Coffee With The Lord

“Finding out what you’re made of”… I remember my dad telling me there were things in life that would come my way that would do precisely that… reveal my character; reveal my strength (or lack of it); reveal my wisdom (or lack of it); reveal my preparedness to face various challenges; and reveal who I really was deep within! I had coaches in athletic competition, teachers and other mentors in life who made the same point. I am grateful for them!

As the Children of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land Moses reminded them: “Remember the whole way by which He [the Lord] has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the LORD’s mouth.” (Deuteronomy 8:2–3 the NET Bible) He had shown them that they desperately needed the Lord in order to succeed! They needed to obey Him in order to be blessed! By their own ingenuity and strength they would have perished in the wilderness and have been destroyed by their enemies! A pretty important lesson, don’t you think?

Apostle Paul in the New Testament testified to an incredible challenge that he once faced and what he learned from it: “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia: We were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead!” (2 Corinthians 1:8–9 the NET Bible)

So I guess the lesson I’ve learned is this: The challenges I’ve faced have taught me a lot about myself… and a lot about the sustaining grace and provision of the Lord! All by myself I am weak and insufficient – I fail. Within myself I find frightening, evil tendencies. In Him, however, I find strength! His presence within cleanses, purifies, transforms and empowers me. So two truths co-exist: On the one hand Apostle Paul said, “I know that nothing good lives in me – I want to do the good, but I cannot do it!” (Romans 7:18) And Jesus reminded us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing!” (John 15:5). But on the other hand Paul had discovered and declared: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13)

Let’s just put it this way today… Every day I’m learning what I’m made of… AND I’m also discovering just how much I need Him and just how sufficient He is!

One of the things that helps me most in my devotional times is to make the words of Scripture my very own (both in prayer and praise). Words from Psalm 89 (the first 18 verses) were the ones I used today. If I were to give them a caption I’d call them “High Praise to the Lord of all the Earth!” I made them my worship words and high praise today… Let me recommend them to you! They’ll lift your eyes heavenward, strengthen your heart, uplift your spirit, transform your attitudes and catalyze your faith!

“I will sing continually about the LORD’s faithful deeds; to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness. For I say, ‘Loyal love is permanently established; in the skies you set up your faithfulness.’ O LORD, the heavens praise your amazing deeds, as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly. For who in the skies can compare to the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings, a God who is honored in the great angelic assembly, and more awesome than all who surround him? O LORD, sovereign God! Who is strong like you, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you… The heavens belong to you, as does the earth. You made the world and all it contains… Your arm is powerful, your hand strong, your right hand victorious. Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule. How blessed are the people who worship you! O LORD, they experience your favor! They rejoice in your name all day long, and are vindicated by your justice! For you give them splendor and strength. By your favor we are victorious.” (from Psalm 89:1–18 the NET Bible)

Give it a try… Look heavenward! Lift your arms in praise! Make the words of the Psalmist (in this case Ethan the Ezrachite) your very own, speak the words sincerely from your heart, and see what happens!

I admit it… I’m predictably for the underdog!  When I’m watching sports, I love to see an “an upset” – I love to see the vaunted superior team “knocked off!”  All the pundits don’t give them a chance and they beat out the “big boys!”  I just love it!  Makes me chuckle!

The story (and song) of Mary, the mother of Jesus is that kind of story… (Just read it again this morning during “coffee with the Lord”)

A little unknown maiden – a virgin – is visited by an angel – a “top dog” heavenly messenger – in a little “no-name” town in Galilee… He says to her, “Greetings favored one!  The Lord is with you!”  (Scares her half to death!)  Then he says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!  Listen you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David… and His kingdom will never end!”

Shocked, Mary says, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with any man?”  To which the angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  Therefore the child to be born will be holy!  He will be called the Son of God! … Nothing will be impossible with God!”

Several months later, pregnant with Jesus, Mary visits Elizabeth, a relative of hers (who herself is experiencing a miraculous pregnancy)… When Mary arrives and greets Elizabeth, her baby leaps in her womb and the Bible says “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud voice, ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child in your womb!  Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me?!’”

And that brings us to Mary’s song of praise… “And Mary said, ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!  He has looked upon the humble state of His servant.  For from now on all generations will call me blessed.  He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name!  From generation to generation He is merciful to those who fear Him… He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up those of lowly position!  He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty!”  (from Luke 1:26-55 in the NET Bible)

Yup!  I just love to see an “underdog” achieve, be blessed, and win!  Mary’s story gives every unknown person from a little backwoods town somewhere no one ever heard about, hope that God has a purpose for their life, can choose them, bless them, and use them to accomplish great things!  Perhaps that “underdog” is YOU!  I’ve been incredibly honored that he chose to use me!  Still find it difficult to comprehend!