Coffee With The Lord

Here’s an earnest prayer godly people who live in a wicked world should pray…

“O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! … My prayer is continually against their evil deeds! … My eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers!” … AMEN! (From Psalm 141 ESV)

I like Christians who exhibit some “SPIRITUAL SPUNK” – SOME “GODLY GUSTO” – SOME “ANOINTED ATTITUDE”!! Now I know there is a risk… It’s incredibly easy to slip out of the Spiritual and Godly into the self-serving and carnal.

I’m a farm boy and we were around horses a lot… I’ll take a horse any day with a bit of “spirit” over one that you had to spur and give a whip to go anywhere. If you’ve got a good cutting horse there are times you really don’t know if the horse is “in charge” or the “rider” (in fact it’s a marvel and delight to watch one work in a herd of cattle).

I think young David, in the Goliath story, exhibited a bit of “Spiritual spunk” – “Godly gusto” – and “anointed attitude” … See what you think…

When David heard Goliath taunt the armies of Israel this was his response… “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine the he should defy the armies of the Living God?!”

After volunteering to fight this frightening, intimidating champion of the Philistines (and having his motives challenged and being “put down” by his brother, Eliab), he responded, “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like on of them, because he has defied the armies of the Living God! The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine!”

When Goliath ridiculed David’s audacity to challenge him, “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’”

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” (All of this from 1 Samuel 17)

Gotta tell you… I like that kind of spunk! I like that kind of faith! And I like the fact that David’s personal ego did not get in the way of honoring God for the victory! His overarching concern was the honor and reputation of the Lord. God give us more people with “Spiritual spunk” – “Godly gusto” and “anointed attitude”!! (I want to be that kind of person!)

(A “repost” from 2013… My Bible reading today during “Coffee with the Lord”…)

Here’s a Bible reading (reflection and response) challenge from my time of “Coffee with the Lord” today… A well-known passage to many Christians – Psalm 139. I really don’t care what version you use, just slow down (no “speed reading” allowed!) and reflect on what this wonderful Psalms declares! I promise it will be uplifting, edifying, therapeutic, and life-transforming (and there are things it declares that may be a bit “scary” at times as well)

I’ll just give you some key elements of the Psalm to get you started… Then you’re on your own (with the illuminating help of the Holy Spirit, of course)!

Key Idea… “HOW PRECIOUS TO ME ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, O GOD! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand!” (Verses 17-18)… I jotted in my Bible this morning, “Think about it… blows my mind!”

Stanza 1 – Verses 1-6: God’s knowledge of us! (This is the one that can be scary at times – He knows EVERYTHING about us!)

Stanza 2 – Verses 7-12: His wonderful presence in our lives – everywhere, every day, every situation and circumstance!

Stanza 3 – Verses 13-16: God’s creative involvement in our lives – from before we were born until we breathe our last breath! (No room for “abortion” in this one! – “Sanctity of life” all the way! … My editorial comment)

Stanza 4 – Verses 19-22: The Psalmist expresses his frustration about living in a wicked, God-rejecting world to the Lord Himself!

Response! – Verses 23-24: The passionate, sincere, prayer I pray DAILY, in light of all this Psalms expresses!

Hey, I hope this little Bible reading (reflection and response) activity has been a blessing to you today – life-changing I hope!