Coffee With The Lord

What do genuine Spiritual leaders – “Great Hearts” – pray about? What is their passion – their heartbeat and desire for those they lead?

Colossians 1:3-14 gives us a glimpse through the “apostolic prayerlife” of Apostle Paul

First of all they’re thankful…That the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world!

Then they have two major prayer requests for fellow Christians…

1. That they might fully comprehend God’s will (1:9b)

2. That their lives might honor and please the Lord (1:10a) By…

• Continual fruitfulness evidenced by good works
• A growing, deepening, personal relationship with Christ
• Endurance and patience in trials, faced with the strength that God supplies
• Expressing gratitude to God for His salvation

This is not an exhaustive list of the kinds of things “great hearts” (those with the “heart of an apostle”) pray about (other things are revealed in the other “apostolic prayers”)… but this is a partial, representative list.

Oh, listen to me… I want to have, and exhibit, the “heart of an apostle!”

Can you imagine being the parents of Samson in the Bible?  Can you identify?  (I urge you to read Judges 13 – 16)

Samson’s parents had waited, hoped and prayed for a child a long time…

There was a clear sense (even a divinely communicated message) that they would be parents of “a special child”

They dedicated themselves to the task of raising Him for the Lord (“I beg you teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born” – Judges 13:8)

They devoted themselves to godly parenting in a decadent culture…

There were clear indications God had His hand on his life – Gifts of the Spirit periodically were evident as he grew and matured…

But also there was concerning evidence of spiritual inconsistency and carnal behavior…

Disappointment came with many of the moral choices he made…

Confrontation and counsel was rejected… parental concern deepened…

Devastating choices were made by him that led to spiritual, moral and physical bondage…

Prayer, prayer, and more prayer for their son…

A final spiritual victory… or was it a defeat?

Can you identify as a parent?

It’s easy to criticize and suggest what they could have done differently…

Samson’s parents had to do what many godly parents have to do today in this culture… Pray fervently, trust that God will honor their parenting efforts, acknowledge their shortcomings, put their child in God’s hands daily, and trust God’s faithfulness and promises.

I just want you to know that as a fellow Christian parent, I prayed for you and the child you are concerned about today!

An ol’ country song has a line in it that goes like this… “Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play, WHERE SELDOM IS HEARD A DISCOURAGING WORD and the skies are not cloudy all day.”

Well today’s post is NOT a “discouraging word” – instead let me share “AN ENCOURAGING WORD” from my Bible reading this morning – Psalm 119:14-17! In fact, I wrote this in the margin of my Bible next to the verses: “Just what is needed when facing a crisis!” So if you’re facing a difficulty, an emergency or crisis let these words – “God’s word” – sustain and uphold you!

“I have put my hope in your word! … Sustain me, my God, according to your promise and I will live! Do not let my hopes be dashed! Uphold me, and I will be delivered!”

There it is… “an encouraging word!” Go with it today!!! Depend on it… depend on Him!