It could be hard for you to read verses that start with “You prepare a feast for me,” if you are participating in the church-wide prayer and fasting this week! It was hard for me to think about what to write when you could be hungry right now, but God showed me that this feast is about so much more than food! Come to His table to feast!

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Psalm 23 is the most well-known of all that David wrote. We are familiar with the imagery of God being described as our good shepherd in the first four verses, but now the imagery changes to an attentive and gracious host preparing a feast. From leading and protecting to feeding and providing – this feast represents God’s abundant provision for us! God is faithful to ensure that His children have all, even beyond food, that we need. He will meet our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, even in the presence of trials and oppositions in life, in spiritual battles, or in challenging circumstances like fasting.

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Now, envision God anointing your head. We are His honored guests at a lavish feast and being anointed with oil. Oils can be used symbolically in moments of healing, so imagine God healing and restoring you. In the Bible, anointing with oil is also associated with joy (Ps. 45:7, Isa. 61:3, Heb. 1:9). Who doesn’t need more joy? Your heart is refreshed with joy! Come to His table to be anointed!

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Are you the kind of person who looks at life with the cup half-full or half-empty? Worry, fear, and anxiety can even make our cup feel empty, but the cup in this verse is an overflowing cup! God is pouring, pouring, pouring into our lives, more than we can hold! Just picture peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control being perpetually poured into you! Come to His table to fill up!  

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Our cups are overflowing, and we are being pursued by God’s goodness and love. Animals pursue their prey and people can pursue others, but the imagery of the hot pursuit of God’s goodness and love after us is so inspiring! Do you feel the warmth and hope in this image in your mind? He cares that much about us! Think about it. When a hunter pursues his prey, he does not give up. God’s goodness and love hunts us down with unrelenting determination to bless and love us. He forgives our sins, extends grace in our weaknesses, and lifts us up when we stumble. God’s love will not quit on us; it is an unwavering force that seeks to bring healing and restoration to every area of our lives! Come to His table for love!

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“And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” WOW! What an “And”! For eternity! He will bring us to live with Him as redeemed and restored beings. I have a permanent place-setting at the table of His lavish feast. This feast is so much more than food. It is a relentless pursuit of redemption and restoration by Abba God. Come to His table to live forever!

When you read these verses, can you feel God’s love and care for you?

Do you know that God wants to restore you?

Do you know the Good Shepherd and the Gracious Host?  

If you are praying and fasting this week, come to God’s feast to fill up on His goodness, strength, and love that you need.

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Abba God, You are protecting us and serving us our every need. You are filling us up and continually pursuing us. You are redeeming us and restoring us. We are forever grateful to live in eternity with You! In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus, we praise You!  

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Join us for R.E.S.T.O.R.E., this week's 7-Day Prayer Movement, as we prepare to fast and worship on Sunday!