More Anointing

Posted on Feb 16, 2018 by Anna Thoreson in Devotions |

 “You Lord, keep my lamp burning, my God turn my darkness into night.” (Psalm 27:28 NIV)
 
Old Testament lamps burned bright when they contained oil. The Psalmist recognized the Lord as our source; the oil in the lamp of our lives. Oil has always symbolized anointing. We don’t need more time, more energy, more perfect plans to get it all done. We just need more oil; more anointing for the life He has called us to.

Oil comes from crushing. Anointing is found in suffering. Olives have to endure the crushing in order for the oil to be pressed out. Have you ever been there? Where your heart looks and feels like an olive casing, all it’s innards misplaced and mushed?

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5 NIV)

It’s interesting to see the oil and the cup in the same scripture. This cup concept has been hijacking my thoughts all week. Remember, it’s an assigned cup that Christ puts before us. And now we note that we have been anointed to drink the cup that has been appointed.

But we’ve got to keep reading. We can’t afford to give up with the cup of suffering still in hand.

“Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6 NIV)

It’s easy to believe that hardship is ever-before us. The cup of suffering seems to be welded into our hand. But we cannot forget the love and goodness of God are ALWAYS in pursuit of us. I picture a heavenly version of Pac-Man; where the love and goodness of God are chasing us down until eventually He overtakes us and gobbles us up, all to Himself. Only that’s not game over; that’s only the expiration of the opening credits. Our real life is yet to come, our best life where we walk hand in hand with our Creator, where the only cup to drink is a covenant cup of blessing and belonging.

Lord, thank You for sharing Your cup, even when we don’t love today’s contents. Thank You for the anointing that accompanies crushing. And thank You for the promise that You are chasing us down with Your love and goodness. We trust that You have equipped us for this day, whatever it contains. And we continue to hold our breath for heaven. We can’t wait to live and love and be with You there. Amen.