When I was growing up, I loved Saturday mornings. A lot of the time, I would wake up to the smell of bacon cooking on the stove and biscuits in the oven. My dad loves to make breakfast. He still does. He’s very good at it too! He likes to have fruit, jams and all the trimmings that make breakfast so yummy. I loved walking into the kitchen and the breakfast table being all set up. My brother and I would usually have a decision of orange juice or chocolate milk. Our plates were sitting there ready to be filled. It was the perfect start to the day. We’d sit and eat, laugh and just get ready for the day. We were usually not in a hurry. Just sitting there with my family felt safe and happy. We all had our specific seats we sat in. Very comfortable and very memorable. This was a true sense of belonging.
The twenty-third Psalm takes me to a place of safety and belonging as an adult. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” (Psalms 23:1 NLT) First of all, Jesus is responsible for me. I belong to Him. The first verse goes on to explain that I have everything I need because I belong to Him. Being my personal Shepherd, it’s His responsibility to supply my needs. He far exceeds anything I can fathom. He truly is my full life supply. Verse five is where the Lord shows His children how nurturing He truly is. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” (Psalms 23:5 NKJV) He prepares a table for us! Not only does He prepare a table for us, He does it in the presence of our enemies.
Jesus is not intimidated by any enemy He has already defeated. He’s our loving Shepherd and He knows when His sheep need to eat. He knows the physical need of food in a safe environment is vital to the soul. Family meals are important because they strengthen us physically and emotionally. The table is prepared by Him. He knows where we each sit. He knows what we want to drink. He welcomes us to His table right in front of our foes. He tells worry, anxiety and fear – you’re NOT welcome here. This is a safe place. He shows His nurturing side by providing our physical needs while our enemies watch on as we fellowship with Him and one another. Nothing can mess with us because He is with us. He doesn’t abandon us to our own survival. He actually promises us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV) What a Savior! He literally lets us enjoy ourselves on His provisional bounty while our enemies look on with jealousy. He loves and protects His children.
It is interesting that after Jesus rose from the dead, He visited several of His disciples that were fishing and made breakfast for them. The guys were still in the boat when He called to them. The disciples headed for shore. “When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.” (John 21:9 NLT) Jesus IS the bread of life. He knows connections happen when people are gathered around a table of provision and He is there with them. He invites all of us to leave our fears and worries and sit with Him and eat. He wants to hear about our day, our dreams and just comfort us. He wants to fellowship as a family. Will you take His invitation to join in? He already has a seat waiting for you at the table He’s prepared.
Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.
