his ear… “Son, I think it’s a trap!”

Here’s what the Bible says that prompted that picture in my mind…

“My child, listen when your father corrects you… If sinners entice you, turn your back on them!  They may say, ‘Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!  Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.  Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.  Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.’  MY CHILD, DON’T GO ALONG WITH THEM! STAY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR PATHS.  They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.  IF A BIRD SEES A TRAP BEING SET, IT KNOWS TO STAY AWAY.  But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed!” (From Proverbs 1:8–19 New Living Translation)

Loving parents want the best for their children and godly spiritual leaders care about those they serve!  When they warn, “Don’t believe it!  Don’t do it!  Don’t go there! …It’s a trap!” their counsel is driven by love, concern and experience!  I’m so grateful for the urgent whispers I heard warning me, “SON, I THINK IT’S A TRAP!”