Coffee With The Lord

It really means a lot when you’re going through a difficult trial to have faithful, godly friends (even casual acquaintances) commit to prayer on your behalf… And not just promise to pray – actually support you with “fervent prayer!”  Prayer makes a difference!  The good news is, God hears and answers prayer!  You can feel the impact of prayer – real prayer support can be called “palpable” (a feeling so intense it seems almost tangible).  It’s a comforting and faith-building experience to have “prayer support!”

How do I know?  Well, I’ve experienced it!  Recently Sharon and I experienced a trial that shook us to the core!  We felt alone and bewildered… It was a trial that we couldn’t really share the details of… still can’t.  But we invited (appealed to) people to pray… even without the details, to “pray in the Spirit!” (Romans 8:26-28) Oh what a wonderful response!  A multitude of people rallied to the need and assured us of their prayer support!  They prayed and we felt it!  Not only that, we saw evidence that God was marvelously at work in the situation!  Wow!  Praise the Lord!!!

Here’s what Apostle Paul said about a similar experience in his life!  I read about it this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“For I do not want you to be unaware of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself!  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death!  But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.  YOU ALSO MUST HELP US BY PRAYER, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for THE BLESSING GRANTED US THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF MANY.” (From 2 Corinthians 1:8–11 ESV)

So here’s my advice… If you’re going through a serious trial… ask your friends – ask your church family to support you with prayer!  And if you know of someone who is going through a trial, commit to pray for them… and then do it!  Really pray!  Sustain prayer on their behalf!  The result?  The sense of Divine and human support will be wonderfully “palpable!”

I’ve faced some pretty challenging situations – the kind that sometimes lead to despair and despondency – even loss of faith! Perhaps you’re going through some circumstances like that right now.

The temptation in a situation like that is to see the size of the problem, the greatness of the difficulty, or what appears to be the insurmountable nature of the challenges. When that happens to me – I don’t know about you, but the greatness of God in my eyes decreases, my evaluation of his power is diminished, and tragically, most of all, my faith falters.

On Facebook you may have have a lot of “friends” … But what do you do if you’ve got a lot of “enemies?”

Here’s the situation King David experienced when the Philistines, Israel’s archenemies, seized Him in Gath… (Notice the phrases David used to describe his circumstances and situation…)

“My enemies trample on me… an attacker oppresses me… many attack me proudly… they injure my cause… their thoughts are against me for evil… they stir up strife… they lurk… they watch my steps… they have waited for my life.” (From Psalm 53:1-2, 5-6)

Ever kinda feel like you were going through something like that? David was having a rough day… perhaps a week… or longer, wouldn’t you say?

But here is how he dealt with it…

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You! In God, whose word I praise. In God I trust; I shall not be afraid! What can mere man do to me? … This I know, that God is for me! In God, whose word I praise – in the Lord, whose word I praise – In God I trust! I shall not be afraid what can mere man do to me?… You have delivered me… that I may walk before You in the light of life!” (From Psalm 56:3-4, 9b-11, 13)

I think David provides a really healthy example for us! What he did when he faced hatred and unjust attacks and the scheming of his enemies is a model for us! Trust the Lord to protect and vindicate you! Affirm and believe that “If God is for you, who can be against you?” (cp. Romans 8:31) Cling to the promises of God’s word and praise Him for those promises! Oh, and one more thing… Behave yourself and “Do not return evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” (Check out Romans 12:17 – It’s the New Testament way!)