Escaping the Coffee Table: The Spiritual Pursuit of Jesus Beyond Sunday Morning

 Faith Must Be A Daily Pursuit

Where Muddy Footsteps Become Prayer

You hear that? That is the sound of freedom. It’s the call of a bird I can’t quite name, echoing through the cold, damp woods of Mississippi, right next to the Pascagoula River. For months, the deep freeze and relentless rain have kept me indoors, locked in a subtle, psychological cage. I’m out on a prayer walk right now, navigating around great big mud puddles, trying to keep my socks dry and my feet warm. But even the risk of a cold, wet toe is worth this escape.

Because let's be honest, we all have that internal, nagging chaos. You’re trying to connect with the Lord—you’re trying to settle into that quiet place—but your mind is a perpetual to-do list flashing red. My house is no different. I love my home, but if I stay too close, I’m close to the chores, you know? Just a few feet away are the dirty dishes, waiting to be scraped and scrubbed. Down the hall is the vacuum cleaner, silently reminding me that the carpet hasn't seen action in days. And then there's the ever-present, gravitational pull of the internet—a distraction magnet disguised as a tool. Even when I manage to get into a dedicated mode of prayer, this constant, low-grade agitation is always there: Oh yeah, the trash has to go out.

That, my friends, is the pain point for so many believers. We want the supernatural life of Christ, but we’re so entangled in the "natural" demands of our world that we keep Jesus relegated to a shelf. We put Him on the spiritual coffee table. He's there, available, a comforting presence, but we only pick Him up when there’s a crisis. Uncle Joe is sick? Time to go do the Jesus thing! But what happens when the immediate need passes? He goes right back down, and we return to our worldly routines, trusting Mammon, trusting Tylenol, trusting our own strength, until the next fire breaks out.

But what if I told you that the life of supernatural and sustained faith isn't about running to Jesus during the fire, but walking with Him before it even begins? That’s what I’m out here seeking right now. I’m striving to get a mile or two away from the constant noise so I can focus a little bit more on doing the Enoch thing—to simply walk with God and develop the kind of sold-out faith that makes the miraculous a daily reality. This is how we escape the 'coffee table' mindset and start living the life we were truly designed for.

The Enoch Walk and the Faith That Conquers

My prayer walks are a substitute for the "prayer closet" Jesus spoke of. I don't have a literal closet, but I need the separation. I need the space where I can’t just run over and fix something that needs fixing. I covet that relationship with Enoch, who, after walking with God for 365 years, was simply taken. The King James Bible says, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24 KJV). Think about that depth of relationship—a daily, unrelenting pursuit of the divine presence that transcended the normal bounds of earth.

That kind of spiritual commitment makes people uncomfortable, especially today. But as I was recently reading a gem of a book about Smith Wigglesworth, the "Apostle of Faith," I was reminded that this kind of radical, sold-out life is not an isolated phenomenon in history.

Wigglesworth’s life, much like his quotes, challenges your entire belief system. He was married to a woman who was a powerful preacher long before he was, and they had an understanding so deeply prophetic it’s almost unbelievable. She once told him—and this is a conversation I want you to truly think about—that one day she was going to be preaching, and God was going to take her, kind of like He took Enoch. I’ve heard many sermons and read countless books, but a wife speaking to her husband about her own supernatural transition is on another level. And one day, it happened. He found out his wife had expired, and she had indeed died while preaching. Wigglesworth’s ultimate response to this monumental moment of grief and loss? To praise God and start praying in tongues.

This isn’t callousness; it’s faith shored up. This is the fruit of a relationship so deep with Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2 KJV), that even death itself is viewed through the lens of God's perfect will, rather than human tragedy.

I've seen this kind of unwavering faith in my own mentors, like Garry and Nancy Nesbit: The more sold out you are, the more miraculous your life becomes. God does miracles for those that believe, and the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17 KJV).

What Does it Mean to Really "Believe" God?

This is where we must examine our American-style, comfortable, convenient faith. When people in our society say they believe God, what are they actually saying? Is it a mental acknowledgment of a historical fact, or is it a complete transfer of authority over their daily life?

Jesus gave us the metric. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). The fruit of your life shows the health of the tree trunk of your being. Jesus said, “Make the tree good, and his fruit good.” (Matthew 12:33 KJV). For over a decade, I’ve been praying and pondering the passage that says, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22 KJV). I think I'm on to something here: our belief system is revealed by what we watch, what we consume, and what we prioritize. Just a little bit of the world makes us dark, compromises our focus, and contaminates our "single eye."

