The good shepard

Psalm 23...

This Psalm is a well known one, although personally I didn't really understand why until this year. And wow!! What a moment of realisation it has been. Verse by verse, bit by bit, explaining the good shepard, and all he does for us. Hallelujah.

Let's look into it.

(verse 1) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Can you think of a time (or maybe plural 'times' ) when God provided a need in such a way, it brought awe to your heart and mind. What a truly amazing feeling right! Let me share a couple that come to my mind. 

It was a normal day, I was just at home with my family. Because this particular day was sunny I decided to clear out my car and give it a good hoover. The hoover we had wasn't great; to put it blunt... it was rubbish. But I put up with it because we didn't have the money to buy a new one. During the hoovering I spoke out loud to God and said "Father I need a hoover that's not rubbish". Once those words left my mouth, I thought nothing else to it. I didn't tell anyone either, it was just a conversation between me and God. Anyway a couple of days later, my husband was asked to help clear out someone house. The family bought a hoover for the occasion. Once the emptying of the house happened they had no need for the hoover and asked if we needed one. Praise God. We sure did need one. At this point my husband has no idea I recently spoke to God about it. And when he came home with a brand new hoover that worked perfectly, I teared up in awe and praised God. 

^{Another occasion that comes to mind is when we moved from Yorkshire to Cambridge. You see, with my husbands job (working for a church) we needed to live in the village. When we started looking for houses there was nothing, It was very concerning. But we held on to the peace of God that filled our hearts clarifying we were to move down to Cambridge. You see during an interview we had a tour of the school, as our oldest was due to start that September. As soon as we entered the building the peace of God which is like nothing this earth can offer, filled my whole being. I knew at that moment this was where we were meant to be. So regardless too our inability to find a house, we held on. Sure enough as soon as my husbands documents cleared and he received the email, God said to him "get online" . There was the house! Bearing in mind this all happened right at the last minute, I mean the last week before we were due to leave kind of last minute. Phew! Talk about nerves. God is good. He keeps us trusting both with the small and the big things. They all matter to him because they matter to us and he loves us. Just like a shepherd makes sure his sheep have everything they need from water to green pastures, so does our shepherd, Saviour and King Jesus christ make sure we have what we need on a day to day basis.} 

 ^{Verse 2}     He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

^{Sheep will not lie down if they are afraid, threatened or hungry. Freedom from fear, aggravation and hunger only then will they lie down and rest.} 

^{So in a world of chaos, confusion and frustration how do we be at peace and metaphorically lie down and rest in the Lord? A Relationship. When we build a good relationship with the shepherd (Jesus Christ) and we learn to listen, trust and believe his word/his voice. Being at peace even amongst chaos and hardship gets easier and easier. Does it mean life becomes easy, no. We are never promised a perfect life on this earth. Because of free will, choices made by everyone affects everyone around us, so a vicious cycle is made. But a relationship with Jesus does promise peace and hope through the storms of life. Me and my family in 2020 went through a very tough time with regards to persecution from someone we knew. We were accused of some shocking things. It was a nightmare, but the peace in our hearts and the strength and confidence we were able to have because of our relationship with the shepherd (Jesus) was a real blessing of an anchor in that storm. I've never known calmness of the heart, body and mind. There were moments of frustration, after all we are human. But when we focused our mindset, energy and trust into God we knew all would be well. God would take care of us. Without a doubt that's exactly what he did.} 

^{The Bible says streams of living water will flow in and through us, put there by our Saviour. The living water being the Holy spirit. Satisfying the very thirst that everyone throughout there life tries to fill materialistically. Nicky Gumble said on the alpha course that before he became a Christian he always found himself asking the question "Is there more to life than this?" you see he met targets, he reached high goals. From what I understand, like the family generations before him he became successful in law. Yet still found himself asking that question. He found himself a girlfriend. Top career, great girlfriend, so things are going very well. Yet still he found himself asking that same question "Is there more to life than this?" to his dismay at the time he didn't find the fulfillment until he experienced christ himself.} 

^{Verse 3}     he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

A cast down sheep, like the picture suggests is a sheep on its back. Which for a brief moment may look strangely funny but to that sheep, I've learnt that being on its back can be life threatening. It turns out a sheep can not return to the upright position without help. The shepherd becomes a hero to the sheep should they be at the right place at the right time. I've learnt that if a shepherd is close by, they can help the sheep back to its feet where it can carry on with munching grass. On the other unfortunate hand, should the shepherd not be close by, the sheep would eventually die. If we look at how this relates to us and how our shepherd Jesus christ restores us and guides us. Wow. Think back in your life: think on the times you've stumbled, maybe hit rock bottom, maybe you've done something you regretted and found yourself in need of help to get out of the chaos. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6) It tells of God's promises to help us through the storms of life and one of my personal favourites verses, where we read God's promise to finish what he started within us. Philippians 1:6  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This verse is God's promise not to give up on us. Should we be willing to allow Jesus into our lives, he promises to help us back to our feet when we stumble and fall, he promises to guide us down a path he planned for us a long ago. A path where we can see first hand his hand at work here on earth as it is in heaven. Hallelujah. From experience I've found that each time something comes our way that would usually cause me to stumble in anger. I've been able to handle it more gracefully and trust in almighty God. You see trust doesn't just happen over night, but when we allow God to work in us and through us. Over time trust becomes a key ingredient in life. And in all elements of life both joyful and hard times, the fruit of trusting in God comes to life. It becomes easier. The latest challenge me and my husband faced was a slice of hell for us. But because our hope and trust was in God, we were able to not react in a way our old self would of which would have made matters worse. Instead we were able to watch God fight on our behalf and stop that oppression in our life. Naturally everything in our being wants to fight fight fight but like that unfortunate sheep that can't get back to its feet on its own, we too need help. 

