Coffee With The Lord

When Jesus teaches on the topic of prayer we should “prick up our ears” and be listening! I mean after all, He had the Father’s ear and spoke intimately with Him regularly! Not only that, access into the Father’s presence with a “priority pass” is gained “in Jesus’ name!” He is the one that gained unhindered access for us!So when I read the advice of Jesus regarding effective prayer in my Bible this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was compelled to pay close attention. Here’s some key advice on prayer from the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, rephrased in my own words…

First, never pray to be noticed – don’t put on “airs” or use fancy language. In fact, simply and reverently address the Living God in ordinary language.

Second, prioritize private prayer. Get to know the Heavenly Father personally! Do the bulk of your praying in “the secret place! There’s a promise that goes with that!

And third, never let prayer become simply repeating “empty phrases” over and over again… mindlessly, with a yawn. Don’t simply “put in time” when you pray, thinking that the “amount of time” or the “word count” will give you special power and privilege.

In fact, Jesus taught us to approach your Heavenly Father like this…

1. First, spend some time reverencing Him – realizing and acknowledging who He is!

2. Then tell Him you want His “Kingdom” to be fully realized (here, just as it is in heaven)!

3. And don’t be afraid to ask Him to meet your daily needs!

4. Be sure to ask for His forgiveness (and be sure to give it to others).

5. And finally, ask for Divine protection (especially from temptation and sin).

And just to be sure that you have this straight from the Lord, here it is right out of your Bible…

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (From Matthew 6:5-13 ESV)

I don’t very often quote the post of another person on “coffee with the Lord” …. But having said that, I’m going to do it today! A former student, missionary, pastor and dear friend – Chad Germany – posted something today that bears repeating… IT WAS PROFOUND!!! And it reinforced an important emphasis in the passage I read this morning in “Necessary Food” the Bible reading plan I developed (in which you read a passage from each of the major divisions of Scripture daily)Here’s what Chad said in his post…

“Bitterness corrupts, no matter how justified the cause!“

“Realizing that God has forgiven you far more than you will ever forgive anyone else is the first step to escaping bitterness…. That’s called ‘grace!’

“Receive grace! Give grace! Grow in grace… Forgive to be free!”

Wow! How good – how profound – how true that is Chad!

Here is the support for those words I read this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect… If you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you! But if you do not forgive others, neither will you Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 5:43-48; 6:14-15)

Good stuff Chad!!! Now Lord, may I practice it and live by it!!! Forgiveness flushes bitterness out of our lives!!!

Couldn’t resist… If you’re following the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan I developed, you’ll know I read ahead today! Romans 7:7-25 can be a bit discouraging… But the last verse of Romans 7 (vs. 25 and Romans 8:1-11 (the passage for tomorrow) provides a victorious answer!!!Anyone identify with these words from the Apostle Paul this morning?

“I am unspiritual … sold as a slave to sin! I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do…it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me – that is, in my sinful nature. I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing… So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched person I am! Who will rescue me…?!!” (words found in Romans 7.14-24 NIV 2011 edition)

I thought so … most of us!! Existentially true!! A tough read, but something we all identify with!

THE BEST WORDS IN THAT PASSAGE – THE MOST WONDERFUL WORDS ARE THE ONES THAT FOLLOW!!“Thanks be to God, Who delivers me though our Lord Jesus Christ!! … Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set me free from the law of sin and death!!” (Romans 7.25 – 8:2)

Is that strains of the “Hallelujah Chorus” I’m hearing!! I’m not a finished product yet! I still struggle and fail! I’ve experienced (and more often than I’d like to admit – still experience) what Paul wrote about in Romans 7.14-24. (And the sad admission of it is found in my journal … which incidentally happens to be password protected J) But He forgives and He is at work within me to transform my life! No condemnation!! The “law of the Spirit of life at work within me setting me free from the law of sin and death”!! (Romans 8:1-11) Pretty wonderful… and I’m very grateful!!