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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: FEAST (07/12/18)
Did we all not go before the good Lord to place our petitions before Him? I wasn’t ignorant to think that I could be or obtain anything on my own. There, in a circle, we stood, with hands held and lips opened as each told the Lord, what we would like for Him to do for us. Ask and it shall be given, so we did.



I rushed off to my closet and did the same, with my knees on my beds, fits clenched together, I asked the Lord again and again. I need this Lord, please could you grant this to me. Again, I wasn’t ignorant of the fact that some others apart from me were doing the same. Surely, I never considered praying as a competition. My trips before the Lord didn’t look to me like a bunch of people standing behind a huge closed door to the throne room anxiously waiting to have the door opened. When it was opened everyone rushed with the hope to get to the throne first to place his or her petition before the Lord as a guarantee to an answered prayer.



But then I felt like I was in competition with the world when I rose on my knees and left my closet to face the world. Before my eyes, I could see tables, huge ones set before people. On these tables are lives goodies; a job, wealth, promotion, success, fame, brilliant opportunities, leadership positions, degrees, you name it.



I could particularly see the eyes of friends, family and strangers glowing as they enjoyed the feast that had been prepared for them by the Lord. Obviously, if it was the Lord who set the table before them, then it was certainly a feast. I could have looked on the table set before them and picked out the different answers to their petitions being beautifully decorated and placed before them.



But not me, I felt like my life was on pause while I watched others have their lives played before me. I remembered the famous verse in Psalm 23, “He set a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. Why did I suddenly feel like I was the enemy and He had set a table before everyone else just, so I would watch on and see how much He loved them and not me.



Did I not deserve to have a table set before me as well so that I could have a feast and enjoy all that life had to offer? Especially when I along with all the others went before Him to place our petitions. I guess my feasting event wasn’t on the planner’s list. No wonder I felt like the enemy watching people feast on the goodness of life as the Lord sets the table before them.



While I was busy feeling like the enemy, a position I had too quickly taken up, the real enemy was overjoyed. Because he was feasting on my whining, complaining, doubts and the growing of jealousy and bitterness in my heart. As I became this person, I was unknowingly setting a table before the enemy, filling it with all the sinful undesirable things I had piled up on myself for him to feast on.



Because I had focused so much on other people’s lives, I didn’t realise that the Lord had also set a table before me, with health, life, family, friends, favour opportunities etc. which I could feast on. Especially since other people did not have these. But since I couldn’t find answers to my petitions laid before me on the feasting table, I totally walked away from it rather making myself a pot of tears, bitterness and loneliness which I fed on.



Yes, the Lord had set a table before me in the presence of my enemies. But my enemies succeeded in taking my eyes off my table to focus on others, leading me to walk away from it. My act of ungratefulness caused me to turn my back on my feasting table only to prepare a table for my enemy to feast on as he watched me in misery. How easily the tables got turned. I wondered how often I had allowed the enemy to enjoy and feast on my ignorance and doubt.



One thing was certain, there will always be something to feast on either by you or the enemy. If you don’t enjoy your feast, the enemy will be the one feasting on your ungratefulness.
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This article has been read 422 times
Member Comments
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Date
Lollie Hofer 
07/23/18
Good take on this week's topic. Let's face it, we've all been there wondering why our prayers weren't answered in the way we wanted while our friends seemed to receive all that they petitioned for. Powerful last paragraph. Just a couple suggestions...I'm not for sure I understand the first sentence of the second paragraph. He went to his closet but his knees were on the beds? My second suggestion might even take away from your story, which I don't want to happen, but maybe some dialogue with the prayer warriors and then showing how he felt instead of telling might draw readers in more. Still, lots to think about especially since I'm a natural complainer and whiner.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/25/18
Wow this is stunning. You did an amazing job of making me think. I love your take on the topic and think it works really well. I could totally relate to the MC. I'd love to see some dialog too, either the prayers said or discussing feelings with someone else. That also would give you a chance to add body language or thoughts. Your message is a great one, especially relevant in today's world. Keep writing and I'd challenge you to read and leave constructive feedback on every story in this level and a few on the others too. You've done a great job here.
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
07/25/18
What a great lesson - thanks for sharing.
Lollie Hofer 
07/26/18
Congrats on your second place in Beginners. Well done.