Coffee With The Lord

Within the heart of every individual there are innate dreams and aspirations… The desire for love, acceptance, security, peace, fulfillment and joy. People not only desire these things, they pursue them – in fact, they go to great lengths to satisfy them!

The tragedy is, in their pursuit of these things they often do things that are counterproductive to those goals – they engage in things that actually rob them of the very things they pursue. They find themselves “hitting walls” in their pursuit! Instead of love and acceptance – they experience rejection. Instead of peace – they encounter anxiety. Instead of fulfillment – they face frustration. And instead of joy – anger and resentment well up within their hearts! Their pursuit of these things, regardless of how devoted, seems illusive, counter-productive, and frustrating!

In my Bible reading in Proverbs during my time of “coffee with the Lord” this week I encounter three verses of Scripture in Proverbs that diagnose this problem and offer helpful prescriptions and remedies! Here they are…

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12 NIV) In other words, don’t focus on the things that frustrate you – things that don’t turn out well. Instead celebrate the things that turn are fulfilling – things that deeply satisfy! Celebrate those things – focus on them!

Here’s another: “A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.” (Proverbs 13:19 NIV) Often we do the very things that are counterproductive to enjoying fulfillment, genuine joy, and deep satisfaction – sinful practices, harmful habits, and interpersonal toxins rob us of the very things we deeply desire. Tragically people often refuse to repent and turn to God for help and transformation.

One more… “Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things!” (Proverbs 13:21 NIV) I am convinced, that the person who in self-will pursues their own agenda, rather than God’s will for their life will inevitably experience frustration. We are not wired to live that way. The Bible declares, “The way of the transgressor is hard!” and Saul (before he was transformed by God’s grace) was told, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads (i.e. the painful things that God allows to come our way that actually are designed to nudge us toward God’s way for our lives)!”

Listen, Jesus declared, “I am come that you might have life, and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10) His way is best! Living for Him with all your heart results in the fulfillment of your deepest dreams and desires!

I just love it when we get a glimpse of the human side of Paul, the great apostle. There are several passages in Scripture that give us a window into his heart – his emotions – not simply his great theological head.

2 Corinthians does that… but there are others. I just finished reading one in 2 Timothy 4 that is filled with the “personal side” of Paul. It’s a passage that anyone who has ever been involved in the pleasure and pain – the good and bad – the encouraging and the frustrating side of pastoral ministry would understand and identify with.

I’m going to quote Paul’s own words at length… don’t rush past them. Pause and reflect on the feelings of a true spiritual leader that they represent… BUT whatever you do finish with Paul’s last paragraph – a wonderful, faith-filled affirmation!!! Here goes…

“Timothy, do your best to come to me quickly…

“…for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.

“Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me.

“Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

“I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

“Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.”

Did you feel both the pleasure and pain in Paul’s words – the love and loneliness – as he sought to fulfill his calling and do the Lord’s work (even from prison)?

But now Paul’s ringing, faith-filled affirmation in spite of it all! …

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles [the nations] might hear it! I was delivered from the lion’s mouth! The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom! To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (From 2 Timothy 4:9-18 NIV)

Listen, I’ve just got to tell you – as I seek to do the Lord’s work and fulfill his calling on my life, I want to be like Paul – fully human, but also filled with confidence and faith – persistent, prevailing faith in God!

We wake up with a start and say… “Aw it was just a dream! But something tells us it was more than that – what we just experienced was profound – deeply significant – we won’t soon forget it!

It’s happened to me on several occasions… not many, but several! I remember them – I’ve reflected on their significance – I believe God was speaking to me through those dreams! Ever happen to you?

It happened to Solomon! The account of his dream is in your Bible… Powerful! Profound!! Life and destiny changing!!!

Here it is… (from 1 Kings 3 in your Bible)

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream. And God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’” [Now that will blow your mind! Experiencing something like that is easily dismissed… “I was just dreaming – it’s just a dream!” … But God was in it! God was speaking to Solomon!]

Dreaming or not, Solomon responded… “Lord, my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen – a great people… So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” [I mean, it appears Solomon answered God in his dream! Was he still dreaming? Remember God was in it … it was more than “just a dream!”]

And here was God’s response…

“The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.’ Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.”

Just a dream you say… But it was a “God-dream” – God was in it – and God fulfilled it! In fact, the Bible says, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else…” (from 1 Kings 4:29-34 NIV)

So “It’s just a dream” you say… Listen God may be speaking to you through that dream! Don’t easily dismiss it! Weigh it, consider it, pray about it, check it out and respond to it with faith-obedience… and if God was speaking His will to you through it, believe it! … And watch and see what He will do!