Coffee With The Lord

Who to put your confidence in and look to for answers in these troubling times?  Which political party holds the best promise and course of direction for our future?  Which politicians can deliver on the promises they are making?  Who has the answers for the crises we find ourselves in at the present time – crises of COVID-19, racism, and lawlessness in our cities?

I fear that we who claim to trust in God will be tempted to put our confidence in weak human leaders, political parties, and human institutions; more than in the Almighty God!  Listening to conversations around me (some, sadly, in which I have participated) what I fear is already a reality!  Those who claim to trust the Lord must make a course correction!

My Bible reading this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” helped me in that regard!  Psalm 18 has an antidote to the error!  Here it is…

The affirmation I need to have… “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever! … Let those who fear [reverence] the Lord say: ‘His steadfast love endures forever!’” (vss. 1-3)

“The Lord is with me, I will NOT be afraid!  What can mere mortals do to me?  The Lord is with me, He is my helper! … It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans!  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes [mere human leaders]!” (vss. 6-9)

Then an embedded prayer… “Lord save us!  Lord grant us success! (vs. 25)

And the affirmation reiterated… “You are my God, and I will praise you!  You are my God, and I will exalt you!  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!” (vss. 28-29)

(From Psalm 118 NIV)

So on this Lord’s day I’m going to shift my focus – from human institutions and human solutions,  from political parties and politicians and their promises, from mere human resources and power – to the Lord!  Sure am glad it’s Sunday – the “Lord’s Day!”  I need “the Lord’s Day” and Psalm 118 to help me refocus… and I needed this video clip of Billy Graham to help me refocus as well!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7rdbHaoMZ4

My brief summary and paraphrase of Ephesians 6:10-20 (prompted by my reflections during “coffee with the Lord” today…

The times are evil! The battle is real! Spiritual warfare involves your eternal destiny and that of others! Be strong in the Lord! Put on ALL of God’s armor, stand your ground, and fight! And while you fight… pray. Pray, PRAY in the Spirit… at all times… alert to the needs and opportunities around you!… And especially pray for the faithful servants of the Lord serving on the front lines of the spiritual conflict!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I feel like I’ve been “with Christ in the School of Prayer!” Here’s a few thoughts from my time with Him today taken from Luke 11:1-13. (I encourage you to read that passage for yourself in your Bible today!)

Can you imagine being one of Jesus’ followers and watching and hearing Him pray? It would be awesome! Incredibly impressive!

He didn’t leave us to flounder in our praying – frustrated that we might not be doing it correctly or effectively! In fact, I want to be sure to use “the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray” as the pattern for my praying!