“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5 NIV)

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From the day that we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, everything changes for us. Gone is that ever-present guilt that used to nag us day and night. There is no longer an empty hole deep inside of our soul. In the place of those things, God gives us what the apostle Paul referred to as His “peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:7 NLT). God places a new joy in our hearts and gives us the hope of Heaven when we die.

But when we commit our lives to Christ, we also gain enemies. That’s what David was talking about when he wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5 NIV). These enemies want to weaken our commitment to Christ and throw up obstacles to our spiritual growth.

The three primary enemies Christians face are the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world is the external enemy. It entices us with temptations, diversions, and false teachings. It points us down paths where God doesn’t want us to go. The flesh is the internal enemy. It plays on our weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and appetites. It tries to convince us that satisfying our own needs and wants should be our highest priority. The devil, who works in and through the world and the flesh, is the infernal enemy.

The apostle Peter warned, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Jesus said the devil “was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NLT).

This unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil creates a powerful opposition, especially for new believers. The best strategy to combat it is to nurture an intimate relationship with the Lord, whom David describes as a shepherd in Psalm 23, as we sit at His table. We do that by studying God’s Word, where we find His promises, His wisdom, His will for our lives, and His guidance. And we do it by talking and listening to Him in prayer, keeping the lines of communication open at all times.

When we sit at the table of the Lord, we’re satisfied because we know that everything we need is there. We don’t hunger for anything else. I’m not saying that we’ll become temptation-proof. What I am saying is that we won’t be as drawn to temptation as we once were. We’ll see the diversions of the world, the appetites of the flesh, and the schemes of the devil for what they really are: dead ends, worthless enticements, and cheap imitations of the truth.

The Lord has set a table before us. We have no reason to fear our enemies.

 

Reflection question: What would sitting at the Lord’s table look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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&ldquo;You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.&rdquo; (Psalm 23:5 NIV)
*Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this <a href="https://form.typeform.com/to/Yk4TMdy7">quick survey</a>!*
From the day that we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, everything changes for us. Gone is that ever-present guilt that used to nag us day and night. There is no longer an empty hole deep inside of our soul. In the place of those things, God gives us what the apostle Paul referred to as His &ldquo;peace, which exceeds anything we can understand&rdquo; (Philippians 4:7 NLT). God places a new joy in our hearts and gives us the hope of Heaven when we die.
But when we commit our lives to Christ, we also gain enemies. That&rsquo;s what David was talking about when he wrote, &ldquo;You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies&rdquo; (Psalm 23:5 NIV). These enemies want to weaken our commitment to Christ and throw up obstacles to our spiritual growth.
The three primary enemies Christians face are the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world is the external enemy. It entices us with temptations, diversions, and false teachings. It points us down paths where God doesn&rsquo;t want us to go. The flesh is the internal enemy. It plays on our weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and appetites. It tries to convince us that satisfying our own needs and wants should be our highest priority. The devil, who works in and through the world and the flesh, is the infernal enemy.
The apostle Peter warned, &ldquo;Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour&rdquo; (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Jesus said the devil &ldquo;was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies&rdquo; (John 8:44 NLT).
This unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil creates a powerful opposition, especially for new believers. The best strategy to combat it is to nurture an intimate relationship with the Lord, whom David describes as a shepherd in Psalm 23, as we sit at His table. We do that by studying God&rsquo;s Word, where we find His promises, His wisdom, His will for our lives, and His guidance. And we do it by talking and listening to Him in prayer, keeping the lines of communication open at all times.
When we sit at the table of the Lord, we&rsquo;re satisfied because we know that everything we need is there. We don&rsquo;t hunger for anything else. I&rsquo;m not saying that we&rsquo;ll become temptation-proof. What I am saying is that we won&rsquo;t be as drawn to temptation as we once were. We&rsquo;ll see the diversions of the world, the appetites of the flesh, and the schemes of the devil for what they really are: dead ends, worthless enticements, and cheap imitations of the truth.
The Lord has set a table before us. We have no reason to fear our enemies.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would sitting at the Lord&rsquo;s table look like in your life?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

The closer we draw to God, the less vulnerable we are to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

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