So yesterday I forgot my coffee. Actually I did it on purpose. I woke up feeling perky and ready to meet the day and quickly thought, “Why bother with making coffee today? You’re ready to go!” And go, I went. Out the door and empty handed, I headed off to class. Upon arriving and finding my seat, I settled in and prepared to learn.
The 8am lecture came and went, and I found myself struggling to pay attention along with a case of the yawns. As the 9am lecture started, I was already promising myself a trip to Starbucks during my next break. That lecturer may as well have been the sandman himself with the effort it required me to stay awake during that hour. I doubt I heard anything he said.
Other classmates had their coffee close by. I know because I would occasionally catch a whiff of that unique aroma, and briefly I would feel a jolt of energy. I almost felt like I was cheating with their coffee. I know—how silly! However, once again I remembered why I promised myself a month ago that I would make coffee everyday and drag it to school with me. It was for this struggling I needed to stave off. I realized once again that my brain has become dependent on coffee. Then it really hit me…
What if I was addicted to spending time with Jesus the way I am addicted to coffee? What if I came to terms with the fact that He really is my life elixir and that without Him I can do and accomplish absolutely nothing without Him and His presence in my life? What a changed woman I would be! So much would be better. I would probably be a better student and definitely a better wife. I probably would even be a better driver! (Road rage flares in my life occasionally.) I could offer encouragement and love to those around me because it would be brimming over in my own life.
So what’s the hold up? All of this sounds so amazing. Why haven’t I already embraced time with Jesus? Why don’t I already have this joy and love in my life? There are so many answers to this question, but each one is not good enough to even be called an answer. They are all excuses, and they all lead back to ME. The only thing standing between a life-giving relationship with the Lord and me is actually ME!
How can I change this? Maybe I just need to make the same promise to Him about our relationship that I made about coffee. I promised myself to bring coffee to school with me every time I come; my attention and learning have become dependent on it. Now I need to fully realize that the Lord is my wellspring, and it is from Him that my life flows. If my very life depends on a daily meeting with Him, I can certainly do that. Maybe we can even have a cup of coffee. J
