Feasting in Faith: Discovering Divine Abundance Amidst Weakness

An aching left wrist. I am sitting here holding my left wrist, cradling it in my right arm. The wrist is speaking to me after two days of back-to-back kayaking and cycling training sessions. And then the enemy of my soul and biggest liar attacks my thought life. He tells me that I am not ready for the triathlon I have been training for. He tells me that I might get more injuries. He tells me that I am not strong enough. He tells me that even though I've trained as much as I have, that I will not be able to finish. I immediately grab my greatest weapon: God's Word. I mutter to the FOL (the Father of Lies) under my breath: "bring it on, because God's Word will prove you wrong!"

I open my Bible to Psalm 23. I slowly read the whole Psalm 23 out loud. Peace descends. Recently I attended an online workshop where I learned yet another way to study God's Word. It is called the TEND Method and Mariel Davenport was teaching it. Each day you read through the same passage (in my case Psalm 23) and then you:

• Take time to pray and ask God to speak to you through His Word. You can journal a prayer.

• Examine the Scriptures by writing that day's verse out. As you write out the verse, you pay attention to key words, verbs, and pronouns.

• Notice the lesson that is being taught. You look for things you notice about God's character. You observe what sin, promise, action, command, or example is being taught.

• Do what the Word says. You turn the lesson into a question: How will I respond to this lesson today?

The verse I am focusing on today is verse 5 in Psalm 23: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. I take time to pray, to focus on God and all He is. My request from Him is to keep my thoughts centered on Him. I ask God to open my eyes, my ears, my heart and my soul for all He has for me in this one verse. Next I write out the verse. I immediately see so much love and care from God. God doesn't have angels set the table, He sets it for me Himself! I am God's guest and He is the Host. I think, just like Jesus the Servant, washing His disciples feet. The word "prepare" catches my eye, and I remember the promise Jesus made to His disciples in John 14:2-4 "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

Next I examine the word "table". I deduct that it means a supply or source of food, nourishment, and care. My main source of spiritual nourishment is God's Word here on earth. But when I am with Him in heaven, it will be God Himself. Then I read the word "presence" and as I think about it, I realize that my enemy will get to see me feasting and being honored by God. I remember the story of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus told by Jesus in Luke 16: 19-30, where when Lazarus died, he went to heaven to Father Abraham's side and was taken care of. The rich man ended up in hell and could see Lazarus and Abraham, but was in torment. The same is and will be true for the greatest enemy of my soul. Whenever I draw near to God and nestle at His feet and in His presence, I am protected and have enough strength to see me through here on earth. One day, when I'm in God's presence, that same enemy will be watching from the fiery abyss as well, as the great marriage supper of the Lamb takes place!

Who are my "enemies"? Anyone who seeks to injure, overthrow, or harm me! It is also defined as something deadly or hostile or a force that is evil. The devil does all these things to me. I am reminded of how Jesus described Satan in John 10:10 "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy." Jesus also describes Satan in this way in John 8:44 "He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." In Ephesians 6:12, Paul describes our enemies as follows: "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." And just like that I once again am aware that my negative thoughts, my fears, my anxiety are NOT from God, but from the enemy of my soul.

I read the word "anoint" which means to consecrate, to set apart, to empower me. The anointing that God does for us as believers symbolizes divine blessing, authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit. God uses "oil" to anoint me. This oil represents the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The oil symbolizes healing, setting me aside for God's work, as well as providing comfort to me.

The next word that I examine is "cup". My thoughts wander to the Samaritan woman at the well, whom Jesus asked to give him a drink. He then offered her the Living Water: "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 The only way to acquire this water, is to stay close to Jesus and His teaching. Every time I get distracted by cares of this world or worries about tomorrow, I move away from the source of this living water. However, that challenge is only here on earth. Once I am in God's presence and a guest at His table forever, my cup will be permanently overfilled with this life-giving water for all eternity!

Psalm 23, verse 5 ends with the word "overflows". Now that is amazing in itself! I have an abundance, a surplus, an excess of Living Water available to me. In Luke 6:38, Jesus was teaching about giving and receiving. "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." The more we focus on what God has given us, and share that gift of love and our talents with others, the more God will give to us to give to others! It literally is the gift that keeps on giving!

I sit back in wonder. One verse in the Bible I have read many times before, gave me this much nourishment? I am in awe of God. Spending time at His feet is a gift and the time is not wasted.

As I end my time in prayer, I am filled with joy. God has spoken truth and His love and care into my day once more. I will take a well deserved rest day today. I will look to God to fill my cup and give me strength for the training that still lies ahead. I know that I can not do this triathlon on my own, no matter how much I train. I need to be at His table daily, feasting on faith in order to experience divine abundance amidst my weakness!

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

God bless, until next time

Wiebke