Coffee With The Lord

It’s “the Lord’s Day” – Sunday, the day when Christians gather for worship. What do you expect to experience today, when you gather with fellow Christians?

I expect to experience wonderful fellowship with dear Christian friends. I expect to experience vibrant, heartfelt worship and hear an uplifting, challenging message from God’s word. I expect to sense God’s presence among us in powerful way – to see lives transformed and miracles occur as we pray and trust God together. I expect powerful manifestations of the Holy Spirit that will build and bless and help fellow Christians. Those are just a few, basic expectations I have this Sunday morning as I prepare to worship with fellow Christians!

This morning, during my time of “coffee with the Lord” as I was preparing for church, I read these words from Psalm 147 and thought to myself… “You know, those words express some of what I expect this “Lord’s Day” morning when I gather with fellow Christians for “Church”…

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God – it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting! … Great is our Lord, and abundant in power! His understanding is beyond measure! … Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving! Make melody to our God on the lyre! … The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him – in those who hope in His steadfast love! … Praise the Lord!!” (from Psalm 147)

Gotta tell you… I’m expecting great things as I meet with fellow Christians today on “the Lord’s Day”! Wouldn’t miss meeting with fellow Christians today for anything!

Got “nudged” this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”! Was reading Psalm 146 and these words…
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being!”
I read it… and determined to do it! Then in the same Psalm I read this…
“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry! The LORD sets prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever! Praise the Lord!”
Want a summary? God is good!!
Oh, and then the nudge… I thought I heard the Lord say to me, “LeRoy, if you’re going to do what that Psalm talks about, why not start now! Why not do your own “The Lord is…” list? So here’s my start today…
The Lord is good! The Lord is faithful! The Lord is loving! The Lord is gracious! The Lord is merciful! The Lord is awesome! The Lord is powerful! The Lord is…
Why not give it a try yourself? I think I’ll be at this awhile!!

Oh, the great heart of God, filled with redemptive passion for all people!! “For God SO LOVED the world…! (John 3:16) “The Lord is… not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance!” (2 Peter 3:9)

This morning during “Coffee with the Lord” that great truth impacted my heart in a fresh way as it relates to prayer. Some of the most exciting, satisfying and productive seasons of prayer I’ve had personally have come when I have simply let my heart and mind float free and allowed God to bring to my mind different people – anyone He desires to – for the purpose of intercessory prayer. In fact, it’s surprising who you pray for in a situation like that… yes surprising!!

I think that may have been at least partially in Apostle Paul’s mind when he wrote these words…

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for ALL people. Ask God to help them! Intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them! Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants EVERYONE to be saved and to understand the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1–4 New Living Translation)

Now, I am in full agreement with those who say we should do that deliberately – that we should systematically pray for leaders and those in authority – using a “prayer list” if you please. But I think something exciting and powerful is missed if we do not allow God to bring to our mind serendipitously, so to speak, individuals in our neighborhood, acquaintance, nation and world for whom He would prompt us to pray. Why not give it a try, eh?