Coffee With The Lord

Powerful experiences in personal worship… anyone who has developed the habit of time alone daily with the Lord has had them! I call mine “coffee with the Lord!” I rise early in the morning, get my Bible, make a cup of coffee, go to “my place” in the house for devotions, pause to become aware of God’s presence, read Scripture, reflect, worship, pray and do some journaling. Somewhere in “there” the presence of the Lord becomes very real and I often experience a “powerful time in personal worship!” (Some experiences are more powerful than others – but the fact is God always makes Himself real in a personal way!)

The passage of Scripture I read today during “coffee with the Lord” (Romans 11:33-36) I believe describes (and records) such an experience enjoyed by Apostle Paul! He had been reflecting on the sad state of humanity (“all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”) and also God’s wonderful revealed plan and provision to “save” them through faith in Christ! (Romans 1-4)…He then thought of all the amazing benefits of being made “right with God “ by faith (i.e. “justification”) and how God planned and provided it! (Romans 5-6) Then he thought about our human struggle with “self” (Romans 7) but also rejoiced in the wonderful victory provided through Jesus Christ and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit at work within us (never separated from God’s love)! (Romans  Finally, Paul wrestled with how God has worked all of this out on behalf of both Jew and Gentile (Romans 9-11)…

And as he reflected on God’s wonderful, incredible plan – God’s revelation – suddenly it “hit him!” … And Apostle Paul had one of those “powerful, overwhelming, experiences in personal worship!” He fairly EXPLODED IN WORSHIP!

Here are his words…

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! [Then Old Testament words that Paul had reflected upon in other devotional times came to mind…] ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?’ [From Isaiah 40:13] ‘Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?’ [From Job 41:11] For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things! To Him be glory forever! AMEN!!!” (Romans 11:33-36 ESV)

Let me tell you… I’ve had experiences like that during my time of devotions – “coffee with the Lord!” Powerful, powerful episodes of worship as I reflected on God as He has revealed Himself, His word, His presence, His love! Other Scripture that I had read and studied began popping into my mind, and I was overwhelmed with the presence, the majesty, the provision, and love of God. Hey, I’m urging you… make “daily devotions” a part of your life! You won’t regret it! And you’ll have the joy of experiencing some of your own “powerful experiences of personal worship!”

Hey, let’s take this seriously – real seriously! … “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them!” (Matthew 7:12)

In America we LOVE polls! We nearly idolize them! We want to know which way the political and cultural wind is blowing! Often the unwritten, but implied message is, “Com’on! Get on the bandwagon! Everyone is embracing it…doing it…believing it… and voting this way! … So should YOU, you antiquated, out of touch, egghead!”

The problem is, polls (even elections!) don’t determine what is “right” and “good!”

Just let me make this observation… Paying attention to a “poll” in America will NOT get you to heaven or win the Lord’s favor!!!

Here’s what I read in the Bible this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Enter by the narrow gate! For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 5:13-14 ESV)

Believe me, I’m not going to determine the way I ought to live, what I ought to believe, what life values I ought to embrace, what decisions I ought to make, or who I ought to follow, based upon “polls!” I’m going to seek what God’s infallible word has to say, I’m going to make those things a matter of prayer, I’ll seek dependable counsel from godly leaders, and I’ll trust the “Holy Spirit’s nudge” informed by God’s word… That’s what I’ll do! How about you?