COFFEE ON THE DOCK

Love must be both the impulse and trajectory of all we do. Any other motivation will fall short of the purpose for which God places us on the earth in the first place. We are to be His hands, His face and instruments of His amazing love to all around us. “God so loved the world” did not cease with the giving of His Firstborn; we too, are to imitate our Elder Brother in like manner, offering ourselves as manifestations of His passion for His creation. My God and Maker, You are Love. Make me a faithful follower of the example Your Beloved Son. Glorify Yourself in me and through me. 

Rest and comfort seem similar but are actually quite different. Rest prepares me for what is next; comfort settles me into what has been. Everyone needs comfort, but too much of it feeds selfishness and feelings of entitlement, leaving us maladjusted for sacrifice. Rest stops are for those going somewhere; comfort zones become dead zones. The flesh defines rest as relaxation; Biblical rest is rooted in inward peace from God, and ceasing from doing things our way instead of God’s way. Father, teach me to enter Your rest and to esteem your Spirit’s comfort above all other comforts. 

As surely as eating with unwashed hands can lead to sickness, spiritual ignorance leaves us susceptible to infection within our soul. Unfiltered pursuits and self-indulgence belong to the perishing, but wisdom and discernment are provided by knowledge of God. These powerful gifts furnish us with protection from both external and internal corruption. The disciplines of servanthood and faithfulness create a barrier against falling away. O Lord My Protector, grant Your Wisdom this day. Guard my heart and actions with Your Word and Spirit. Make me a source of life to others. 

Why does grass always seem greener at a distance? Too much time is wasted thinking of distant pastures beyond where God plants us. How much of what we desire is merely imitating what others desire? The aspirations of those around us influence us to want what they want. While this can be a positive motivator, more often than not, it is the fountainhead of sorrow. Far better is a relentless pursuit of what pleases God. Shepherd of My Soul, Wellspring of True Joy, teach me to surrender every earthly appetite to You alone. Teach me to drink deeply from still waters. 

The call of God on my life has always exceeded my known resources, proven capabilities and personal character. I have come to understand this is the way it must be; otherwise, I would foolishly lean too heavily upon myself. It is the daily walk on thin ice that keeps me alert and dependent upon divine intervention. My weakness invites God’s grace. So I begin another day shrouded in frailty but anticipating a new measure of grace and victory. O Lord my God and Father, You are not put off by my shortcomings. When I am weak You are strong. Blessed Master, use me this day for Your glory. 

Most of my morning prayers have the same starting point: seeking forgiveness and additional grace. Today’s requests are eerily similar to every other day. Each sunrise to sunset is filled with hacking my way through twisted vines of self-absorption to return to the path of obedience to God’s ways. It still surprises me how easily I get off track, the slightest turn plunging me into a ravine of darkness. Yet even from the bottom there is always light above and God’s help is constant. Father, thank You for Your lifting hand, Your love pulls me through the steep climb again and again. 

Material things and personal benefits are easily taken for granted. I know this because when something to which I am accustomed is no longer is available, I always feel surprised and disappointed. Presumption, it seems, is a constant nemesis and a headlong path to exaggerated self-importance. God’s answer? Shifting sand, inconstant circumstances, tidal changes, bizarre weather; nothing in this world endures exactly the way it is right now. In this way He reminds us this world is not our home. Lord, upon You the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. You alone are the forever constant. Thank You for the reminders.