Coffee With The Lord

This morning during my Bible reading during “Coffee with the Lord” I read a Psalm of David that I believe wonderfully expresses what to do when it seems you’ve got an impending crisis on your calendar – a developing disaster with a date on it – or terror that’s counting down on a timer…

Here’s what David did… HE PRAYED! (and prayed fervently)!!

“Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.” (Psalm 143 ESV)

Just a word of caution today to sincere, devoted followers of Jesus… Don’t fall prey to esoteric, exotic, edgy, eccentric teaching or doctrine! I always feel deep concern when I hear a Bible teacher say, “What I’m going to share with you today is different than you’ve ever heard before!” Listen, it may have a ring of excitement to it and the aura of adventure, but it may be as goofy as a five headed cat or as damaging as strychnine. Don’t buy into it! Test it against “orthodox doctrine” and “plain ol’ vanilla” Gospel truth! Don’t give your eternal welfare to someone’s “pipe dream!”

Sometimes I joke about it, but I need a chaperone! A spiritual chaperone… someone to come alongside, keep watch over my mouth, my attitudes, what I’m inclined to do if left unaccountable. Now I’m grateful for human chaperones (often my spouse or dear friends fulfill that function), but most of all I need a spiritual chaperone – and the Holy Spirit comes alongside and fulfills that function. I’m so grateful for the role He fulfills in my life!

During “Coffee with the Lord” today in part of my Bible reading (Psalm 141) I was reminded of three areas in my life (maybe four) where I need to practice vigilance – where I need a chaperone – an accountability partner… These are areas where I’ve had challenges (and failed) in the past. (Don’t know about you, and wouldn’t make any accusations, but my hunch is that I’m not alone here.) David struggled with ‘em – and so do I. Here’s the prayer he prayed about them (and the prayer I made my own this morning…)