In the 3rd part of our two week series on the 23rd Psalm we will be going over
Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.”
How many times have you told God “NO”? Have you ever felt that prompting to stop for someone in need, give to a homeless person, stop when someone is crying even though you have an important meeting to get to and on and on. Those promptings to help are from the Lord. We have other promptings also. Those promptings have you take a second and third look at a co worker. Maybe fudge a little bit on the business plan to get things in your favor. Justify that the meeting is more important than helping someone in need. Those promptings are from Satan.
John 10:1-5 ““I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
So first of all we need to discern in our heart who is peaking to us and telling us where to go and what to do. Is it the devil or the Lord? If you do not spend time in the word (Bible), praying and having fellowship with other believers then how will you know the voice of Jesus? You will have a tough time discerning what promptings to follow as the devil is crafty. He can use good things to draw you into bad habits; habits that will eventually destroy you.
In the above verse in John the shepherd goes ahead of his sheep. The sheep that run ahead of the shepherd will likely get lost. Yikes, that me!!!!!! Does that describe you also? How many times have you gotten tired waiting to hear from God on a particular problem and decided to go it alone? How many of you today are so tired because of all the wrong decisions that you have made? It has made you feel that you cannot take another step? How many of you have been in a trial so long that you don’t know what life is without a painful trial?
Because of your relationship with Jesus you have been reconciled to God. That is the good news and heaven awaits you. But you still need to obey the shepherd (Jesus). Arrogance in our lives can have us always go down a different path, not seek Godly counsel and think that we are always right. When we start to think like this then we can become lost from the flock. If we keep our head down long enough eating up our own arrogance, one day we will look up and there will be no more sheep. The herd will have left and then we are lost. You may be there right now. Lost with no clue in which way to go. Listen to me very carefully as this could save your life. All you have do is “Cry out to the Lord”. Not only do the sheep know the shepherds voice but God knows your voice when you call out to Him. God is just but God is also love. He desires that everyone should repent. Another great thing about God is in the above verse in Psalms 2. If you are a believer in Jesus then you are secure in your destiny. Heaven is in your future when you take you last breath on this earth. But what about now? Don’t you desire rest in your soul now?
The night before my shoulder surgery last week I had what looked like the start of a kidney stone. My first thought was to cancel the surgery then Julie came in and settled me down. This happened from a medical procedure that went bad when I was 19. I still suffer some effects from this. But if left to myself my mind can go off on all types of different tangents. Even after a successful surgery where God healed tears before I was even operated on I did not have complete joy because of this other problem. I was thinking the worst. I could have been rejoicing in a successful operation but Satan used another “Thing” to steal my joy. THEN Julie again through the Lord came to my rescue and brought me back to my senses. I had this before why would this be anything different? I found out yesterday it was just another bad infection. But I allowed worry to flood my soul.
This is when God can step in whether you like it or not
AND MAKE YOU LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES AND LEAD YOU BEDISE STILL WATERS.
If left to ourselves we will usually go till we burn out. God sometimes allows an illness or a loss of a job so we can rest. God just doesn’t lead us to a pasture but He also MAKES US lie down. As we have seen sheep are skittish. They would not go down to a roaring river and drink. They would need to be led to a quiet cove to drink. But their eyesight is bad so again they need to be led. If you have not figured it out by now “We are the sheep and God is the shepherd.” If we are tired and worn out God will lead us to a nice green pasture and restore our soul.” The real key to all of this is that the sheep do not know where the green pasture and the quiet water is. They could be dead tired, so tired that some may need carried but in the end they will find rest because the shepherd loves them. Please pray this prayer with me if you are tired.
“Lord I am tired and feel lost. I don’t know what to do or where I am going. It seems like I am just spinning my wheels. Please forgive me for running out ahead of you. Help me to do the best with the talents you have given me but also help me to rest in you Jesus. Help me to know your voice and to seek you daily. Protect me from the voice of the evil one and please Lord lead me to green pasture and quiet water. I am so tired that I need you. Please Lord restore my soul and my energy. Help me to see things in this life as you do.” Amen
God may be allowing something in your life right now that seems like judgment but it is really allowing you to rest. Don’t fight it. Use this as a time to immerse yourself in the word of God and also start praying. God knows what you need, He really does. Please do not live in fear as I have done so many times. Do not let the devil destroy what God always makes good. Stay close to the shepherd and you will always be lead to a green pasture and still waters.
Have an awesome day.
Brad
