The Lord is My Shepherd!

“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, 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 have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

Psalm 23 was written during a very stressful time in David’s life. God had anointed him as king over Israel. Yet he had no kingdom. Saul continued to reign, but he had seen how the hand of God was with David in battle and became envious. Poisoned by jealousy, King Saul launched an attack against David, chasing him from city to city - region to region.

Hiding out it a dark lonely cave, David found little hope or comfort until he recalled God’s promises and past dealings in his life. Suddenly, strength and encouragement were reborn as David proclaimed: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness...”

Nothing out of this psalm speaks of inactivity. Instead, there is power and rejoicing in God’s faithfulness. By faith, David claimed the abiding presence of God - reaffirming how God leads us and makes us lie down in spacious places of rest. He is our Shepherd. He watches over us continuously.

God knows when you are frightened and discouraged. Even though David was in constant peril, God was with him. Just rest your troubles with Him; He will speak to you.

Failing to Listen to God

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Genesis 3:1-7

Jesus called Satan “a murderer...and the father of lies” (John 8:44). In the book, The Bondage Breaker, Neil T. Anderson writes: “One of the most common attitudes I have discovered in Christians...is a deep-seated sense of self-deprecation. I’ve heard them say, ‘...I’m no good.’ I’m amazed at how many Christians are paralyzed in their witness and productivity by thoughts and feelings of inferiority and worthlessness.

Next to temptation, perhaps the most frequent and insistent attack from Satan to which we are vulnerable is accusation. By faith we have entered into an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ...Satan can do absolutely nothing to alter our position in Christ and our worth to God. But he can render us virtually inoperative if he can deceive us into listening to and believing his insidious lies and accusing us of being of little value to God and other people.”

There is a tremendous difference between Holy Spirit conviction and satanic condemnation, and we need to learn the difference! When God speaks, He always uses words of hope, encouragement, direction, and promise. Even in times of discipline, He is quick to restore and renew our fellowship. If the voice you hear within your heart is one of accusation, know it belongs to the deceiver. Therefore, take your stand against the enemy and ask God to fill your heart with His truth.

God’s Goal in Speaking, Part 2

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

The poster showed a sleeping dog and cat while the sentence below read, “The trick to overcoming temptation is to play dead.” It was followed by the Scripture, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body...” Romans 6:11-12

Sin blocks us from hearing the voice of God. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul tells us to present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to God. He continues admonishing: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Christians who toy with sin play a deadly game. Sin not only brings static into our communication with God, it divides and separates us from other believers, while dimming our view of God’s principles. This is why Paul wrote when temptation comes - flee from it! (2 Tim. 2:22)

God’s goal in speaking to you is to conform you spiritually, emotionally, and mentally into the image of His Son. However, Satan’s goal in tempting you to sin is to see that you never become all God wants you to be. The choice is yours, and you are free to make it now that you are “alive to God.”

God’s Goal in Speaking, Part 1

“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.” Galatians 1:11-17

When God speaks to us, He has three goals in mind:

He wants us to understand His truth - God has written the Bible in such a way that we cannot read through it and think we know everything about Him. The more you read God’s Word, the more He reveals Himself to you. The more He reveals, the more you will understand His will for you life.

He seeks to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ - God wants us to take His truth and apply it to our lives. As we do, He molds us and conforms us into the likeness of His Son. Jesus is our example. In Him, we discover we are wonderfully accepted and loved.

He wants us to communicate His truth to others - As we grow in Christ, God empowers us to teach others about Him. He may not call you to be a pastor or a missionary, but He calls each of us to share His love with others. Our communication does not begin and end with words. It goes much deeper to our attitudes, values, convictions, and desires. What does your life say to others about Christ? Do they see a God who loves, forgives, and encourages all people?

“The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10

He Speaks to Us!

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” John 14:25-28

In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people through the prophets. Men like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others exhorted Israel to return to purity and worship of the Lord. God gave these men the ability to see and proclaim truth.

God’s reason for speaking today is much as it was then; however, His method has changed drastically. In seeking to build an intimate relationship with us, God now speaks directly to the hearts of those who believe in Him through the Scriptures and the illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit. The birth of Jesus Christ turned an important page in history by opening the way for us to establish and enjoy a personal relationship with the heavenly Father.

While God still speaks through spiritual leaders, he delights in communicating with you - one on one. From the beginning of your life, He has sought your fellowship. Now it is your decision. God waits for you to come to Him. He has already come to you through the Person of Christ.

You may know Him as your Savior, but do you know Him as Lord and intimate Friend? Building a close relationship with God takes time. As you pray, ask Him to guide you into an even deeper relationship so you may know His ways and find eternal glory in His blessings.

The God Who Speaks

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4

The apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). After reading this Scripture, A.W. Tozer wrote:

“An intelligent, plain man, untaught in the truths of Christianity, coming upon this text, would likely conclude that John meant to teach that it is the nature of God to speak, to communicate His thoughts to others. And he would be right. A word is a medium by which thoughts are expressed, and the application of the term to the eternal Son leads us to believe that self-expression is inherent in the Godhead, that God is forever seeking to speak Himself out to His creation. The whole Bible supports this idea. God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is, by His nature, continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking voice.”

While God communicates primarily through His Word, He is not limited in His expression. He often uses pastors, friends, and others to bear witness to His will for our lives. Be sure the voice you hear is God’s by establishing a close, personal relationship with Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word. A person who focuses his thoughts on God will be lead by God and will gain the mind of Christ.

Needed: Husbands Who Understand

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:7-9

It is said there is nothing better a man can do for his children than to love his wife. The example of mutual affection and submission between husband and wife is the main ingredient for enduring family harmony and a living portrait of the relationship between Christ and His church. In a culture that frequently celebrates the macho male image and an evangelical community that stresses the authority of the husband, the apostle Peter, no milk toast himself, strikes the right balance.

Husband, understand your wife. She operates on a uniquely feminine wavelength that cannot be picked up by a man apart from a concerted effort to know what makes his mate tick. This is a lifelong process, but there are plenty of Christian books that can help the husband gain insight into his wife’s emotional makeup. Find out what makes her happy, what triggers her anger, what opens the tear ducts.

Realize she is a weaker vessel. Weak doesn’t mean inferior. What Peter implies is that the wife is not designed to carry the entire load - financial problems, disciplinary measures for the children, and other common family difficulties. The wife is the husband’s helpmate; and he is her ever-ready helper, willing to relieve emotional or physical overloads.