Coffee With The Lord

Going through a tough time today?  Something tougher than anything you’ve experienced before?  Something that has you struggling to trust God and clawing feverishly for survival?

Today, during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I believe I read (and reflected upon) a passage of Scripture that I believe is just for you!  A passage you can turn into your personal prayer!  A Divine prescription for the season you may be facing!  In fact, the introductory comments to this passage in my Bible put it this way… “A prayer of one afflicted, when they are faint and pouring out their complaint before the Lord.”

Here is a portion of it I’ve selected for you… From Psalm 102:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to You! Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline Your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

“The Lord regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer!

“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created my praise the Lord:  “He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth to hear the groans of the prisoners – to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare the name of the Lord and His praise, when people gather together to worship the Lord!

“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands!  They will perish but You will remain!  They will all wear out like a garment, you will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but You are the same – Your years have no end!”  (Selected from Psalm 102)

I don’t know who this may be especially for today… but I paused and prayed for you!  May Psalm 102 be just what you need today!

What a Sip!  …A challenge (and assurance) from Jesus Christ!

“Give, and it will be given to you… God measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over… For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you!” (Luke 6:38 ESV)

There is difference between those who exhibit pompous, self-righteousness and people with an authentic, pure, devoted heart! 

The first group sticks their nose in the air and with an air of superiority and tone of disdain in their voice address all of the unrighteous underlings around them.  It even shows up in their prayers!  A vivid scene in Luke 10 describes the prayers of one of them… “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector!  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get…’”  That attitude makes God sick (and disgusted)!

The second group exhibit righteousness for a very different reason – they do it out of a passionate love for God and deep devotion.  They are fully aware that they are “sinners, saved by grace”!  Their righteousness and piety flow from a heart of gratitude and a passionate desire to please God. 

This morning during “Coffee with the Lord” I read about this kind a person in Psalm 101… “I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.  I will be careful to lead a blameless life… I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.   I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.  The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil… My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.” (NIV)

Jesus declared, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!” (Matthew 5.8)  I want to be that kind of person (i.e. the second kind), don’t you?!