Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
17 “You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The Ten Commandments end with a call to contentment, truly the other side of the bookends to where we started. The Lord begins His commandments calling His people to love and worship only Him, to never worship any idols. God now finishes His commandments calling His people into a covenant of contentment with everything that God gifts to us, that their love and worship brings with it.
This is a call to be thankful and content with the life that God has given you; To not crave or desire what others have or despise what you have been given, but to be fully and utterly, perfectly thankful for the life that God designed for you.
Excessive material consumption has become a way of life and no matter how much we obtain or have, it is never enough. We obtain the job we thought was 100% right for us and quickly are 100% dissatisfied until we get the promotion.
We buy the house to only desire one bigger and nicer. There is not one aspect of our life that we don’t desire more in. Even in ministry we desire different gifts, a greater platform, or for God to bless more than He has chosen to do so.
With all this desire never quenched, we become frustrated and ungrateful.
It’s hard to live in peace and thanksgiving when you never have what you actually desire.
In this frustration, sin takes root.
We soon begin to miss all the great blessings that God has blessed us with because we are always focused on what others have or what we don’t have.
In this 10th commandment God calls us to peace in contentment. If God wanted us to have more, we would have it. If we needed different circumstances or abilities, we would have them. Instead of always saying “if only this” and “if only that,” God calls us to rest in all that He has done in and through our life.
There will always be someone who has more, is blessed differently, or is experiencing life from different angles than you. However, there is only one you. Only one you that He walks with daily in the exact way that He does.
God chose you from the beginning of time.
God desired you into existence.
God sent His Son to die so that you one day would not.
He counts all the hairs on your head and gave you air to breathe today simply because He wants you live. Everything you have, no matter how much or little, is because God loves and cares for you. That should be enough for true Shalom.
The world will always gift us with disappointments and leave us thirsty. It will never provide you what you are looking for, even if you find it.
They only part of life which truly offers peace is Christ!
Jesus is where all of our joy comes from.
That is why as believers we can smile while poor or rich, sick or healthy.
We praise His name in all seasons because He is the only one that is worthy of praise. The only One that offers 100% Shalom and 100% contentment.
In the name of God, the father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Pray,
Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible
23 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, 3 he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name. 4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch; you anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life; and I will live in the house of Adonai for years and years to come.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
In some translations of the Bible, the “darkest valley” in Psalm 23:4 is called “the valley of the shadow of death.”
Regardless of the translation, the vision of a dark shadow-cast valley can be frightening. This imagery can remind us of a catastrophic, traumatic loss or a difficult crisis, and our memories of such things can be fearful and frightening.
I recall a conversation I had with a homeless man not long after his spouse of nearly 25 years had walked away without even a note, her suitcases all gone.
While sitting dining area of the homeless shelter, he surrounded himself with photos and stories of their married life together, he shared with me his insight on Psalm 23. He spoke about the “valley of the shadow of death,” how dark and foreboding it can be when confronted by sudden unexpected loss of a loved one.
He talked about how cold, quiet, still, the house had become; how hard it was to remain in the home they built together filled with an abundance of memories.
So, about two weeks after she walked out of his life, he walked out of his home, threw the only keys he had far into the nearby lake they always walked around.
It was heartbreaking story to hear, how he had just given up, yet he also shared a small glimpse of hope he had discovered while traveling through that valley.
The only way for a shadow to exist, he said, is for a source of light to be present.
A shadow is not the absence of light, but rather the evidence of a light nearby.
He also noted that the greater the source of light, the smaller the shadow cast.
All of us travel through them from time to time.
There is no way around them.
You cannot wish them away.
You cannot pray them away – God will not allow them to passover or pass us by.
Life can’t always be lived on mountaintops, ignored by rowing across vast deep lakes, sprinting through sun lit fair meadows, pleasant travels ALL the time.
I wish we could skip over the experience of being swallowed by the dark valleys in life. But, they seem to be a very necessary part of our journey through life.
David knew about dark valleys back in the Bible days.
In Psalm 23:4, he talks about them,
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley…”
Though we will walk through dark valleys…
Since there is no way around or over or underneath them…
Only through them …
Because they are part of life…
Pacing Ourselves; Standing on the Promises of God
Promise 1: God is our FORTRESS & RESCUER!
Psalm 18:16-19 Authorized (King James) Version
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Promise 2: God is GOD!
‘Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, and breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”’
Psalm 46:10, MSG
Promise 3: God will SHOW US THE WAY to walk!
