Taste and Feed

Mrs. Smith has actually been the premier apple pie maker in
our home. My wife makes the best coconut cream pies in the world from
scratch, which is the only way I will have pie. Since I don’t like apple pie,
it never bothered me to just let Mrs. Smith handle that area.

Last year my daughter Megan, then 22, decided that it was
time to tackle a new venture … making an apple pie from scratch. She made
and rolled out her own pie dough. She cut and peeled the apples. She used
all of the right ingredients to make the filling, and she didn’t stop with just
throwing it all together (something I would have done). She actually cut little
“leaves” out of dough and lined the top. She then coated the top crust
with something to make it shiny. The pie was a beautiful work of
art.

When it came out of the oven, her husband, Jared, called me
on my phone. I thought he was having a heart attack with all of the sounds
he was making. The words he was trying to push out through a mouthful of
pie, were, “Dad, you have to taste this
pie … it is amazing.”

They came over later that day and brought the scraps left
from her first pie. My wife tried it. “Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed.
“Leonard, you have to taste this pie.”

I don’t like apple pie and she knows it, but now I had been
put on the spot. So I took a small taste. Wow … it was really good. My
1-year-old grandson, Elijah, had already had a piece, and all he could say was,
“Apple? Apple?” He was obviously hooked.

A few weeks later, Megan made an apple pie for her brother’s
birthday. He was a bit skeptical, but everyone said, “Brian, you have to taste this pie … it is amazing!!” “Mrs. Smith” has now
been replaced with “Taste Megan’s Pie.”

David, the psalmist, speaks about tasting. But his experience was not apple pie. He had tasted of the Lord. In Psalm 34:8 we read, “O
taste of the Lord and see that He is good.”

Have you ever heard someone say, “I wanted that so badly I
could taste it?” They were
expressing a deep desire, so intense, that it took over all of their senses.
David’s relationship with the Lord was so intimate that he could taste of His goodness.

A few Psalms later, David says that it is even possible to “feed
on His faithfulness” (37:3, ESV – notes). Then in Psalm 119:103 we read that God’s Word is sweet
to the taste … even sweeter than
honey!

How long has it been since you have tasted of the Lord? When did you last feast on His
Word?

We have our “quiet time” too often just to check it off our
spiritual checklist in an attempt to somehow convince God to bless us. How
disappointed He must be when we run in and out of His presence without taking
the time to savor or taste of His
goodness! We’re in such a hurry that we fail to feed on His Word … and on His faithfulness.

This week in your busy life, schedule some time to taste of the Lord. He has taken the time to prepare a
feast for you. He has prepared a banquet of His faithfulness. You
can feed or gain strength from
it.

Is life tough? Do you have struggles that weigh you
down? Are there burdens that sap your strength? Then taste of the Lord. See that He is
good.

In the same way that a spoon full of honey would give you
energy and renewed strength, God’s Word will refresh you spiritually. Come into
His presence.·By His shed blood, Jesus has already provided your entrance
into his Throne Room.

As a child of the King, you have the right, opportunity and
privilege not only to enter into His presence, but also to linger and abide
there. And when
you do, you will encounter the Lord … and you will taste of His goodness and feed on His faithfulness. I promise.

PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 9-5-2011

This week enter His courts with praise and boldly present
your requests. Remember those victimized by Hurricane Irene and other natural
disasters and pray for those who are part of the search and rescue efforts.
Thank God for His continued protection over the nation and pray for our allies
and those defending our freedoms. Lift up Israel and the persecuted church and
pray for unity in prayer and purpose among believers. Continue to pray that God
would pour out His Spirit and bring worldwide revival. Psalm 34:8; Psalm
119:103

To enrich your prayer
life and learn how to strategically pray with power by using appropriate
scriptures, we recommend the following sources by Apostle John Eckhardt: Prayers that Rout Demons, Prayers that Bring Healing, Prayers that Release Heaven on Earth and Prayers that Break
Curses. To order any or all of these click here.