COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour,” 1 Peter 5:8 ESV. This wise counsel from the apostle Peter does not advise us to be fearful and worrisome; it is a call to spiritual maturity. In essence, he is saying: “grow up.” A child must learn about dangers, and unfortunately, that often creates fearfulness. But the mature mind learns that dangers must be managed and overcome. A lion’s roar has no power to harm, but it is definitely a warning to pay attention. Peter warns us that Satan is real and out there, and James assures us that we have authority over the devil in James 4:7 ESV: “ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the  devil , and he  will   flee  from you." LORD, I thank You that even in the worst of life’s circumstances, we are “more than conquerors” because of Your great power and love! 

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,” 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV. I can put a smile on my Heavenly Father’s face by my cheerful obedience! That is awesome! Since God sees into our souls as easily as looking into a fishbowl, grudging obedience will never suffice. Unless obedience is done promptly and with the right attitude it is nothing more than “polite disobedience”. While others may be fooled, the Lord Almighty knows the underlying thoughts and intentions of every person’s actions. Resentful obedience leaves us empty and does not produce in us the purpose God intends. Willing, prompt submissiveness releases joy in heaven and on earth! Oh Lord, Keeper of My Soul, teach me to love You without reservations in all that I do.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer,” Romans 12:12 ESV. This is such great counsel, especially during a national crisis. Our human response to upheaval is fear for the future, but our response as children of God should always be joyful hope, knowing that God is in control. These moments reveal who we really are and what we actually believe. The apostle Paul confided: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose”. Romans 8:28 ESV. My response to a crisis reveals the depth of my love of God. This can be a painful discovery, but in the end, love will be deepened, and greater faith will rise from within. LORD, You are our hope and our salvation. Help me pay attention and not miss a thing as we pass through the fire. Give me the strength to help others.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 ESV. Magnifying of the “goodness” of God, the psalmist advises: “taste and see”. I have always been pretty adventuresome so it’s perplexing to me when someone refuses to even sample something that others enjoy. Even more surprising to me is seeing someone decline to taste the goodness of the LORD. To allow apprehension to rob us of the fullness of God’s love is a travesty. Until information becomes experience it is, in essence, useless. Past disappointments or failures can linger a lifetime, stealing away new possibilities, yet mere moments of unfiltered acceptance of God’s goodness can wash them all away. One taste can open a whole new world of faith and eternal purpose. O LORD, my God, how majestic are Your ways! May Your goodness flow to me and through me this new day and forevermore. 

“For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV.   Each second of life is precious since  every moment on earth and in heaven is an irreplaceable gift of time from The One who holds eternity in His hand. God is in full control. I desire to make wise and effective use of this new day as it now unfolds. Without my Heavenly Father’s help, this would be impossible, but the gift of new opportunities to follow His instructions is accompanied by a daily allotment of grace, wisdom, and faith. There is no lack in God’s daily supply since He has already placed everything we need into this day before we arrived! So, I will boldly step ahead, knowing this has been previously prepared for my arrival. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Teach me Your ways, and thank You for another lap.

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot,” Proverbs 14:30 ESV. Envy is often treated as a positive motivator, but it is a faith killer, a joy destroyer, and a scourge within the soul. Modern culture is at war against godliness in ways we often fail to see. The constant emphasis on wealth, popularity, and power pulls us in the wrong direction. Wishing that I had the good fortune of someone else seems innocent enough, but it is nothing more than old-fashioned envy. Envy displaces thankfulness and undermines trust in God. Rejoicing in God’s care and provision has the opposite effect; releasing hope and joy in my soul as I consider God’s goodness. Holy Father deliver me from the evil web of covetousness or jealousy. I am fully at peace with the course You have laid out for me. Your will is my delight and Your Joy is my strength! 

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings,” Psalm 36:7 ESV. Blessings come in many ways. While some are huge and obvious most blessings arrive without fanfare and in simple forms: a beautiful horizon, a memory of someone special, a baby’s smile, a wonderful taste, or a gentle touch. As I reflect on how often God works unannounced, it strikes me how utterly unpretentious He is. The LORD can work on any scale and is worthy of all glory, yet He stoops low to quietly craft a constant stream of blessings into our lives. He does not hold back for our lack of acknowledgment. His unrequited love pours forth without restraint. Lord God, You are our Glorious Benefactor. Sin has dulled my senses and I am slow to see, but in this moment of reflective contrition, I glorify You and thank You for Your humble affection. Make me more like You, LORD.