COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, NOW is the favorable time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation,” 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV. Like most Christians, I have mistakenly attempted to jump ahead of the LORD’S WILL so many times that I sometimes struggle with His “NOW”. But just like we must learn to trust His “WAIT”, we must be ready to move when He says: “NOW is the favorable time!” A few times in life, by God’s grace, I’ve moved forward at exactly the right moment. WOW, what a difference His “Time of Favor” makes! If you can relate, pray about it, maybe it’s time to GET YOUR "NOW" BACK! LORD, thank You for Your Word that never fails to provoke us to love and good works. Keep me in a place of willing obedience to wait or go. 

“For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” ESV. There is a perfect time and a perfect way for everything. I am a bit impetuous by nature and in haste have often moved too quickly. But it is much better to let things unfold in God’s chosen moment and in God’s designed sequence. Before rushing ahead, we must first do our best to align our hearts and mind with His. We sometimes confuse faith-based zeal and emotion-based zeal, but real blessing is when zealousness and knowledge combine within a divinely appointed moment. Lord of all Wisdom, thank You for guiding me. I am zealous for Your work in the earth but desperately need Your steadying hand. Grant me submissive, composed, Holy Spirit managed zealousness.

Over 40 years ago an elder brother pulled me aside after a church service to encourage and instruct me. This was not some garden-variety conversation; he obviously had prayed over it, carefully planned it, and presented clear, precise, well-thought-out points. I still remember the power of the thoughtful gift he gave me that day. It was a mix of gentle rebukes, wise instructions, and encouragement to be the best husband, father, and leader I could be. I have received many gifts over a lifetime however, most were forgotten long ago. But not that gift, it is still with me and remains highly treasured. It is a gift I can re-gift to others time and time again, and so I have. Today, I will again have opportunities to promote, encourage, lift, love, appreciate, and celebrate others. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Lord, in Your Goodness, endow me with authentic love and make me an open-source of blessing to those around me. 

“It is the Spirit who gives life;   the flesh is no help at all.   The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,” John 6:63 ESV. I could not agree more, “the flesh is NO HELP AT ALL!” In fact, the flesh is the epicenter of the problem. But God gives us the perfect antidote for the flesh, His WORD is SPIRIT and LIFE. Time spent reading, meditating, obeying, and sharing His Word with others turns fleshly tendencies into spiritual, life-lifting strengths. His Word opens the windows of heaven and sends darkness scampering away. David declared: “Your word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path,” Psalm 119:105 ESV. Whereas the flesh shrouds the way forward, the Word opens paths to blessing and divine purpose. LORD, thank You for Your Word. Lift the veil of darkness from my heart and shine Your glorious light within me and through me to others.

“As it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God,” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV. Traveling with a friend in his brand new 40-ft. boat took us to a place that was previously unknown to us. Navigating unfamiliar waters while using unfamiliar equipment can be dangerous. Headed offshore and at full throttle, the depth finder suddenly registered very shallow water. Panic erupted as the alarm loudly squealed. We didn’t realize we were sitting over one of the Atlantic’s deepest ocean troughs. Our depth finder setting was set too shallow to properly measure the depth. I have often been out of my depth where God has taken me in life, so I must continually reset my heart for deeper places. Yesterday’s settings will not suffice for tomorrow’s journey. LORD God, Captain of...

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it,” Hebrews 4:1 NKJV. It is easy to be tricked into thinking that Christian activity is spiritual fervor. David had been a successful king for quite a while when “at the time of battle” he was in the palace instead of where he belonged on the battlefield. His moral failure with Bathsheba happened precisely when he was enjoying the fruit of his efforts while ignoring his responsibility to remain at the battlefront. Spiritual laziness is a constant temptation for each of us. We need rest, but we must learn to rest IN HIM, while still running hard within our calling and purpose. We must disengage from our own fleshly efforts but never from our daily obedience and surrender to the Holy Spirit. Oh LORD, my Keeper, deliver me from worldly contentment. In all my ways pull me toward obedience to You. 

“ Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house,  to a land that I will show you,” Genesis 12:1 ESV. Abraham’s unexpected journey was long and fraught with difficulties. As a young family, we would pile our four children into a vehicle and take long road trips. What crazy, fun, maddening, soul-stretching affairs those journeys were! After days of planning, preparation, packing, and one last headcount, we were off. I was always surprised how swiftly everything became so chaotic and messy. Frankly, my spiritual journey through life has many similarities to both Abraham’s journey and my family’s cross-country treks. The road to victory is often messy and offers many wrong turns and rerouting adventures. The trip itself can be very disorienting since success rarely looks like a success until after it is achieved. Lord, grant me the grace to finish my course smiling. Help me enjoy the scenery along with the detours and to have patience with the pace.