"They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat, and reveled in Your great goodness. But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, and cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who had admonished them so that they might return to You, And they committed great blasphemies.”
-Nehemiah 9:25-26
A widow bought a talking parrot to ease her loneliness.
A week passed, but the parrot said nothing. The pet shop merchant suggested buying a mirror for the cage. Still the parrot didn’t talk. A ladder so the parrot could exercise was the next suggestion, but that didn’t help. Then the woman bought a little swing for the birdcage, but the parrot uttered not a syllable.
After another 10 days, the parrot finally spoke. As it died, it gasped, “Didn’t they have any food down at that store?”
After they conquered the Promised Land, the Israelites lived midst a banquet of plenty; yet, spiritually, they starved. Today we have “mirrors,” “ladders,” “swings,” and feasts of material bounty, yet there is moral and spiritual starvation.
Princess Diana had a banquet-full of material things, yet at her funeral, her brother suggested she suffered a lack of identity and confidence.
Midst all the things in your life, don’t forget to nourish your heart on God’s strengthening Word.
TODAY’S HEART FOCUS
Pray that your banquet of material blessings will not rob you of a hunger for God and His Word.