My Cup Overflows

Reading: Psalm 23 The Voice

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:5 NLT)

I thought about sitting down to eat a banquet with my enemies in the room. They might be standing around the walls, or seated at other tables in the room to my right and left. I’m afraid I wouldn’t enjoy the feast much unless I was really confident in my Good Shepherd’s protection! Not only knowing he was also present, but knowing he was protectively watching out for the slightest act of aggression by my enemies. Please pass the potatoes and gravy! Thank you!

Changing gears – My Cup Overflows: I often hear the expression “Glass half full or glass half empty.” I’ve never completely understood the difference between being a “glass half full” or “glass half empty” person. To me, whether it’s half full or half empty, if there’s half a glass of water and you drink it, it’s gone! But this makes me think of something I wrote a couple of weeks ago link here about having a Scarcity Mentality or an Abundance Mentality. A combination of my upbringing, my experiences, and my nature shaped me into a man with a Scarcity Mentality. My friend Phil, shaped by his own upbringing, experiences, and nature approached life with an Abundance Mentality. Scarcity says, “Ok, God has provided these few meager resources. I better manage it well and hang on to what I’ve got, or it’ll be gone and then what am I going to do?” Abundance says, “Ok,  here’s what God has provided! I’ll be thankful for it, use it, and be generous with it, and when I need more, my gracious God will abundantly provide more! Enjoy!”

Take my word for it, friends! An Abundance Mentality is the better way to go when you’ve got the Good Shepherd protecting you and providing for you! Can an Abundance Mentality be abused? Of course it can! But the Good Shepherd can keep an eye on things and correct as needed, right? That’s what Good Shepherds do!

Prayer:

Father, As I’m thinking my way through this whole Feasting in the Presence of My Enemies thing and the Scarcity-Abundance thing today, I thank you for bringing me this far! When I think of all your goodness, your protection, and your provision, I declare from my heart, “My cup overflows with blessings!” May my friends reading this today be blessed with fresh confidence in your overflowing abundance care—your protection, your provision, and your love. In Jesus’ Name!