Coffee With The Lord

I think we’ve all done it… Something threatens, a circumstance comes our way and we fret, fume and fuss… We’re flustered, we’re fearful, and the temptation is to forget about God, His power, His promises and His provision… panic sets it and we’re suddenly a spiritual and emotional “case!”

Hey, I’ve done it too… But it’s into situations like that, that Jesus speaks a reassuring word… a challenging word… I heard Him speak it again to me this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles [those who do not know and trust God] seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  (from Matthew 6:25–34 ESV)

Good word eh?  Someone needed to hear that today!  (I was one who needed it!)

I sometimes hear Christians spout off with a geyser of vitriolic comments about other people in their community, nation or world that do not share their beliefs or values.  Their tirades communicate nothing of the Christian love they profess – only acrimony, bitterness and hatred.  Tragic!!  Terrible testimony!!  And something that runs counter to the values their faith in Christ professes!  Have I ever been guilty?  I’m ashamed to admit I have – and perhaps you have as well.  Lord, please forgive us eh?  Whatever happened to the command of Jesus… “Love your enemies!”?

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I found myself reading the passionate expression of Apostle Paul about fellow countrymen who hated (and rejected) Christ…

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh… My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved!” (Romans 9:1–3, 10:1 ESV)

Oh I want a heart like that for neighbors, fellow countrymen, and people in our world who do not share my beliefs and values!  Lord help me to obey your words… “I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!…” (Luke 6:27-28)

I am sure you’ve heard prayers prayed in public that left you saying to yourself, “Wow, that really impressive! Sounds like that person took a lot of time crafting that prayer! They’re really good with words!”

The problem is, in the passage I read this morning during “Coffee with the Lord,” Jesus said that wasn’t the purpose of prayer – to “wow” others – “to be heard and seen by others… to be heard for our many words!” In fact, He says effective prayer is really a personal thing between God and the person praying – a private thing, a “secret” thing. It doesn’t have to be long and drawn out, filled with “empty phrases” repeated over and over again. Our Heavenly Father hears and knows the sincere heart (even before the person praying speaks)! I mean, read it for yourself in Matthew 6:5-8!