Coffee With The Lord

“Wow! You know everything… I mean EVERYTHING about me!”

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it!” (verses 1-6)

“Wow! You are present everywhere – everywhere I go!”

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you!” (verses 7-12)

“Wow! You created me – and you know me inside – out, even before I was born!”

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them!” (verses 13-16)

And then a summarizing “Wow”

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand!” (verses 17-18)

And finally, David (and my) response to all of these “Wows!”

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (verses 23-24)

This kind of thing, however, is happening all over our world, and not just in Muslim countries! It should serve as a reminder for us to support persecuted and suffering Christians – believers who live in countries where the Gospel is not welcome – regularly in our prayers!

The passage of Scripture I read this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” brought this to mind. It was Apostle Paul’s appeal (and word of reassurance) to the believers in Thessalonica (and believe me, they knew about suffering and persecution!)…

“Finally, brothers [and sisters], pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men! For not all have faith…

“But the Lord is faithful! He will establish you and guard you against the evil one… May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” ( 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 ESV)

Let’s do it, shall we? Let’s lift up fellow Christians who are suffering and persecuted for their faith elsewhere in the world today? Let’s pray for devoted followers of Jesus who are living in “danger zones” where the Gospel message is not welcome. Let’s do it regularly!

Appreciation, deep in your heart and pervasive in your personality, not only pleases God, it’s attractive to others. It’s a free makeover that the Creator gives generously that makes ordinary faces and common countenances absolutely stunning and winsome!

I was thinking about all of this when I read Psalm 136 this morning. If any passage makes it points by repetition this is the one! It’s like two choirs responding to each other’s refrain antiphonally: One sings out the character, grace and goodness of God – the other responds with the lyric reminder and declaration, “For His steadfast love [Hebrew, “Hesed” – His “covenant keeping love,” His mercy} endures forever!”

Here’s a taste of the preoccupying perspective I want to capture my heart and influence my face from Psalm 136…

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His steadfast love endures forever! Give thanks to the God of gods. For His steadfast love endures forever! Give thanks to the Lord of lords. For His steadfast love endures forever! To Him who alone does great wonders. For His steadfast love endures forever! … It is He who remembered us in our low estate. For His steadfast love endures forever! And rescued us from our foes. For His steadfast love endures forever! He gives food to all flesh. His steadfast love endures forever! Give thanks to the God of heaven! His steadfast love endures forever!” (From Psalm 136)

Get it? Does that truth capture your heart today?… Does it influence your personality?… Does it change your outlook on life? Does it radiate from your countenance? If you will let it, it will make you attractive to others and be pleasing to God. Oh Lord, may my appreciation for Your covenant love flow freely from my heart and lips! Then may that outlook overflow to everyone around me!