Unfilled Coffee Pot

My morning started like usual. The first thing I did was empty out the coffee from the day before and start a new pot. I admit I am a little bit addicted to this version of caffeine. So because of this devotion to the liquid energizer I am very familiar with the coffee-making process. Like usual I go about the rhythms of setting up everything to get a full pot brewing on its way. Like clock-work! Muscle memory! I did all the things and went about my way to get ready for my day. Once it felt like the right amount of time passed where my coffee should be ready, I returned to the coffee pot only to find a little mess of water/coffee on the floor and a coffee pot with only about 1/10th of the liquid it should have made. What in the world is going on? Is this thing broken?!

“Hey Lewis did you already get your coffee?” asking kindly, but really thinking, dude you’ve already had an entire pot of coffee in two minutes?!? 

“No, I haven’t gotten any yet, why?”

With more investigation I realized the problem. I had failed to push the basket all the way in place. Things weren’t properly lined up for the liquid to flow through... from the coffee maker... into the basket... through the coffee grounds... into the pot.

All of the coffee was still sitting in the basket.

And then He spoke.

Isn’t this us sometimes? We are so accustomed to making “coffee” that we do not slow down and pay attention. Because we are so accustomed to making coffee it becomes like muscle memory, and in that we can miss the most important steps. Most important steps like intentionally making sure everything is lined up to receive what He is brewing. We read the Bible, go to church, serve, use our gifts, love people, do things for others, sacrifice, we work, we do all the things. But we don't get the most important thing right. Connecting to Him. Aligning ourselves with Him. Even though we misalign things, the "coffee Maker” still works and brews and gives. But because we are not aligned in the right manner towards our Maker, the things He brews for us remain in the basket, without us receiving any... or maybe just 1/10th... in our coffee pot. Maybe today we can intentionally pay attention and not miss the most important details. If we are feeling empty, maybe today we can align ourselves in the right way. Maybe today we can lean all the way into the “coffee Maker” and receive what He is brewing and wants to give us. Maybe His guidance. His comfort. His peace. His voice. His direction. His strength. His perseverance. His plan. His love. His wisdom. So many things He pours out. Including His only Son. And His Spirit.

Whatever He is brewing for you today and wanting to pour out to you today, I know it's something in which the caffeinated liquid energizer can’t even begin to compare.

Thank you, Lord, for coffee (ha!!) and for You as our Maker. I pray we become so addicted to what you brew that we are fully devoted and aligned not wanting to miss one drop. I pray it’s not just muscle memory, but intentional devotion to lean into You all the way, every day, eager to catch it. I pray we throw off our clock-work-selves just going through motions totally catching nothing. I pray that anytime we think of coffee we remember that You are the Maker who pours out for us. Thank you, Lord.

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scroll for more thoughts for digging deeper, imagery to supplement these thoughts, and comment box for anyone with words to engage!

[a double expresso shot of] Words for Digging Deeper

“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 CSB

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17

“Jesus answered, ‘Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’” John 3:5-8 CSB

“Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts…” Psalm 95:6-8a CSB

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.”…“The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.”Psalm 19:1-2; 7-10 CSB

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16a CSB

“Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.” Joshua 23:8 NLT

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5 NLT

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” John 1:1-3 CSB

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT

“‘Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.’” Matthew 7:24 NLT