Coffee and prayer

Coffee.  I love coffee.  It is actually an acquired taste for me.  I remember when I first started drinking coffee; I got a cup of coffee at work and the thought popped into my head “I’m getting coffee at work; I feel so grown up!”  That thought was followed with “you’re 31 years old you weirdo”.  Yes, I felt grown up finally at 31 years of age.  I think my mental age is about 25 (sometimes 12), it has been about 25 since I was 14.  I guess I’m stuck.  Back up, move away from the squirrel!  Back to coffee.

 

For me, coffee is relaxing, it joins with early morning, and I don’t appreciate it as much if I am rushed or busy.  It is soothing, calming, almost peaceful.  It is also a social event.  I will go visit my parents, or friends, or aunt, or grandma for ‘morning coffee’.  I will arrive at their door at about 6:30 a.m., (we are all early risers) and we will watch the day come in and visit and enjoy steaming cups of coffee together.  In my brain, coffee is wired to connect to peaceful and content times.  If I am rushed I will barely drink half a cup, it has little appeal.  If I am relaxing or enjoying it with company, I will drink three or four cups… this doesn't happen too often.  If you get your information from TV shows and commercials, you will conclude that most people use coffee as a morning ‘pick me up’, a boost of energy to start their day.  It is a required part of many people’s morning routine.  The ‘get going’ message.

However you use coffee in your life, if at all, I want you to ponder something.  Coffee and prayer.  Prayer is the perfect ‘morning pick me up’!  A conversation with God every morning can boost your energy and “set your feet on solid rock” for the day.  Your brain starts the day in the right place and you are more apt to continue in that vein all day.  When I start my day with prayer, my outlook is better, my mood is better, my interactions are better.  It is the epitome of starting your day off right.  Prayer gives peace:

Matthew 11:28 - 30  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Compare this in your mind: one person jumps out of bed, scrambling through their day, settles down in bed at night, and has time with God – they are flooded with peace as their worries fly away, given to God in prayer.  The other person wakes up and has time with God  – they are flooded with peace as their worries fly away, given to God in prayer, THEN they get out of bed and go through their day.  Who has the better day?  The one that started with prayer, or ended with prayer?  The people who have the best days start with prayer, AND end with prayer, with lots of prayer in between!

“I don’t have time” Satan throws into your mind – “My mornings are so rushed!”  “Mornings are too busy, and I like to take my time with God.”  What’s better, taking your time with God and not talking to him at all, or talking to him on the go?  It is so much better when we can sit down with God and talk, yes, but any prayer is better than no prayer.  Look at your morning, how long do you lay in bed before getting up – prayer time, what do you do while having that first cup of coffee – prayer time.  If I am running late I have begun replacing some exercise with prayer.  If we had to choose, I think God would choose a healthy soul over a healthy body.

 

The bible is full of the importance and necessity of prayer!  God wants to talk to you!  God wants that relationship with you!  How awful would it be to not say ‘Good morning!’ to those you love!  So say ‘good morning’ to God.  “Good morning Lord!  I love you! Thank you for this fresh new day!”  Ask God to guide you through each step.  Ask him for his peace and guidance.  Praise him!

Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up in my victorious right hand.

Psalm 55:22  Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Philippians 4:6-7  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:11  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Psalm 50:15  Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, pray these verses from Ephesians, change the pronouns so you are talking to God.

Ephesians  6:14-21  When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that form his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit .Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Coffee is great… prayer is better! 

As my pastor of my early adult years always said:

“Have a great day, and in Jesus Christ, a nice forever!”