What's in your cup?

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

—Mark 14:36 

What’s in your cup this morning? As for me, I pour steamy Folger’s Breakfast Blend and add a splash—well, more than a splash—of French vanilla creamer. Then I head to the front of my house for my first porch party of the season. Porch party is a term coined by my Facebook friend Julie Garmon that she uses in referring to the daily quality time she spends with her husband. No matter the weather, they meet together on their porch every day. And it doesn’t matter what they talk about, but that they talk or just be together, for they know how important this is to their relationship, and they have made a commitment to do so. It is a priority. (You can read about Julie’s porch parties and more on her blog.) 

On the way to my porch, I gather up my bible and a devotional Daily Guideposts 2014 (of which Julie is a writer) and I’m excited. For you see, this is my daily quality time with God.  

Although I’m single, I recognize the value in married couples spending time cultivating their relationship and I know that the Lord desires this same type of commitment from Christians. Daily porch parties. Of course you may not have a porch or even a balcony, but just find a quiet place to come apart from all the busyness of life and rest a little, just as the Lord told His disciples (in Mark 6:31) when they had been ministering so much that they had not so much as time to eat: “Come apart into a desert place, and rest a little.” 

Be still before the Lord. Allow Him to refresh your spirit…your body…your mind. I like how Joyce Meyers puts it, “You had better come apart and spend time with God before you fall apart.” 

During your quiet time, delve into His Word. Read His promises. Let them seep into your soul. Pour out your heart to Him in prayer. Follow Jesus’ example, for He often withdrew from His own busy schedule and spent time in prayer with His Father. 

“And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place and there He prayed.”—Mark 1:35 

Time in prayer and meditation is a time of refreshing. Peter spoke about these times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19) when he was speaking to a group who had gathered on Solomon’s porch (Acts 3:11). However, this porch party was initiated by a group that had gathered to see and glorify Peter and John who had brought healing to the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. The group failed to recognize that the healing power came from God. In his speech, Peter reprimanded and admonished them, and we too would do well to heed his advice. How many times have we looked to the wrong thing (or wrong people) for healing, refreshment, or relief?

Let us look to God and recognize His omnipotence, just as Jesus did when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He was betrayed, “Everything is possible for you” (Mark 14:36). 

As the saying goes, you may have a lot on your plate today—or in your cup. Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you prioritize—to order your steps (Psalm 37:23). Ask Him for strength (Philippians 4:13) to do His will, for sometimes that’s a hard assignment. Jesus knew about hard assignments, and He even asked that the cup be removed (Mark 14:36). But above all, He prayed for God’s will to be done. And His obedience made a way for the salvation of all mankind. 

What’s in your cup today? You know what’s in mine—my coffee cup, that is. But as for my assignments, well, God knows.  

This is the first time I’ve used this particular coffee cup—ironically (or not!) that it coincides with my first porch party of the summer. The cup is a birthday gift from my grandchildren, decorated with their fingerprints, and that makes it extra special. 

My cup is one-of-a-kind. So is the cup God has designed for me. So is the cup He has designed for you. He knows You—and I—can handle all His assignments with His strength. So drink up! Your obedience will make a difference. Your obedience may save one today. Cheers! 

Dear Lord, thank You for porch parties and times of refreshing. Thank You for Your power and strength that You make available to me. May I never fail to recognize or tap into it, so I can be obedient to Your will even when it’s hard, for I know You have a divine purpose for everything I go through. Your fingerprints are all over it. Amen.