Coffee With The Lord

I just finished reading and reflecting on John 1:1-18 during “Coffee with the Lord” this Christmas Eve… It is Apostle John’s reflection on who Jesus really is, and what He came to earth to do… Here’s the distilled essence of it for me this Christmas season…

Jesus Christ: God’s Word revealed! … Eternal Life made available! … The Light of Life shining brightly! – God Himself, my Lord and Savior (and yours), revealed in Human Flesh!

I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song to express the rich truth of John 1:1-18 than this one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXmfkFoX-PE

May each of you have a wonderful Christ-centered Christmas and a God-blessed New Year!

I listen to some people talk about their prayers and cringe!  The way they talk, God can be ordered around – even “commanded” in their words.  It seems their prayers are characterized by independence (rather than dependence), aggressiveness, and a self-assertive attitude.  I believe that kind of approach to God is unbiblical, dangerous, and inevitably will lead to disillusionment, disappointment and even sin.

How much better is prayer that seeks to align itself with the will of God, submit to His leadership, thankfully accept His gracious provision, and embrace His purposes!  Don’t get me wrong, we’re encouraged to come to Him with faith, articulate our requests, and trust Him to answer our prayers.  But NOWHERE in Scripture are we discouraged from praying, “Thy will be done!” – In fact, prayers that end like that are encouraged (even modeled by our Savior!  Check out Luke 22:42).

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read these inspired words in 1 John 5:14-15…

“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him; if we ask ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”

So I intend to pray in faith, making my requests known to Him… But I also want to seek to align my desires with His will, embrace His purposes, and accept to His wise provision!  Hey, there’s nothing wrong – and everything right – about praying, “Thy will be done!”  Father Tim, in the Mitford Series novels, calls it “the prayer that never fails!”  I like that!

Ever had one of these kinds of prayers… You were right in the middle of crisis… the situation demanded action be taken – that an answer be provided… You didn’t know what to do or what to say… So you shot up an unspoken prayer for help and guidance to God… It may have been as brief as “Oh God, help me now!” or simply, “Jesus!!!”

Does God hear those kinds of prayers? Does He answer them?
Well this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read about a prayer like that in the Bible (and God did answer it – and remarkably!)

It was preceded, however, by an intense, sincere, well-crafted, deliberate prayer. Nehemiah held an important position in the court of a pagan king, Artaxerxes, king of Babylon. He received news of the sad state of affairs among the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem, in his homeland. It was a humble prayer of intercession, of repentance, and appeal for God to help his people, grant forgiveness, and fulfill His promises! (You should read it – it’s in Nehemiah 1:4-11 – it’s really a model prayer!)
Heart sick, and burdened with concern, Nehemiah sought to fulfill his duties as cupbearer to the king. One day soon thereafter, Nehemiah “took up the wine and gave it to the king.” Artaxerxes, noticed the sad expression on Nehemiah’s face (an inappropriate and dangerous way to appear before the king!). The king asked, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart!”

“Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God heaven!”

In that crisis moment, Nehemiah did what many of us have done in an emergency situation – “He shot up a silent, unspoken, passionate prayer to God for help, guidance, and wisdom! His prayer is not recorded in Scripture (although his earlier prayer was recorded in the Bible)! This prayer on the spot, I believe, was a prayer for favor with the King – A passionate prayer for help in the moment!

God heard it! And God answered it – remarkable answered it! God gave Nehemiah favor with the king! The king granted Nehemiah a leave of absence to return to Jerusalem and help his people. He also granted Nehemiah abundant provision for the rebuilding of Jerusalem out of Babylon’s treasuries! Here’s how Nehemiah put it in his own words: “The king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me!” (From Nehemiah 1)

Here’s the deal then it seems to me… God hears and answers both kinds of prayer – those that that we thoughtfully and carefully craft and utter with sincere hearts of faith, and those that we passionately pray in a crisis within our hearts that are often unspoken! Don’t get the idea your prayer words have to be carefully crafted… Your Heavenly Father will hear and answer your prayer either way when you cry out to Him!