The Feast Elevate jan 23

a feast is available in the presence of our enemies.

Psalm 23, the shepherds Psalm. the fifth verse is where God makes it clear that he provides more nutrition, pleasure, and fullness than we could ever need while our enemies are all around us.

How does he do that?

Well I have no doubt there are many threads to that answer. But for me in this particular series I believe one of those main threads is the attitude that takes place during worship.
Worship is the key to the feast that God is providing. True worship takes place when the heart comes into submission to a guy that is desperate for relationship because we need everything he has to exist. When our mind confines warship to a specific area or time in which we are comfortable we lose the opportunity of eating a feast that God has provided.
Being in the presence of our enemies does not mean that we are safe in any walled city sitting in a palace having a banquet. Although I do believe that can apply in our lives, I do not believe it is the aspect touched on during this particular psalm.
Sheep were constantly in the presence of their enemy.
She spent most of their time in the wilderness. There were enemies that wanted to eat them, their enemies that wanted to steal them , and there was plenty of food that looked good but could cause great discomfort and possible death. The good Shepherd is able to provide a feast of nutritional, tasty, and abundant food in the presence of our enemies.
Worship is the path that allows us to ascend to the throne of God and feast at his table.

Isaiah chapter 55
this chapter is filled with opportunities where we see worship providing a connection to God.
We see that we are to come and eat food that is good for us. We are to drink for free good drink that we cannot afford. We are to seek God while he may be found. And after we do all that, we hear the thoughts that are not like our thoughts, we see the ways that are not like our ways, we are higher and lifted up more than we could ever be on our own. Worship brings us to a place where we ascend into God's throne room, hear things we could not have heard before, and see things we could not have seen, and think of things we could not have thought of, unless we were in the presence of God.

Often times when our mind gets in the way.
When we tell God what worship is, when worship can take place, we stand in the way of submission to God. Our minds become a stumbling block to what God is trying to accomplish. though our thoughts may desire to connect to God if we don't come to him in submission our minds will keep us from entering into a place of worship. Our minds limit what we can eat at Gods banqueting table. Worship becomes dry ,old, it doesn't satisfy any more, and we look for something new.

When we lead with our hearts. when we allow our minds to be bent to the thoughts of God.we are able to feast in the presence of our enemies at a table laden with opportunities to become full, energized, and healthy.

Psalm 81:10
"open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."
Come to the table, open up your mouth, and enjoy an endless supply of good things.