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A Palate for the Promise: Five Day Devotional

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Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:


Day 1: Developing a Taste for God's Best

Based on the Message: "A Palate for the Promise" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." - Psalm 34:8

Devotional: Have you ever noticed how your food preferences have changed over time? What once satisfied you as a child no longer fulfills you as an adult. God desires a similar maturation in our spiritual appetites. He's inviting us to move beyond spiritual milk to solid food, beyond the basic elements of faith to the rich, complex flavors of His kingdom. Just as a food connoisseur can distinguish subtle flavors that others miss, God wants us to develop spiritual discernment that recognizes His presence, voice, and movement in our lives. This refined spiritual palate doesn't happen overnight—it's cultivated through intentional time with Him, studying His Word, and practicing His presence. When we first come to faith, we often experience God's supernatural provision—our "manna" in the wilderness. But God doesn't intend for us to remain in that elementary stage forever. He's preparing us for something greater: a promised land of spiritual maturity where we partner with Him strategically rather than just receiving handouts.


Quote: "God wants to elevate your palate in this season." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What spiritual "junk food" might be dulling your ability to taste and appreciate the deeper things of God?


Prayer: Lord, cleanse my spiritual palate. Help me develop a hunger for Your presence that surpasses any worldly craving. Give me discernment to recognize what truly nourishes my spirit and what merely fills it with empty calories. I want to taste and see that You are good in deeper ways than I've experienced before. Amen.


Day 2: Leaving the Old Behind

Based on the Message: "A Palate for the Promise" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, 'Oh that we had meat to eat!'" - Numbers 11:4

Devotional: The Israelites' journey from Egypt through the wilderness represents our own spiritual progression. Egypt symbolizes our former life—the places, habits, and mindsets God has delivered us from. Yet sometimes, even after physical deliverance, we still carry Egypt in our hearts. The wilderness, though challenging, serves as God's training ground. It's where He tests our faith, builds our character, and prepares us for greater responsibility. In this transitional space, God provides supernaturally (manna) while teaching us dependence on Him. Many of us get stuck in the wilderness longer than necessary because of our attitudes and disobedience. The Israelites' forty-year journey could have been completed in eleven days! Their complaining, rebellion, and longing for Egypt's comforts extended their stay. God is asking: Have you truly left Egypt behind? Are you still craving the things of your past life while simultaneously wanting God's promises? True progress requires a decisive break with old patterns and a wholehearted embrace of God's ways.


Quote: "You can take a person out of Egypt, but sometimes you can't take Egypt out of person." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What "Egypt" might God be calling you to leave behind completely in this season of your life?


Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I've looked back longingly at what You've delivered me from. Help me recognize any Egypt-mindsets still operating in my life. I choose today to leave behind what belongs to my past and embrace the journey You have for me, even when it's challenging. Give me a heart of gratitude rather than complaint as You prepare me for Your promises. Amen.


Day 3: Preparing for Greater Things

Based on the Message: "A Palate for the Promise" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" - Isaiah 43:18-19

Devotional: The wilderness season in our spiritual journey isn't punishment—it's preparation. During Israel's wilderness years, God provided manna daily, teaching them dependence, faith, and obedience. This supernatural provision met their needs but was never meant to be permanent. Your wilderness experience has purpose. It's where God builds your spiritual muscles, tests your character, and develops your faith. The length of this season directly correlates to your attitude and obedience. Complaining, resistance, and longing for the past will extend your stay, while gratitude, surrender, and forward focus will accelerate your progress. God uses wilderness seasons to cleanse your spiritual palate—removing the taste for lesser things so you can appreciate what's coming. He's erasing former flavors to prepare you for new experiences with Him. During this time, He's teaching you to hunger for His presence more than His provision. Rather than resenting your wilderness, embrace it as the training ground for your promised land. The skills, character, and faith you develop here are precisely what you'll need to conquer the giants awaiting you in your next season.

Quote: "Your time in the wilderness is directly tied to your attitude and obedience towards God, and your willingness to allow Him to truly lead you." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What specific lessons might God be teaching you in your current wilderness season that will be essential for your next level?


Prayer: Lord, help me see my wilderness not as punishment but as preparation. Thank You for the manna You've provided, but I know You have greater things ahead. Develop in me the character, faith, and obedience I'll need for my promised land. I surrender to Your training process, knowing that You're preparing me for battles I couldn't win in my current state. Transform my complaints into gratitude as I trust Your perfect timing. Amen.


Day 4: From Provision to Partnership

Based on the Message: "A Palate for the Promise" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan." - Joshua 5:12

Devotional: When Israel finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, something significant happened: "The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites." This marked a profound shift in how God worked with His people—from supernatural provision to strategic partnership. The manna represented God's miraculous provision during immaturity, but the Promised Land required Israel to work the land, plant crops, and engage in warfare. Similarly, God wants to transition us from a "manna mentality" (where we passively receive) to a "promise psychology" (where we actively partner with Him). This transition can be disorienting. We might even miss the simplicity of the wilderness where God did everything for us. But the Promised Land offers something greater: inheritance, abundance, and the joy of co-laboring with God. Here, we don't just receive blessings—we become a blessing to others. Crossing over requires courage. The giants in the land are real, but so is God's power working through our obedience. When God's promises seem overwhelming, remember: they wouldn't be God-sized promises if you could handle them on your own.


Quote: "God wants to transition us from a "Manna Mentality" to a "Promise Psychology." The manna represents subsidy; the promised land represents strategy." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what areas of your life might God be calling you to move from passive receiving to active partnership with Him?


Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me courage to cross over into the fullness of what You've promised. Help me transition from merely receiving Your blessings to becoming a strategic partner in Your kingdom work. I may miss the simplicity of earlier seasons, but I trust that what You have ahead is far greater. Equip me with wisdom and boldness to face the giants in my promised land, knowing that with You, I am more than a conqueror. Amen.


Day 5: Acquiring a Taste for Kingdom Living

Based on the Message: "A Palate for the Promise" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best..." - Philippians 1:9-10

Devotional: When you've truly tasted the goodness of God, nothing else satisfies in the same way. As your spiritual palate matures, you begin to recognize the emptiness of what once seemed appealing. The world's offerings—its validation, entertainment, and value systems—start to lose their flavor compared to the richness of God's presence. This refined taste doesn't happen automatically. It develops through consistent exposure to God's presence and Word. Just as a wine connoisseur develops their palate through repeated tastings, we develop spiritual discernment through regular communion with God. The more we experience Him, the more we recognize His voice, His leading, and what aligns with His character. In a culture saturated with spiritual junk food, God is calling us to be discerning consumers. Not everything edible is edifying. Not every teaching that seems spiritual actually nourishes our souls. As we face greater challenges and giants, we need a greater awareness of God's presence and character. When you've truly tasted God's goodness, you'll walk away from things that once enticed you—not out of legalistic obligation but because you love Him more. You'll remain consecrated even in unconsecrated environments because you carry His presence wherever you go.


Quote: "When you taste and see that he's good, you don't want to let go of Him. You don't want to lose Him. You're willing to walk away from some things because you love Him that much." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What has changed in your spiritual appetite as you've grown in Christ? What do you hunger for now that you didn't before?


Prayer: Lord, continue to refine my spiritual taste buds. Help me hunger for Your presence above all else. In a world full of distractions and spiritual counterfeits, give me discernment to recognize what truly nourishes my soul. May I love You so deeply that I naturally lose my appetite for anything that doesn't bring me closer to You. Let my life be marked by a constant hunger for more of You and Your kingdom. Amen.

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