Today’s Devotion
Topic: In The Presence Of The Enemy
Text: Psalm 23: 5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Amen.
There is something interesting about the text above. Why will God set a table before us in the presence of our enemies knowing that we are afraid of them? Why won’t He hide us and then set the table in places where the enemy can’t even see, so that we feel 100% secured to feast on ‘ghetto’ table? Well, maybe it is because the blessings of God on a believer can never be hidden and also, because we are not supposed to fear the enemy in the first place.
You see, the very same great and wise God who is capable of setting a table for His children in the presence of their enemies is the same who shields them with light and fire. He blesses us with all spiritual blessings and defends us from all the fiery darts of the enemy. Ours is to remain hidden in Him and feast on what He sets before us. Being confident and content, both in the ability of God to protect and provide respectively.
However, it is a known fact that the above remains a huge challenge to the modern day believer. Instead of feeding on the Bread of Life (the Word of God) and His exceeding goodness, we become intimidated about the presence of the enemy. We spend the whole time fighting battles that belong to the Lord. We are often so busy responding to the empty threats and accusations of the enemy; we even fail to see a banquet set before us. No wonder many of us end up worn, torn, weary and hungry in the midst of God’s abundance.
Jesus our Lord called us to take rest in Him (Matthew 11:28). Till when will we take our rightful place in Him and stop worrying about satan? Don’t we have more to do with God than the devil? Why can’t we throw his threats off in prayer and then focus on what the Lord is telling us to do? It is in the Lord we live, move and have our being, not in the enemy.
Kindly note that this sermon about our authority over the threats of the enemy is not to encourage prayerlessness, ungodliness and pride – A point where we carry ourselves about without reverence for God or man; with the excuse that we are feasting on God’s table and fear no evil. Well, evil will surely take us by surprise that way. And the fall will be great.
It is rather to advocate for a humble and godly position in Christ where all we desire is to know the Lord; to be found in Him and known as His. A place of fervent prayer, meaningful bible study and righteous living. That place where the devil threatens because you are blessed for being faithful to God, not for being lukewarm and almost worldly. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.” ( Psalm 34: 15)
Meditate on this word and begin to pray. Ask for grace to remain focused on God and the table He has set before you. To commit to Him all things through prayer and righteous living. He will set a table before you and anoint your head with oil till your cup runs over. The devil can do nothing about it. He can choose to die!
(www.yonghana.org; Like our Facebook page: Y OUTREACH NETWORK)
