I Just Wanna Be A Sheep Series

I love the story of the old Christian lady who was struggling to make ends meet and one day as she was praying that God would provide the food she needed two teens walked by her window and heard her. They decided to play a little joke on her. They got together a box of food from their homes and put in front of her door, rang the door bell and hid around the corner. When she came out and saw the box she began praising God for providing for her. The two teens jumped out and said “You silly old woman it wasn’t God who gave you that it was us.” To which she replied “God provided even if he used the devil to deliver it.”

Do you believe that God will provide for your physical needs today?

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. It’s here we discover that God is concerned with 2) Our Spiritual Needs.

Sometimes we think that we are in this spiritual walk thing all by ourselves, but that isn’t true. God is there for us, he’s given us his word and he guides us with his spirit. Throughout the bible he tells us that he will guide us, and protects us. But it’s always our choice.

Have you had your soul restored lately? That’s what God offers. He doesn’t just put a new coat of paint over the old, he restores it to the way it’s supposed to be. The way it was before it was tarnished with sin and all the crud that comes with it. Jesus spoke of the New Birth, Paul talked about us becoming a new creations. That’s the offer, that when we come to God and repent, that is say we are sorry for our sins and mean it, and ask for his forgiveness that we become new creations. We have our souls restored. Listen to what it says in Romans 5:10-11 For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God. Restored to friendship with God. That’s a concept that is difficult to even imagine. That’s taking us back to the relationship before the fall.

And he doesn’t just restore us and leave us. “Ok Guys you’re a brand new creation and you’re on your own.” The very next thing the Psalmist writes is he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. The NLT says it this way He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Listen to the promise that Jesus made to his disciples in John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. And Jesus brother James tells us in James 1:5 If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

But here is the reality he may lead you in paths of righteousness or he may guide you along right paths but he will never drag you there. It is now, always has been and always will be your choice. If you want wisdom, to know what God wants you to do you have to ask.