We are called to be living sacrifices, which is our reasonable service to God, every minute of every day (Romans 12:1 KJV). But we don't do that. We treat Jesus like the coffee table accessory, accessing Him only when the storm hits. We quote John 3:16—“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)—and we think the work is done. But James drops a hammer on that easy-believism: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” (James 2:14 KJV).

Are we going to trust in Mammon, which is the spirit of wealth and comfort, or are we going to take no thought for tomorrow and say, “Give us this day our daily bread... Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:11, 10 KJV)? This is the crux of the battle. It is a reasonable service to be a living sacrifice, to say, “Lord, ordain Your will for me today.”

Shoring Up Your Theology Before the Fire

Our value system comes to light when the house is on fire. What do you run for? What is your most prized possession? The time to shore up your values, your theology, and your faith is well before the fire comes.

I love the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When faced with the king’s fiery furnace, their faith wasn't a sudden burst of courage; it was a deeply ingrained, already settled theology. They knew the truth: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 KJV).

They were shored up. They were rooted. They had already died to their fear of man and their desire for earthly preservation.

That is why we must get worded up now. When you run across a situation in your life, what is your first response? Do you fall to your knees in prayer, or do you run to the nearest worldly resource? When you’re in a trial, do you think immediately, “What does the Word say about this?” James tells us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5 KJV).

We often submit to our worldly allegiance—our world’s alliances and supposed "theologians"—instead of looking for biblical solutions to our problems. I’ll admit I’m a hypocrite in this area. It’s so much easier to pop some Tylenol than it is to pray and rebuke a headache in the powerful name of Jesus. But in my own life, when I’ve been forced to choose, I’ve seen the supernatural power of resistance.

Personal Reflections: Warfare and the Loss of Identity

I have encountered firsthand the reality of demonic attacks, the kind that manifest as physical illness. I know about night terrors, which I discuss in my book Overcoming Night Terror, where the enemy attacks you through fear and sleep paralysis, making you unable to speak. But there were a few times, usually around 3:00 in the morning, when I would suddenly get violently sick—flu-like symptoms came upon me like a thunderclap. I just knew in my spirit it was a demonic attack, even though the physical symptoms were real.

It was just like when Jesus laid hands on Peter’s mother-in-law, “and the fever left her.” (Luke 4:39 KJV). The demonic thing left.

Instead of grabbing a Theraflu or some other quick fix, I got on my knees. I started praying, and I started commanding the enemy to leave. I asked the Spirit of God for everything I needed to wage war. I knew to persist in that spiritual warfare. We have to be diligent, “having done all to stand, stand therefore...” (Ephesians 6:13 KJV). Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down every high imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV).

The Voice That Was Stolen

I remember one specific time, I was about to go live on a radio show—a major, real-time broadcast. The clock was counting down, and I was minutes away from starting. And dude, right before the show, I lost my voice. I mean, I could feel my pharynx swell up. My voice was just gone.

I kind of laughed, because I knew this wasn't natural. It came on too quick. It was a clear demonic attack designed to block the message God wanted to share. Sometimes, God allows us to go through these things so that we can learn. Do not despise the chastening of the Lord, because those He loves, He chastens, corrects, and instructs in righteousness (Proverbs 3:11-12, 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV).

So, with the clock still ticking down and my voice completely shot, I grabbed my guitar. I started worshiping. In my spirit, the words finally erupted out of my mouth, even if they were barely audible at first. But by the time I had to do the show, I was 100%. The enemy was defeated through the simple, supernatural power of worship and persistent faith.

These battles taught me that my old identity has to die daily. Paul said, “I die daily.” (1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV). He also said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV). We've got to let that grain of wheat fall to the ground and die, or it will produce nothing (John 12:24 KJV). So many of us are desperately trying to hold onto our old identity, but the true Christian life begins when you surrender it completely and say, It's not I that lives, but Christ that lives in me.

Biblical References: The Pursuit and the Word

We are in a never-ending pursuit of Jesus. Every time I get a little closer to Him, I only notice how much further I need to go. I read the life of Wigglesworth, and I know that I am nowhere near where I want to be. The way we draw closer to Him is through the Word. Jesus is the Word, and the Bible is the physical manifestation of that truth.

We need to treat the Word of God as more important than our necessary food. I encourage you to read the King James Version (KJV), the Authorized KJV, or the New KJV. While I’m not here to start an argument over translations, I must warn you that some paraphrases and versions omit or water down key verses, and they simply do not say the same thing. The spirit and the Word agree, and we need the full counsel of Scripture.