Isaiah 35:8-10 Authorized (King James) Version
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Promise 4: God will ACT on our behalf!
Proverbs 3:5-10 Amplified Bible
5 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 [a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8 It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth And with the first fruits of all your crops (income); 10 Then your barns will be abundantly filled And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Promise 5: God is WITH us!
John 14:1-6 Amplified Bible
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Promise 6: God is ABLE to deliver us!
Daniel 6:19-23 Amplified Bible
19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he had come near the den, he called out to Daniel with a troubled voice. The king said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God has sent His angel and has shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23 Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in and relied on and trusted in his God.
Friends, I pray that whatever valley or sealed room with ravenous hungry lions, you may be in today or at some other time or season, the light of Jesus Christ may shine bigger and brighter—and that he may be the source of your strength.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat from the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, ‘You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “It is not true that you will surely die; 5 because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it had a pleasing appearance and that the tree was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her; and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves loincloths.
8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Believing that the Battle is Real
The battle is real.
The Enemy is constantly on the prowl looking for ways to fill your mind with subtle lies to gain access at the table of fellowship God has prepared for you.
It’s a table described famously in Psalm 23 intended only for the Lord and you to dine. But this table isn’t set in a beautiful, peaceful meadow. No, as verse five states, it’s a table placed in the presence of your enemies. They see you seated there with the King of the Universe, and they want a piece of the action.
The Enemy will do anything to slide into a seat and begin to tell you lies that will make you doubt your rightful place at the table, or try to convince you that there are better options elsewhere.
But, when the Devil is whispering lies in your ear, you need to know Jesus is there with you in the midst of the temptation and pressure.
He’s there to rescue you when necessary, to protect you at all costs, and to fill your cups to over-flowing.
With all of his conniving and deceiving, it can be hard to recognize the Enemy’s voice for what it is.
It’s important to be able to spot the enemy’s lies—not so you can focus on the lies, but so you can avoid them, fix your gaze back toward the Good Shepherd.
While there are seemingly countless lies the Enemy can tell you, I’ve found that most of them fall into five broader categories.
And if you are able to spot them as they’re coming your direction, you can overcome them and win the battle for your mind with truth in Jesus’ name.
Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 Complete Jewish Bible
1. The Lie of Deception
First, if you’ve heard recently that it’s better at another table, then you can be certain the Enemy is at your table.
Jesus’ table, the one He prepares for you, is about life, life abundantly (John 10:10). Any table other than God’s table is about abundantly stealing, killing, and destroying. When the Devil sits at your table, he often points to another table and talks about how amazing it is somewhere else.
He points to a place that’s not the table where God is and says, That, over there.
That’s the solution to your problem.
Don’t give in to this lie.
The Devil loves for you to look at your life and compare it with somebody else’s, so you wish you had what they had.
He’ll mix in a little jealousy, sift in a little coveting and add a dash of woe is me and throw in a few lines about how God must love that person more than you.
Or about how God is blessing that person more than He’s blessing you. Or about how surely God has withheld something you need. Pretty soon the Devil has you convinced God isn’t good. God hasn’t blessed you, ergo, God doesn’t love you.
You missed out on something good, because God is mean, or God forgot about you, or God’s been lying to you all this time.
I have called this “the grass is always greener” syndrome. If you’re not firmly seated at the table with the Almighty, if your eyes are not locked on those of the Good Shepherd, then you’re too easily distracted by the tyranny of comparison.
The Enemy always paints a great picture of freedom.
It’s over there—where the grass is always greener.
These thoughts that you can shirk commitments and have it your way don’t come from Jesus. He comes to give life in abundance, and give it to the fullest.
2. The Lie that You’re Doomed
So often when we are asked how things are going, we reply something like, “Man, I don’t know if I’m going to make it through this season. I’m not sure I’m going to survive this semester. I don’t know if we’re going to get through this time.”
Have you ever heard yourself saying something like that? Where did you get that kind of thinking? Where did you hear those words of gloom and doubt? Not from your Good Shepherd. You likely heard them from the Enemy at your table.
See, your God has just told you that even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you don’t need to fear any evil.
Did you catch the operative word in this sentence: through. Your Shepherd didn’t just say you’re going to the valley. He said you are going through the valley. In other words—you are going to make it to the other side.
You will not find the Good Shepherd telling you that you’re not going to make it.
