The Lord is my shepherd, I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for His name sake.
I love the way the Christian Standard Bible translates this beautiful Psalm of David and how it invites us into that place of amazing rest under the careful watch and the carefree love of our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd! I find in these few words a great peace as we await the decisions of the General Conference. I find in these truths a place of peace that the storms of life cannot steal. I find in this passage the gentle side of God’s Fire; the place of warmth and shelter and protection that only the Lord can provide…
The Lord is my Shepherd, I have what I need... What you and I need is HIM! In a world that constantly calls us to want what we don’t need and crave for the very things that harm us, we have, in Jesus, a relationship that protects, provides, and propels us to ever-greater peace in HIM!
He lets me lie down in green pastures… He LETS me lie down. He invites us to rest under His care, to lounge in His presence! We often choose to do otherwise; but when we come to our senses, His invitation to rest remains. What an amazing God we serve!
He leads me beside quiet waters, He renews my life… I don’t know about you, but I need life-renewal on a daily basis! The image of quiet waters and the stillness of walking beside Jesus in His place of peace is overwhelming.
He leads me along the right paths for His name sake… Our flesh is so bent on taking us down paths that harm us, hurt others, and tarnish the Name of Jesus. But the promise of this passage is so compelling—Jesus will lead us on paths of righteousness that honor Him and heal us!
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
With all the turmoil in the world… all the conflict and confusion of daily life… all the things clamoring for our attention, we have both a loving Shepherd and a reserved place by His side where no enemy prevails, and no darkness can overcome us. Yes, our cup of blessings in Him overflows! Yes, His goodness and faithful love pursue us…!
Our God is a consuming Fire, burning away the dross in our lives, skimming away the impurities, and perfecting us in the process. Our God is also a loving Shepherd who warms us, holds us, protects us, guides us, fills us, feeds us, cares for us and gives us a home to dwell in—His House—forever and ever. What a mighty and tender God we serve!!!