The Spirit of Truth actually guides us into all truth (John 16:13 KJV). We must continually read the Bible, like food for our spirit. Wigglesworth apparently had the habit of reading the Word every time he ate physical food. That’s a man who truly grasped the meaning of Matthew 4:4 (KJV): “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

If we desire this closeness with God, we must heed the call to hunger and thirst: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 KJV). We are commanded to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33 KJV). We have to give up the stuff of the world for God in this process.

You must get worded up before the trial comes. It may seem like a journey of a thousand miles. You may look at the Bible and think, "Oh my gosh, it’s such a huge sword, I can’t even lift it!" But just start. The successful Christian life begins with reading the Word of God, not having to depend on asking someone else every time you have a question. Yes, iron sharpens iron, and we must fellowship (Proverbs 27:17 KJV), but that does not give us an excuse to be biblically ignorant. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6 KJV). That’s why many are sick and have fallen asleep—because we are not discerning the Lord’s body (1 Corinthians 11:30 KJV). We need to know why that is happening!

Key Takeaways

The path to a life where the prophetic and the supernatural are normal is a daily, intentional walk, not a Sunday-only appearance.

• Get Away: Create a "prayer closet," whether it’s a physical room or a prayer walk in the woods, to escape the distractions (dishes, internet, chores) that keep your mind dual-focused.
• Choose Life: Stop treating Jesus like a coffee table accessory only to be used in emergencies. He requires a living sacrifice, every minute of every day (Romans 12:1 KJV).
• Examine Your Fruits: Your belief system is revealed by what you prioritize. Make the tree good by having a single focus (Matthew 6:22 KJV).
• Die Daily: Embrace the crucifixion of your old identity so that Christ can truly live through you (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
• Word Up: Get rooted in the KJV Bible before the trial comes. Hunger and thirst for righteousness more than your necessary food (Matthew 5:6 KJV).

Conclusion and Call to Action

Right now, standing here with the sun rising up in the East, casting the trees’ shadows over the river, it's quiet. I can hear the traffic in the background, but it's distant. It's not as prevalent as the noise of the chores and the internet. I can get off with God. And what I'm thinking is this: as we grow closer in our relationship with Christ, you see a huge, undeniable gap open up between truth and the "fake truth" the world offers.

It’s frustrating to see, but we are supposed to work the field. We're supposed to put our hand to the plow and plant seeds. We are called to share this good news.

It is an awesome experience to talk to people about Jesus and share testimonies—and listen to theirs. Sometimes, I’ll look for an older gentleman at the coffee shop or the park, someone with some gray hair and experience, and I'll start talking to them about Jesus. You’ll see their face literally light up. They begin to share the things the Lord has showed them, and you’re having church right there. When two or three are gathered together in the name, nature, character, and authority of Jesus, He is in the midst (Matthew 18:20 KJV). You feel His presence; you sense it. And when you leave that conversation, you’re pumped up. You are motivated to do more.

Be about Jesus, man. It is an exciting life. You get to see amazing things. It’s truly exciting to see someone's face change because of Jesus, and you are right there when the shift happens. I hope you catch this ball of excitement I have in my heart for the things of God. It's a never-ending, spiritual pursuit of the King, and the payoff is eternal.

If this post has touched you, please consider sharing it with your friends and family on social media. Dig deeper and go higher! You can find more of my thoughts on this pursuit of the prophetic life and read about my battles in spiritual warfare at ConradRocks.net.

Action Items

• Schedule Your Enoch Walk: Intentionally carve out a time and place—away from your house, away from your chores, and away from your screens—for dedicated, uninterrupted prayer. Make the daily walk with God a non-negotiable part of your life.
• Pick Up the Sword: If you haven’t already, commit to reading a reliable version of the Bible (like the KJV). Do not wait for a trial to begin; start getting worded up now so that you are shored up in your theology before the fire comes.
• Replace the Pill with Prayer: Next time you have a minor physical affliction, challenge yourself to get on your knees and rebuke the attack in Jesus' name before you reach for the medicine cabinet. Start exercising your faith in the small things to prepare for the big ones.
• Read the Canon: To understand more about escaping the enemy’s tactics, pick up my book Overcoming Night Terror or delve into the spiritual truths in OPEN YOUR EYES. Use my prior posts on ConradRocks.net to gain context.
• Initiate Fellowship: Engage a fellow believer, especially an older one, in a conversation about Jesus. Be the one to ask them what the Lord has been showing them. Be about Jesus and watch how the Spirit ignites both of you.