The Good Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.   Psalm 23:1

Most of us have heard this Scripture throughout our lives, either in passing, on the television or from a family member. But to meditate on it brings about a certain level of confidence and assurance that everything that concerns us, concerns Him. While meditating on the word shepherd, these words come to life as pertaining to his job:

•  tends (to our needs)
• feeds (us both spiritually and naturally)
• guards (us with a hand of protection)
• guides (us towards His predestined plan for our lives)
• leads (us on pathways of righteousness)
• keeps (us on course when distractions comes our way)
• instructs (us with wisdom)
• shields (us from danger seen and unseen)

There's only One who is qualified to do all of these things for us and that is El Shaddai, God Almighty! When we take inventory of our lives, we should see Him at work, taking His job very seriously. I believe David said it best in Psalm 37:25, "I was young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

Is there evidence of The Shepherd in your life?

Your thoughts!

He's Working It Out

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.   Deuteronomy 8:2

Reading today's Scripture brings to mind another Scripture which says, who (what) shall separate us from the love of Christ, Romans 8:35. The text then goes on to list a few things beginning with tribulation. After having gone through a few things in my life, I'm come to the realization that God's word is true. Regardless of what we suffer, He will make it (whatever that thing is) work for our good. As we look at the text we see that there was purpose in the children of Israel going through the wilderness for 40 years (when it actually should've only taken them 11 days). The purpose was to show them what was in their hearts and what would keep them from obeying the Lord their God.

So it is with us, we too must suffer things (because we shall have tribulation, John 16:33) that will cause us to come to (choose) complete obedience to the will and Word of God. Let's begin to change our outlook on the trials we experience. Know that God is working some things out!

Your thoughts!

God's Change Agents

1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved
2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge
3. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.   Romans 10:1-3

As I read these Scriptures, my heart began to think about and mourn for America. A country which was founded on the very principles of the Bible has turned away from its foundational principles and from making God first. I encourage those of you who know how to go boldly to the throne room of God, to petition Him for the state of our country. In wake of the upcoming presidential election as well as the heightened, blatant attack upon black lives, we are in desperate need of people who will submit themselves to the righteousness of God. We need a change and we need it quickly.

In our text we see Paul's heart's desire and prayer is that Israel be saved. That right there, should be our prayer for our country. We should also pray that the zeal people have for their own agenda (unrighteousness) be rearranged to God's agenda of righteousness, fairness and equality for all.

We must be the change we want to see in others!

Your thoughts!

Marks of True Intercession

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.   Job 42:10

Intercession is a selfless act that renders prayer on another person's behalf. But true intercession takes place when the intercessor has no preconceived notion or ulterior motive as to the outcome of their petition. A true intercessor has one focus and only one outcome: Jesus and victory!!!

Those of us who are familiar with the story of Job, know that he was a just man and God chose him to be tested by Satan. His children died, cattle died and he was stricken on his body with boils, leaving him in excruciating pain. During all of this, some friends of his stopped by to visit with him, but offered no consolation. Instead of interceding for him they opted to figure out why he was going through (preconceived notion/ulterior motive). But Job on the other hand received revelation from God and was able to worship Him for who He was, not concentrate any longer on the symptoms he was experiencing and also pray/intercede on behalf of his friends. (I hope I'm helping somebody!) The result of his intercession caused him to receive all that he lost, doubled!

Do you have the marks of a true intercessor?!?!

Your thoughts!