COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” Matthew 6:33 ESV. How much of what we chase in life after is rooted in wanting what seems to mean so much to others? There is little doubt the aspirations of those around us influence us to want what they want. This can be a positive motivator, but more often than not it is a fountainhead of sorrow. A much better pattern for our lives is a relentless pursuit of what pleases God. To push aside copying others and to passionately pursue what pleases God is a wellspring of true joy. Perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul described in 1 Corinthians 15:31 with the simple but powerful statement: “I die daily”. For me, this is the battle; daily abdication of my own desires and humble submission to His. LORD, teach me to surrender every earthly appetite to You alone. Help me to pattern my life according to Your will. 

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding,” Proverbs 4:7 ESV. We are living in the “Information Age”. Never before has so much knowledge been so accessible to so many. Unfortunately, the increase of information does little to positively change my spiritual condition. All the knowledge in the world accomplishes nothing without God’s wisdom. Knowledge without wisdom is useless, even dangerous. Wisdom is a spiritual gift; it is the revelation of knowledge, the proper use of what we know. What I need more than information is the moral clarity and the courage to apply what I know in God’s way and in His timing. This kind of understanding comes from God alone. Oh God, My Creator, without Your Divine Spark, without Your Wisdom, knowledge is useless. Align my heart to Your Word, Your Will and Your Ways in all things. 

“Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the  Lord ,” Genesis 19:27 (ESV). I too, find that going to the place I stand before the LORD instead of thinking of what is ahead is the best way to begin my day. “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch,” Psalm 5:6 (ESV).  Each new day quickly fills with yesterday’s leftovers, today’s demands, and tomorrow’s concerns, but David had learned by experience, God first, that’s it.  Why delay? Like a road trip, starting late means additional traffic. Prayerful meditations do not belong bumper to bumper on a crowded freeway, the cares of this world cutting into holy space. Other things can wait. Dear Shepherd and King of My Soul, early will I seek You. Help me set aside encroaching thoughts and concerns that I may seek You first and always. 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man   in our image, after our likeness.’” Genesis 1:26 ESV. I have often marveled at the instinctive creativity of a small child. A stick in the hand is easily reimagined into a ship hurtling through space, a simple flower into a royal wedding bouquet, a quarter becomes a million dollars, and so it goes on and on. This creativity is wired in our souls by our Creator, we were created to be like Him. The effect of sin is to turn this wonderful creativity stamped upon our soul by the Creator Himself into craftiness for doing wrong. As pride and selfishness grow, creativity is repurposed and used to devise ingenious ways of deceit and wrongdoing. The only corrective for this is to return our creativity to its original purpose; to use it for good instead of evil. Holy Father, turn my instinctive ingenuity into creative ways to spread Your love to others. 

“ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere,” 2 Corinthians 2:14. In this verse, we learn that our lives spread the fragrance of Christ! It is a delightful mystery how an aroma can transport me to a different place. A passing scent can return me to my great grandmother’s kitchen when I was but a child. A fragrance can awaken a lost memory long forgotten. An aroma can even activate an emotion that I did not know I held in secret. To think that my life can spread the “fragrance of the Knowledge of Him” just by showing up and allowing the love of Christ to flow freely from my life is a wondrous, and glorious thought. For the backslider, the scent of our Savior upon us can awaken a desire for lost spiritual ground. For the unbeliever, a whiff of the Giver of Life can pull them to a previously unknown hunger for something more. LORD, pour out the fragrance of heaven upon me to...

Psalm 119:133 “Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Like most people, I have stumbled on stairs plenty of times over a lifetime. Though I was often reminded by others, I am not sure why it took me so long to recognize the value of handrails. It’s not that I had never been instructed, I just thought they were for others, not me. I still forget sometimes but it only takes the slightest slip to send me reaching for the rail’s stabilizing safety. Actually, my whole life requires equilibrium and boundaries each and every day. David’s prayer in Psalm 116:8 expresses why I am confident this new day: “For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.” God, in His immense goodness, provides the handrails of His Word and Spirit to keep me safe from foolhardy ways. And as with all handrails, I must hold onto the Word and Spirit each and every step, not waiting until I’m already falling. Father of All Me...

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another,” Galatians 5:13 ESV. Our freedom is Christ is the freedom to love, freedom to serve, freedom from selfishness, and most importantly, freedom from needing to be the center of attention. While I still must continually push back against self-centeredness, I’ve found the battle to be less intense as I’ve spiritually matured. True freedom is an inward reality as opposed to an outward acknowledgment from others. I’m not free when others know it, I’m free when I know it, believe it, and express it in my actions toward the world around me. Again, our “freedom in Christ” is most clearly manifest when we are serving others. Glorious God, and Father, carry me farther down the path of servanthood. Thank you for allowing our partnership with You.