Coffee With The Lord

We experience difficult, trying circumstances and cry out to the Lord for relief… Sometimes it comes… sometimes it doesn’t! We cry out to the Lord to help us again and again… we persist in prayer! We do what the Bible says and “keep on asking – and keep on knocking” (cp. Matthew 7:7-8)… Nothing happens! No answer! No relief! What to do?

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I think I got a helpful answer from Apostle Paul’s experience… This is what he had to say about a similar experience…

“A thorn in the flesh was given to me – a messenger of Satan to trouble me! … I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you! My power is made perfect in weakness!’ So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ – for whenever I am weak, then I am strong!” (from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the NET Bible)

I know, our experiences are not quite the same as Paul’s (his experience was permitted to keep him from becoming arrogant because of the extraordinary character of the revelations he had received). Yet I think we can learn a valuable lesson from his experience for the times we have prayed and prayed for relief from painful experiences and no answer seems to come. So, based upon Paul’s experience, this is what I think I’m going to do in times like that…

I’m going to keep on praying and trust the Lord… I’m going to listen for His voice… If I hear him say deep within my heart, “My grace is enough for you! My power is made perfect in weakness!” Then I’m going to RESIGN myself to the situation (and Him) in confident trust! And I’m going RESOLVE to depend on Him to provide the strength and grace to glorify Him in the midst of my trial until He chooses to bring relief (perhaps sometime in this life… or maybe ultimately in heaven)! I think Paul had it right… He said, “Whenever I am weak, then I am strong!”

God speaking … addressing His very own people – people He rescued and redeemed by His mighty power! Were they listening? That’s what I read about this morning in Psalm 81. As I read it this morning I was reminded of our nation – the United States – a nation with Judeo-Christian roots. I asked myself are we listening? And then I lifted a prayer of repentance and intercession to the Lord on our behalf… Forgive us! Help us! Restore us!

Here’s what God said…

“In your distress you called out and I rescued you! I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. I said, ‘Listen, my people! I warn you! … But my people did not obey me; they did not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them. If only my people would obey me! If only they would keep my commands! Then I would quickly subdue their enemies and attack their adversaries! … I would feed them with the best wheat and would satisfy their appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs!” (from Psalm 81:7-16 the NET Bible)

But the sad story is, they did not listen! They did not return to the Lord and they suffered severely for it! Oh may we not follow in their footsteps! What am I doing this morning? I’m lifting our nation to the Lord in intercessory prayer! Will you join me?

Courageous Christians both deeply impress me and intimidate me!  I always want to be courageous in my faith and testimony!  Sometimes however, I fear I am more like “denying Peter” than I want to admit!  I am ashamed when I read or hear of the courage of godly Christ-followers in places in our world where intimidation and persecution are rampant.  I am convinced that Holy Spirit baptized and empowered Christians should evidence courage in the face of pressure and persecution.  I’ve got to tell you, I want to be courageous in my faith and witness every day – in every way!

I read the following account of courage today in my time of “coffee with the Lord” … Oh how it challenged me!  It takes place right after the crucifixion of Jesus… “Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the Jewish Council, who was himself looking forward to the Kingdom of God, WENT BOLDLY TO PILATE and asked for the body of Jesus.  Pilate was surprised that He was already dead.  He called the centurion and asked him if He had been dead for some time.  When Pilate was informed by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.  Joseph bought a linen cloth and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock.” (Mark 15:43-46 the NET Bible)

The NET Bible adds this wonderful explanatory note: “Asking for the body of Jesus was indeed a bold move on the part of Joseph of Arimathea, for it clearly and openly identified him with a man who had just been condemned and executed, namely Jesus.  His faith was exemplary, especially for someone who was a member of the council that had just handed Jesus over for crucifixion (cp. Luke 23:51).”

Oh how I desire the Holy Spirit to produce in me the kind of boldness (probably better, “courage”) that will stand tall for Jesus, my Savior, regardless of the pressure!  Oh Lord, overcome timidity in me!  Help me to resist intimidation by others.  May I be a courageous Christ-follower and witness!  I embrace the prayer and experience of the first century Church… First the prayer: “And now Lord, pay attention to their threats and grant to Your servants to speak Your message with great courage!” … And then their experience: “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously!” (from Acts 4:29 and 31, the NET Bible)