You will never find the Good Shepherd telling you that life is hopeless, there’s no way out. May as well chuck it all, quit, and die.
That is not the voice of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd says, We’re going through this valley, and I’m going to be with you all the way through. And guess what—we’re going to have a story to tell on the other side.
This is how God delivered His people from bondage in Egypt. He didn’t build a giant bridge over the Red Sea; He parted the sea so they could walk through it.
Oftentimes God’s plan is not to build a bridge over troubled waters. Instead, His miracle plan is to give you the grace and the power to miraculously go through the troubled waters. “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 NLT)
You are going through whatever circumstance you’re currently in.
And your Shepherd is going through it with you.
Have you ever believed the lie that you’re hopeless?
You are not hopeless. Jesus lives in you!
Do you believe this?
3. The Lie of Worthlessness
Now, we’ve got to be really careful about this lie, because Scripture calls us to be humble. But as it’s been well said: humility is not thinking less of yourself; humility is thinking of yourself less. We easily get these confused by thinking it honors God for us to think less of ourselves. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Maybe someone told you you’d never amount to anything. Or maybe a spouse walked away. A parent bailed. Or the right man or woman you’ve longed for never walked through the door. Maybe you’ve always wished you looked like someone else. Or had the gifts that a friend has. Or maybe a dump truck of guilt just backed into your story at some point and unloaded a pile of shame on you.
Here’s the thing: you need to know the “I am not or never enough” anthem was composed in the pit of hell. It’s crippling. Debilitating. Paralyzing. Suffocating.
It didn’t come from the Good Shepherd.
This lie isn’t a reflection of true humility.
It’s a club that beats you over the head.
This lie whispers to you that you’re useless.
You will never have what it takes.
Have you been called to lead a small group at your church?
This lie insists it can’t be done.
Have you been called to lead your family with integrity and compassion and kindness and strength as a wife and mother who follows God?
This lie tells you that you’re not good enough; you’re never going to amount to anything, so don’t even bother trying.
In the beautiful comparative picture,
we have of the Good Shepherd in John 10, Scripture tells us Jesus “lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11). Jesus has already put it all on the line for you!
Romans 5:8-10 Complete Jewish Bible
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf while we were still sinners. 9 Therefore, since we have now come to be considered righteous by means of his bloody sacrificial death, how much more will we be delivered through him from the anger of God’s judgment! 10 For if we were reconciled with God through his Son’s death when we were enemies, how much more will we be delivered by his life, now that we are reconciled!
4. The Lie of Me Against the World
When you believe the lie that everybody is against you, that you stand alone, no one will come to your defense, you are convinced everybody 100% hates you.
Everybody at your job hates you. Everybody in your family hates you. Everybody in your church. Your pastors. Your professors. Your parents. Your children. Your friends. Your colleagues. Your neighbors. Even the politicians spit in your soul.
This is the voice of fear-based illogic, of paranoia, a voice that encourages you to mistrust everybody in your life.
Certainly, there are subtler forms of this lie.
The Enemy is great at sowing seeds of doubt, at working to undermine your confidence about what God says is true about you.
You might not exactly hear the word hate, but maybe you are hearing yourself say words like this:
“Well, that person didn’t even look up when I walked into the office—I bet she doesn’t like me. See those people talking over there—I guarantee you they’re talking about me. They are out to get me. Look at that friend—I bet she never wants to talk to me ever again. I don’t have any friends. All my friends do things without me. No one ever invites me anywhere. Nobody likes me.”
What’s the truth?
Well, it’s possible that somebody hates you. Sure. But it’s not likely that everybody’s against you.
What’s more likely if you’re hearing that lie is that you’ve got your fist clenched and you’re ready to strike.
Somewhere in the past you developed a defensive posture, an untrusting nature, and now it has become your default position. Your walls are up.
People have hurt you in the past, so you’re not going to let them ever get close to you again.
The truth is that you need to let the Good Shepherd lead you by still waters.
When God is walking you through the valley, you can stop worrying about managing all the outcomes.
You can stop looking over your shoulder. You can take the boxing gloves off.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 Complete Jewish Bible
16 “But,” says the Torah, “whenever someone turns to Adonai, the veil is taken away.”[a]17 Now, “Adonai” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit.
5. The Lie that There’s Never Any Way Out
This is a classic lie of the Enemy.
It’s that ultimate lie that combines several of the lies we’ve already addressed. The Enemy convinces you there’s nowhere to turn. Nowhere to run. No way forward. No chance you’re ever going to live free again.
