Coffee With The Lord

EVER LOSE YOUR PERSPECTIVE SPIRITUALLY? Something happened that didn’t seem fair, a spiritual anomaly that just tripped you up… You just couldn’t seem to get past it. You found yourself all messed up emotionally – you were thrashing around spiritually. Hey, I’ve been there!

I read Psalm 73 this morning during “coffee with the Lord” – it speaks so powerfully to that issue!! Here’s how the Psalmist described it…

“I had almost lost my footing! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives… They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else… These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!

“So I ask myself, ‘Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?’ I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

“THEN I WENT INTO YOUR SANCTUARY, O GOD, AND I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD the destiny of the wicked… I realized that my heart was bitter and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant – I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You Lord. Yet I still belong to You! You hold my right hand – You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny! Who have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth! My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever! … How good it is to be near God! … I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do!”

You know what? I’ve decided I need to spend more time in the Lord’s presence… just listening!!

Read these words this morning during “coffee with the Lord:” “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV) … And I wrote these words in the margin of my Bible: “Holiness is a big deal… to me and the Lord!”

A “model” for authentic, God-pleasing worship… Where can you find them?

Sometimes we who are older abdicate the responsibility for that worship to those who are young… that is a mistake I believe. Don’t get me wrong, I’m genuinely grateful for a younger generation that authentically worships “in Spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24) But I have to tell you, I thrill to see “older saints” enter into a worship opportunity and authentically exalt the Lord!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read the following words in Psalm 71 and jotted this in the margin of my Bible: “Oh may this be true of my worship… 77 years old and counting!”

“You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon You I have leaned from before my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you! My mouth is filled with Your praise, and with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent!

“But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more! My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge! With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone! O GOD, FROM MY YOUTH YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME, AND I STILL PROCLAIM YOUR WONDROUS DEEDS! SO EVEN TO OLD AGE AND GRAY HAIRS, O GOD, DO NOT FORSAKE ME, UNTIL I PROCLAIM YOUR MIGHT TO ANOTHER GENERATION, YOUR POWER TO ALL THOSE TO COME!” (From Psalm 71 ESV)

Gonna do it! I want to be a “model of authentic, God-pleasing worship!”