No Leftovers

“Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalm 103:1-5

I love the day after Thanksgiving. There’s nothing like turkey sandwiches with cold stuffing and cranberry sauce (and a little mayonnaise) spread on fresh bread. And day-old pumpkin pie? Lead me to the refrigerator!

Leftovers have their place, but I can tell you one place where there simply are no leftovers: life with God.

My husband Ken and I often read through the Old Testament with a sense of wonder at all the thing things God did in the past like parting the Red Sea and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Back then, the Lord served up a full course meal of spectacular miracles.

When we look around today, it can seem like we’re getting something less than God’s best. Where are the spectacular answers to prayer or the dramatic shows of power God uses to lead his people?

Is God serving up something less than his “best” when he chooses to reveal himself through the pages of his Word rather than through the pillar of fire and cloud of smoke? Not at all. God didn’t just flex his muscles in ancient times to leave us with scraps and leftovers in modern times. Nothing is ever “day old” or warmed-up when it comes to God’s workings. God’s acts are no less mighty today. What God does always tastes fresh, good, delightful, and is worthy of thanksgiving.

So today as you decide what to do with your leftovers in the refrigerator, please remember that the Lord is cooking up something fresh and firsthand in your life – God may have given Solomon wisdom but is willing to pour out wisdom on you. He may have delivered Gideon, but isn’t he ready to rescue you as well? Your Lord wants to lead you by still waters and cause you to lie down in green pastures. God satisfied the mouth of David with good things, but the Lord is able to fatten your soul with more blessings than you can count.

Yet there’s something even better… the Holy Spirit indwells believers today. Back in the Old Testament, God lived in a tent and then in a temple made of stone and mortar. But today, God resides inside your heart – you are the temple of the Living God. God is with us and he has chosen to dwell inside you. And when it comes to being led, having the Spirit of the Living God whisper truth into your heart from his Word is a lot more personal than following a cloud and fire through the desert.

God has no use for leftovers. So today, taste and see just how good God really is!

Pray with me: Lord, I want to praise you with all of my inmost being. I want to praise your holy name and to remember all your benefits. Thank you for giving me wisdom and rescuing me. Thank you for leading me by still waters and giving me more blessings than I can count. Thank you for sending your Spirit to live within me and guide me.