Coffee With The Lord

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read the wonderful prayer of a godly person who found himself facing challenging circumstances… And if you think that godly people (notice I didn’t say “perfect” people) don’t face challenging circumstances, you are badly mistaken!

The issue is, what to do when you face circumstances like that? King David, the one who wrote this psalm, illustrates and models what to do… PRAY! In fact, as I read this psalm today, I determined to make it my prayer in situations like that. I’ve not included the entire psalm – I’ve just given you a sampling of its contents. My advice? Make of mental note of Psalm 86 and determine to use it to guide your prayer in difficult circumstances… and if you’re facing some right now, for “heaven’s sake” use it and make it your prayer!!

“Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

“There is none like you … O Lord, nor are there any works like yours! … For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God! Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol (i.e. death)…

“You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to me, and save me. Show me a sign of your favor… You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”

(from Psalm 86 ESV)

His name isn’t important – in fact, he probably is representative of thousands of individuals who have slipped away from the Lord and gone their own way. He had been unfaithful to his spouse, his marriage was a disaster, his children hated him, and he was bearing the consequences of his sin and rebellious way. Deep in debt, struggling with depression and guilt, one negative and unfortunate thing after another that piled up – it was as if God Himself was against him…

It drove him to his knees! He turned to the Lord in repentance… He experienced the truth of the wonderful passage I read this morning during “coffee with the Lord”!!

Here it is…

“Lord, you… forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! …. Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation! Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly! Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him! … Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the LORD will give what is good! … Righteousness will go before Him and make His footsteps a way.” (From Psalm 85 ESV)

Oh what a wonderful song of forgiveness and grace! God can and will do it for you! He’ll also do it for those you care about who are willing to turn to Him in repentance! Praise the Lord!

I cringe when I hear those that claim to be spiritual leaders refer to themselves with the word “apostle” and yet evidently do not bear some of the essential characteristics of authentic apostleship identified and exemplified by men like Apostle Paul! Instead they seem to be power hungry, position grasping, fame seeking, and often enamored by materialistic pursuits.

How different was Apostle Paul! Listen to his self-description…

“I am not in the least inferior to the so-called ‘super-apostles’ even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles… I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions, but you! … I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well… Everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening!” (from 2 Corinthians 12:11-21)

God authentically demonstrating His power through signs, wonders and miracles! Selfless and others-oriented! Greater concern about the spiritual growth and welfare of others than the personal benefits gained! A willingness to spend and be spent in service to God and others! If that’s authentic apostleship, then I’m very much attracted to it!

Frankly, however, much of what I see under the name “apostle” today turns me off!