Memory Scripture of the Week – Psalm 23
The
LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He
lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He
renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Even
when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close
beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
You
prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You
honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely
your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I
will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6
You
prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
 |
| Banquet near the Dead Sea - Israel Fit for a King...in the presence of enemies--hunger and thirst. |
Consider how
Queen Esther and King Xerxes sat down with her enemy—the enemy of all Jews—Haman—for
a huge feast.
So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther's
banquet. On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again
said to Esther, "Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request?
I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!" Queen Esther
replied, "If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king
to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be
spared. For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter,
and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet,
for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king."
"Who would do such a thing?" King Xerxes demanded. "Who would be
so presumptuous as to touch you?" Esther replied, "This wicked Haman
is our adversary and our enemy." Haman grew pale with fright before the
king and queen. Esther 7:1-6
Can you
consider a banquet…a feast…with your enemy? Who is your enemy?
What
are you afraid of—what is your greatest fear—your enemy?
Things that go bump in the night?
Unseen things that bump into you in the light?
Strangers? Persecutors? Attackers?
Falling, or being trapped in something?
Spiders, snakes, bees, poison ivy?
Sickness or death?
All
these things are real fears—enemies. How can I be rescued from these?
The
enemy of us all is Satan. He entices us to get our eyes off the Lord.
My enemy has
chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness
like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I
remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what
you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched
land thirsts for rain. Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression
deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing
love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give
myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach
me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me
forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my
life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In your
unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your
servant. Psalm
143:3-12
I trust
in the Lord—He gives me HOPE and drives away my fear—the enemy. Seek God
to liberate you from your fear—your enemy—to cast him out of your life. As
Jesus said…
Jesus turned to Peter and said,
"Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing
things merely from a human point of view, not from God's." Matthew 16:23
Have
Hope. He will prepare a banquet for you…in the presence of your enemies.
Prayer ~ Lord God, I trust You to take
care of me—You are my hope. I look forward to the banquet that You will prepare
for me…in the presence of my enemies.
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 16-18
Happy Birthday Sweet Gladys.
Behind every man of integrity is a woman of
integrity.
Blessing on you as you continue to seek and
serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
© 2019 Text and Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights
reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation
(NLT) unless otherwise noted.
www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading
No comments:
Post a Comment