^{Verse 4  Even though I walk}

    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

I recently learnt that a shepherd would us a rod and staff for guidance and protection, should threats of predators arise or to guide a Sheep walking astray. 

^{Baring that in mind, can you think of a time where you've felt so low, depressed, fearful and anxious. Where you've felt fed up like you are going around in circles and nothings changing. Maybe you know where you want to be but have no idea how to climb that mountain to get to it. Whatever our valley situation looks like, we were never meant to do it alone. When Jesus ascended to the heavens he promised the Holy spirit to lead and guide us, like a shepherd leads and guides his sheep. Trusting in the shepherd isn't always easy. Especially when some occasions when it can feel like the only option is a walk by faith option because God has taken you completely out of your comfort zone. Or completely away from everything you know. I've learnt that it's a learning process. Over 10 years ago I struggled massively to trust God, after all, I grew up without a dad and to suddenly call God Father was a huge deal for me. But God is a gentleman and over time he's taken me on a journey where bit by bit I have been able to trust him more and more, through watching him provide, love and care for me and my family like he promises. Now... I don't go a second without trusting him. In fact it's the only thing I am 100% confident in, that God will pull through in his promises and never leave me alone. The same is for you!} 

^{(verse 5)} You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.

Being seated at the table with the good shepherd does mean the devil must flee in our resistance of him, but it doesn't mean he's gone for good. The enemy waits for the opportunity, he prowls around like a lion hunting its prey. It is scrucial we focus on Jesus, because one look away can give the devil what he needs to pounce, getting the foothold on our life that he desires.. JESUS never promised a trouble free life (John 16:33 NIV, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.") but he did promise that he would never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord your God goes with you: he will never leave you nor. Forsake you. " )

(part 2 of psalm 23 verse 5)

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

 During my walk with God I never; not for once gave a thought to what this part of the verse may mean. It wasn't until this year when God took me on this journey were I truly opened up to the potential of this verse. Wow! There's a few ways of looking at this. One through the eyes of a shepard, to which the writer David himself was a shepard before he stepped into his role at the nations king. Another being, that I've learnt like the picture you see a shepard anoints a sheep's head to shield the sheep from deadly insects that would lay eggs in the sheep's nostrils which would cause irritation, leading the sheep to bang its head, eventually causing death. This is a symbolic act, that we as Christians use when praying for someone. I've seen pastors, vicars, leaders of churches blessings either with water or a small bottle of oil and anointing someone's head as they prayed for them. This in turn is an anointing for blessing, protection and empowerment against the enemy and his tactics. When you think of an enemy what do you think. War? Does it make you think of weapons and violence and pain just like the wars you hear about or read about. These kinds of tactics I would say are the evolvment of the real tactics of the devil. The devil comes to steal kill and destroy. He'll steal your attention, your joy, your peace. He'll kill and destroy any hope so the world can have another reason to rejected God, to be angry with God. All because he cannot stand anyone of Gods precious creation entering the kingdom of heaven, while he's destined for the Abyss (eternal punishment) 

^{Verse 6} Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

This verse is the hope we have in our faith in Jesus. His death and resurrection was the ultimate sacrifice paying the way for us to be forgiven, building the bridge between us and God. Which for thousands of years laid a gorge of sin, stemming from the fall on man that took place when Adam and eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. This event followed by thousands and thousands of years. Of rejection, where people wanted nothing to do with God because of the enticing attraction to living life our each individual ways. Instead of allowing God to use them to show his might here on earth. When Jesus asended to heaven, he sent his promised Holy spirit to continue his work here on earth until he returns again. 

Our shepherd. 

Psalm 23 really paints a beautiful picture doesn't it. And as a shepherd brings peace and comfort to the sheep in their care. So does our Saviour and King, Jesus Christ. He never promises we'll have a trouble free life, but he does promise to be with us, guide us through and provide what we need in any given situation. Like peace, joy, strength, wisdom. God knows and God graciously provides. Hallelujah. Can you think of a time where it seemed like everything was upside down and falling apart. I can, let me share. You see we had a horrible time with a particular person we knew, who did everything in their power to make things complex for us. This ranged from attempting to stop whatever was planned. To being repetitive in someone's ear against us. This proved to be a very challenging time for me and my husband. Emotionally and mentally that is. But we knew God never left our side. His peace and reassurance was always there. The Funny thing was, he even used the jurassic world movie to get the point across of the 'enemy will crumble'. You see, despite the fact that chaos every where was trying to intimidate us, stop us and tear us down; the great shepherd made it so we could lay down and be at peace, just like a sheep does when they feel safe. It became so easy to look beyond what was happening in the physical and be at Comfort within Gods promise. Whatever you are facing, what ever oppression/attack. What evers making your world struggle, leave it in the hands of the good shepherd. His word doesn't return void and he knows what he's doing. May the joy of the Lord be your strength. Blessings

Let's pray. 

Father God. It doesn't always make sense what's going on or what you are doing. But you are almighty and anything else has no comparison towards you. You make all things look like mere grains of sand. Father help us put our trust in you more. Help us be more open when times are tough. Thank you for never leaving us. Thank you for always wanting to be apart of our lives. Renew our minds. Strengthen us. Holy spirit fill us a fresh. In Jesus name amen