Coffee With The Lord

Life is stressful these days!  I don’t have to remind you of that, do I?  The pace of life… the atmosphere of life… the demands of family and vocation… the pressures others place upon us… politics… dreaded physical problems… all are potential “ulcer makers” and the stuff of “emotional-breakdowns.”  “Burnout” is a popular term related to the cultural context in which we live today.

There is an answer!  It is possible to live from a “quiet center!”  Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest!  Take my yoke upon you! Let me teach you!  I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  (From Matthew 11:28–30 New Living Translation)

“Soul rest!”  Imagine it… deep down within… a center of life that delivers peace, rest, competency, confidence, trust, and strength, in the midst of the stress-filled world we live in.  Jesus provides it!  Jesus teaches it!  Jesus is the secret of it!  (Check out verse 27 of the same passage!)

And you don’t have to be thought of as wise, influential, rich or famous to have it?  In fact, my experience is, some of the poorest people, those looked upon as quite ordinary, individuals with average intellect and education (even some thought of as quite “simple,” are the very ones who possess this “secret” and exhibit it!  And you know what?  That is precisely what Jesus declared in this very passage!  Here’s how it starts…

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike!  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!”

Now, a Christian therapist may be helpful in discovering and applying it to your life.  But even more than a therapist, the need is Jesus!  He provides the secret to this kind of life.  He said, “Come to Me… Learn from Me!”  I intend to do that EVERY DAY in the stress producing culture I live in!  “I have decided to follow Jesus!”  I learning from Him how to experience “soul rest” in this “pressure cooker” world in which we live!

(Pic and quoted verse from Clare Castaneda in Pinterest)

Let me recommend something I believe will be uplifting and inspiring for you… Take a walk!  Now I know some of you are “health walkers” – “you get out and motor!” as they say – you “push it” with arms working and legs churning… That’s not what I’m talking about (that’s good and it keeps you fit – I’m a runner, so I understand).  I probably should have said, “Take a stroll!”  Slow down, take out the ear buds, listen to the birds, look at the budding flowers, see the trees beginning to green, hear the breeze and enjoy the gurgle of a nearby brook if there is one close by.

Here is what prompted this bit of advice… My Bible reading this morning was from Job 37, where Elihu gave this bit of good advice to Job (and it should be noted, not all of his advice was good 😉 … but this was)… He said, “Stop and consider the wondrous works of God!” (And it’s hard to do that in a hurry!)

In fact, I underlined this summary of his words in my Bible today… it’s good!

“God thunders wondrously with His voice!  He does great things that we cannot comprehend… Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love he causes it to happen! … Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God!  Do you know…the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? … God is clothed with awesome majesty!  (Taken from the words of Elihu to Job in Job 37)

So my advice today?  Take a walk… No, better than that – a stroll… look, listen, and “consider the wondrous works of God!”  It will be energizing to you physically, emotionally, mentally, AND MOST OF ALL, SPIRITUALLY!

Take heart… Find encouragement in the wonderful future God has promised for those who trust and serve Him!  I realize 2020 has been a very difficult year… and for some 2021 hasn’t gotten much better.  This morning Isaiah 35 was part of my Bible reading… I read it, then I went back and read it again… then I went back and read it again slowly, reflecting on the wonderful message of hope it provides! Then I jotted these words in the margin of my Bible: “What a wonderful future day God promises His people!”

Here, I’ve provided it for your reading and reflection… soak it up!!!

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad!  The desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing… They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.  

“Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong – fear not! Behold, your God will come… He will come and save you!’  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy!  Waters will break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. 

“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way…  The redeemed shall walk there.  And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”  (From Isaiah 35:1–10 ESV)

Someone one needed the tonic that this wonderful passage provides today!