Devotionals

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Hello, welcome to this week’s verse of the week. This verse is a word for Israel as well as for the individual. It’s a joyous proclamation of what God wants to do in our lives and in the nation of Israel.

"You will prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows."
Psalm 23:5

A WORD FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

I thought I would divide this into two sections, so the reader will be able to relate this to their own lives, then see how they can pray for and agree with God on the blessings and promises He has for Israel.
There are a lot of enemies that we face along our walk with God. So often it is easy to feel defeated and lost, and wonder where God is, and why He is allowing us to face so many valleys. For some people reading right now, this is a reminder, for others, it might be new information. I was listening to a sermon the other day and I think I finally figured out how to word this-this world is a mess because of the original sin of man. God is still the same; He is still flawless in all of His ways. However, because Adam and Eve listened to the serpent in the garden, the enemy, they gave him right to the earth. God still rules the earth, it's still His, but the devil roams around causing trouble. So because of original sin, the world is in sin, and though God can end it, He will not until He comes back. If anybody does not understand this, please ask me, I will try to explain again. But basically God allows the devil to roam around the earth, because Adam and Eve turned from God in the Garden when they took the apple, allowing them knowledge of good and evil, and also, they entered into the sinful nature that we are all born with as a product of that. Now all man is born in original sin, and is prone to sin and suffering.

But the good news is that though sin and problems are inevitable, when we trust the Living God, He protects us and blesses us, even in the middle of our trials. "You will prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies." God can abundantly bless us in the middle of our problems. On a practical level, the problems may not go away, but the stress and anxiety OVER the problems can. When we allow God full right over our lives, our lives may not improve, however our OUTLOOK will.

Imagine you are in a land where there is war and revolution all around. No one has felt safe for a long time, and there is much anxiety. However, you are in a room, all is well, there is a big feast, there is fellowship with God, and there is peace in your heart. Your head (mind) is anointed with the joy of the Lord. Nehemiah 8:10 says "do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Though there is still awareness of the turmoil surrounding you, there is also a "peace that surpasses understanding, the peace of God"(Philippians 4:7).

CAN MY ONCE EMPTY CUP OVERFLOW?
YES! When we face the trials in our lives, we can become void of strength and energy, and become bitter and apathetic. However, when we turn to God, the very God who loves us and gave us new life, we can become filled once again! His provisions are never ending, and when we ask for anything, we shall receive it, especially when we ask for peace and strength. Rejoice as you face trials, and even as you hear of them going on-God is still around, He is still on the throne, and He gives us joy, strength, and even wealth as we live in a dark sin filled world. He fills our "cup" to overflowing!

A WORD FOR ISRAEL

Israel is known as the Promised Land. It is called this because it is the nation where God has and is still continuing to fulfill His promises. The Lord said that there would be much fighting and chaos in Israel. God KNOWS all that goes on in that nation, actually He is in the midst of it. He wants His people to trust in Him, and abide in Him, as He delivers them from their enemies with His MIGHTY HAND. Israel is an illustration of Gods faithfulness. In every trial Israel and the Jewish people faced, God delivered them! The trials may still come, the wars may still take place, but the God of Israel is still the same. "He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps." (Psalm 121:4) He will prepare a table for Israel in the PRESENCE OF THEIR ENEMIES! He will prepare a table for us IN THE PRESENSE OF OUR ENEMIES AS WELL. He is good and faithful and He prevails over all evil, and the plans of the evil one to destroy His beloved. His plans remain throughout the generations, His faithfulness has no end. Trust in the Lord your God, today. He will see you through and bless you in the process.

DEAR LORD-THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO US AND WHEN WE TRUST IN YOU, YOU DELIVER US AND BLESS US IN THE PRESENSE OF OUR ENEMIES.
IN JESUS NAME

AMEN

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