I wanted to feast on Your Word today, Lord.
I wanted You to pick what I would “eat.” So I let the Bible fall open. Then I opened my eyes, which fell on this particular verse:
“… but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day.” (2 Samuel 23:10)
I looked at the previous verse to see who Eleazar was:
“Next to him was Eleazar… one of the mighty warriors…” (2 Samuel 23:11)
Oh, Lord! This is not a verse I have read often. This is not an instance where my Bible is so worn from use that it naturally falls open to that page. But this is where You took me today… by Your Sovereign Hand.
I asked You, “Why?” And in the moments that followed… You answered.
Why? To confirm my God-given Purpose — the Identity and Destiny You have revealed to me. The Identity and Destiny You had planned for me before You even created the heavens and the earth.
Why? To encourage me today in the Purpose for which You created me.
Why? To assure me that, as I wield the Sword of Your Spirit, many enemies — and the many lies they speak to ensnare the unsuspecting — will be struck down.
Why? To alert me that I will wield Your Sword so much — and, by Your Spirit, so effectively — that my “hand” will freeze to it.
Why? To remind me of how vitally important it is for me to reduce the noise in my life and set aside time to listen.
Why? So You can speak these (and so many other) personal words of Destiny and Encouragement to me.
Why? So I can marvel at You — as my loving Father in heaven who is also The Almighty God of the Universe. Who, at my request today, directed my eyes, mind and heart to one particular verse in the Bible… out of 31,102 possible verses!
One verse that spoke so specifically, personally and purposefully… to me!
“How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand… (Psalm 139:17-18)
Our schedule has been crazy these last few days. Although You and I have spent quality time together, I have not “fed” on the Bible to the degree I normally like. As a result, I was feeling famished this morning, aching for the soul-nourishment of Your Word.
That’s why I asked You, Lord, to choose what You wanted me to “eat” today. And You chose a verse that nourished me deeply.
You didn’t chide me or condemn me for what I had or had not done in recent days. Instead, You poured out Your Love and Grace in a personal way that affirmed how much I mean to You… and the plans You have for me.
Plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Plans to give me Hope and a Future. Plans to give You Glory and Pleasure as, by Your Spirit, I become and accomplish what You have desired since I was “just” a twinkle in Your eyes.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” (Isaiah 55:9-12a)
And isn’t this all equally true, Beloved, for all of those around the world whom You so love so dearly? This Feast for one, served by The One, is really a Feast for all?
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
Savoring the feast You have set before me today… !!!
Abba’s Girl