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My husband, Jim, regularly sets a beautiful table. It’s not your usual table covered with a cloth and filled with dishes, silverware, glasses, and condiments. This one is on our back deck and displays a variety of unusually shaped bird feeders—some plastic, others metal, some small and others extra large. Each is filled with a variety of different kind of seeds. Jim also sets out suet.

Our state bird, the gold finch, frequently visits our deck for a snack. Red-winged blackbirds, red poles, sparrows, doves, and cardinals also stop quite often for a meal.

It’s fun to watch the different tactics of each species. The small birds peck a little at a time, and seem to be in no hurry; the larger birds swoop in, gobble up the seeds, and quickly fly away. With so many winged friends dining with us, Jim often has to fill the feeders every day.

God sets an even more beautiful table. Throughout the Bible, He offers us a splendid variety of spiritual food for our souls—simple truths for beginners who, like the small birds, need messages that are easily digestible without rushing and deeper treasures for more seasoned Christians to savor. Regardless of the level of our spiritual growth, there’s always plenty of food for everyone.

Once you taste the food that God has to offer, you’ll want to return frequently for more substantial food. The words you absorb from the Bible will stay with you longer than normal nourishment. An added benefit is that once you memorize some of the scriptures, you will discover they give you strength to deal with whatever situations come your way.

Why is it we always find time to feed our bodies, often gobbling up more than we should, but somehow don’t concentrate on nourishing our spirits? If we get excited when birds visit our feeders, and we get disappointed when they don’t come, God must feel the same way about us. He must smile when we regularly feast on His words but be sad when we forget to spend time with Him.

Set aside time this week to surprise God with an unexpected visit. He’ll be happy, and you’ll be blessed.

(Photo courtesy of morguefile and Earl53.)

(For more devotions, visit us at www.christiandevotions.us.)