Coffee With The Lord

Proverbs in the Bible is such a wonderful book! Filled with wise maxims sourced in a reverence for God and inspired by the Holy Spirit – divinely generated wisdom flowing out of godly reflection! Every year in my Bible reading I look forward to the practical insights they bring. I’m always better for reading, reflecting upon and responding to the “divine snippets” of Proverbs. Here is just a taste of the truths I encountered from Proverbs today… a potpourri of God inspired wisdom on a variety of subjects… I urge you, reflect, relish and respond to each one of them!

“The LORD will tear down the house of the proud…

“Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD…

“He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

“The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

“He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

“He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

“The fear of the LORD brings instruction for wisdom.

“Before honor comes humility.”

(Taken from Proverbs 15:25-33 NASB)

There, that ought to keep you occupied for awhile! 😉 I’m still working on it!

I’ve had some wonderful Christian friends over the years – some pastors who have been a tremendous help to me – some spiritual leaders I highly respect…

But there is no one like Jesus! He’s been the dearest friend to confide in, someone to encourage me and help in life’s greatest trials – a wonderful pastor – an understanding spiritual leader – and MORE! … so much MORE!!!

In my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord” the writer of Hebrews captured my sentiments perfectly…

“Since we have a great high priest… Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NASB)

I’m so thankful for Jesus this morning – this “Lord’s Day” morning! After awhile today, I’m going to gather in a house of worship and spend time with some wonderful fellow believers. Let me tell you, I really appreciate my Christian friends that I’ll meet there – my “brothers and sisters” in the family of God. I’m so grateful for a wonderful pastor who will share a challenging and uplifting message from God’s word. But more than anything else – or anyone else – I’m grateful for Jesus, my “Great High Priest!” He’s everything I need! And I intend to approach His “throne of grace” with confidence and I know I’ll find the help I need! He understands! And He’s able!

Given the sad condition of our nation morally and spiritually and the challenges we are facing, it just seems appropriate to feature this adaptation of Daniel 9 as a intercessory prayer guide for our nation this morning… We have an emotionally charged election coming up, unrest and violence in our cities, the scourge of COVID-19, babies killed through “legal” abortions, a polarized nation, flaunted sin, and lukewarm Christians…

This passage was my Bible reading this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord.”  It is an intercessory prayer Daniel prayed for his nation at a critical juncture in their history.  Several years ago I adapted it as an intercessory prayer guide for our nation.  I urge you to use it over and over again the next weeks as we enter a very critical period in our nation’s history… and I urge you to make it your prayer TODAY!

An Intercessory Prayer Guide for Our Nation

Adapted from Daniel 9

⁴“O Lord, You are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill Your covenant and keep Your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey Your commands. ⁵ But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against You and scorned your commands and regulations. ⁶ We have refused to listen to Your servants the prophets, who spoke on Your authority to us as a nation – its leaders and its people.

⁷ “Lord, You are in the right; but as You see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us who stand under your judgment.. ⁸ O Lord, we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You. ⁹ But You are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against You. ¹⁰ We have not obeyed You, we have not followed the instructions You gave us through Your servants the prophets. ¹¹ We have all disobeyed Your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to Your voice.

“So now Your promised judgment has been poured down on us because of our sin. ¹² You have kept Your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. ¹³ Every judgment You promised as a result of our sin has come true. Yet we have refused to seek Your mercy by turning from our sins and recognizing Your truth. ¹⁴ Therefore, You, oh Lord have brought upon us the disaster You prepared. Lord You were right to do all of these things, for we did not obey You.

¹⁵ “O Lord our God, You have brought lasting honor to Your name by rescuing Your people over and over again. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. ¹⁶ In view of all Your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn Your furious anger away from our nation and its people. Other nations mock us because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

¹⁷ “O our God, hear Your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For Your own sake, Lord, smile again on us!

¹⁸ “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open Your eyes and see our despair. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of Your mercy.

¹⁹ “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! For Your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for the sake of Your people and our nation!”

(An adaption of the New Living Translation for personal and corporate intercession for our nation)