Reflection:  ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.’ Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

The Shepherd is my Lord. And the banquet he’s laid on bleeds into the bigger picture. It’s like a never-ending celebration of blessedness. Royal feasts were like that. Everyone’s anointed with sweet-smelling oil. Cups are being replenished…All the while the enemy is sidelined. And here I was feeling stuck in the journey, trudging through my valley’s (albeit with a restful confidence in my good shepherd) when I could be feasting at the king’s banquet. Who needs a reality check? Me or David?

My husband and I are ancient enough to find pleasure in watching those shows where people look for their dream homes. They’re always carrying on about windows, right? Looking for light and views. Step over to this window that the apostle Paul has flung open:

We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence…adopted…redeemed through his blood, forgiven through his lavish grace and we’ve glimpsed the mystery of future glory.*

* Ephesians 1:3-14

Prayer:  Shepherd-king, settle and satisfy me in this lavish grace. Spirit, give me the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep this love is. May I experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully, and then be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:18-19)