Coffee With The Lord

When I don’t know how to pray, or what to pray, or flounder with my emotions in prayer because my heart is groaning over some situation and need… I depend on the inspired truth Apostle Paul taught us… “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness… The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God!” (Romans 8:26-27) Oh blessed thought… He can turn my groaning into a prayer – an effective prayer!

Here’s a scene that came to mind as I read from Proverbs 1:8-19 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

An old, experienced soldier, veteran to many battles, and a new, inexperienced recruit are in enemy territory!  They are traveling through rough terrain and a dense forest engaged in guerilla warfare!  It has been a long challenging day – they are tired and hungry.  Tension is high and there is a palpable sense of dread.  Suddenly an opening… the heavy brush clears and there appears to be an abandoned campsite with provisions left behind… The young recruit appears ready to step out into the open… just then he hears an urgent whisper in his ear… “Son, I think it’s a trap!”

Here’s what the Bible says that prompted that picture in my mind…

“My child, listen when your father corrects you… If sinners entice you, turn your back on them!  They may say, ‘Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!  Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.  Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.  Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.’  MY CHILD, DON’T GO ALONG WITH THEM! STAY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR PATHS.  They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.  IF A BIRD SEES A TRAP BEING SET, IT KNOWS TO STAY AWAY.  But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed!” (From Proverbs 1:8–19 New Living Translation)

Loving parents want the best for their children and godly spiritual leaders care about those they serve!  When they warn, “Don’t believe it!  Don’t do it!  Don’t go there! …It’s a trap!” their counsel is driven by love, concern and experience!  I’m so grateful for the urgent whispers I heard warning me, “SON, I THINK IT’S A TRAP!”

There’s an old saying… “Unless you can __________________  you can’t even get to 1^st base!”

Think about that saying for a minute and what it communicates… think about the imagery behind it! 

What I see is a young, inexperienced child, who has never played the game of baseball.  He’s at his first day of “Pee-wee baseball” and the coach is trying to help him understand what he needs to do in order to play the game.  He doesn’t know how to hold the bat, he doesn’t know the rules of the game, he has no idea how fast the ball will come toward him when it is pitched… and when it comes, he swings wildly, ducking out of the way, and misses the ball completely!  The coach comes over and helpfully tries to give him some instruction, but he won’t receive it!  The tragedy is, he thinks he knows what to do, but he really doesn’t have a clue!  The coach tries to show him how to stand, how to hold the bat, what the object of the game is all about; but he won’t listen… Finally in desperation, the coach says, “Son, if you won’t listen to me and do what I tell you do, YOU WON’T EVEN GET TO 1^st BASE!”

Now, consider what the Bible says… “THE FEAR [OR REVERENCE] OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE [OR WISDOM]!  FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION!” (Proverbs 1:7) 

It all begins right there in the “game of life!”  If a person doesn’t do that, “they can’t even get to 1^st base!”  And yet all around us, we see individuals who tragically reject that basic beginning to successful and productive living!  They refuse to acknowledge God, to honor God, or reverence God.  They strike out on their own – they try to do it their way – they refuse to accept Divine instruction.  They are like the inexperienced child in “Pee-wee baseball” who refuses to listen to the coach!  Proverbs 1:7 says, IT IS “FOOLS WHO DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION!”

I don’t want to be like that!!!  I want to listen to God… I want to honor Him… I want to reverence and trust Him!  Hey, a successful, fruitful life all begins (and continues with) that!  WITHOUT “THE FEAR OF THE LORD,” I CAN’T EVEN GET TO 1^st BASE!