The consequences of your bad decisions are closing in from one side, the betrayal of one friend to another.
Your reputation is toast. You’re going to lose your job. You can’t go back to your community. You can’t trust anyone. You’ve played your last card. The pressure is too great. Give up. Cash out. Get out of town, or worse, get out of this life.
I’ve been through enough storms to know the harsh reality of those feelings, so I’m not going to pretend following the advice I’m giving you is any cakewalk.
If you feel like you’re surrounded and there’s no way out, I’ve got game-changing news for you—you are surrounded! But it’s better than you think.
It may be true that circumstances are closing in.
Enemies have taken up their position in the night. Your whole world is surrounded by threats, accusations, missiles, and hate.
But here’s the thing:
That’s only half the story.
The Enemy wants you to believe you are doomed.
That there is no way out.
But the Spirit of God is interceding for you: Lord, open their spiritual eyes; Father, let them see with the eyes of faith.
God has everyone and everything that’s surrounding you surrounded.
2 Kings 6:14-20 Complete Jewish Bible
14 So he sent horses, chariots and a large army there; they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 The servant of the man of God got up early in the morning; on going outside, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. His servant said to him, “Oh, my master, this is terrible! What are we going to do?” 16 He answered, “Don’t be afraid — those who are with us outnumber those who are with them!” 17 Elisha prayed, “Adonai, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see.” Then Adonai opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha, the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots. 18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Adonai, “Please strike these people blind”; and he struck them blind, as Elisha had asked. 19 Next, Elisha told them, “You’ve lost your way, and this isn’t even the right city. Follow me, and I’ll take you to the man you’re looking for.” Then he led them to Shomron. 20 On their arrival in Shomron, Elisha said, “Adonai, open the eyes of these men, so that they can see.” Adonai opened their eyes, and they saw: there they were, in the middle of Shomron.
Defeating the Lies
John 16:12-15 Complete Jewish Bible
12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future. 14 He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that he receives from what is mine and will announce it to you.
When the Enemy tells you you’re not smart enough, you’re not strong enough, you don’t have the right background, you’re not pretty enough, you just don’t matter enough, never be good enough . . . look up and lock eyes with the King.
Hear Him say, Daughter—Son—I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than at this table with you.
His words are the words of life (John 6:68).
John 6:63-69 Complete Jewish Bible
63 It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, 64 yet some among you do not trust.” (For Yeshua knew from the outset which ones would not trust him, also which one would betray him.) 65 “This,” he said, “is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him.”
66 From this time on, many of his talmidim turned back and no longer traveled around with him. 67 So Yeshua said to the Twelve, “Don’t you want to leave too?” 68 Shim‘on Kefa answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the word of eternal life. 69 We have trusted, and we know that you are the Holy One of God.”
His voice thunders from heaven (Psalm 68:33). His voice drowns out every Enemy lie. By His grace, you can start taking authority over the voices at your table and kick the Devil out of your dinner party. He has to flee in Jesus’ name.
Psalm 68:33-36 Complete Jewish Bible
33 (32) Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to Adonai, (Selah) 34 (33) to him who rides on the most ancient heavens. Listen, as he utters his voice, a mighty voice! 35 (34) Acknowledge that strength belongs to God, with his majesty over Isra’el and his strength in the skies. 36 (35) How awe-inspiring you are, God, from your holy places, the God of Isra’el, who gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!
Imagine that your mind is a garden. Seeds can float in on the wind or be dropped by birds or be scattered in your garden by any number of things.
But you as the gardener are responsible for what grows there. You have the power to water the good seeds, cultivate the good seeds, and pull out any weeds that come from seeds you don’t want.
How do you cultivate, weed, and water the garden of your mind?
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Whatever you give shelter and sustenance to in your mind is ultimately what will grow in your garden. You’re going to reap what you sow.
The way you renew your mind is to wrap your thoughts around Scripture.
You can take control of what you think about. You deliberately plant the good seeds/thoughts of God in your mind. As these thoughts take root and grow, they will help remove the destructive weeds the Enemy tries to plant in your mind.
Don’t give the Enemy a seat at your table.
You can win the battle for your mind.
Do not give in to sin, despair, or darkness. Take every thought captive.
Bind every thought in Jesus’ name that doesn’t come from God. Fill your mind with the goodness and richness of Scripture. Memorize Scripture, and become the DJ of your mind, letting thoughts of God consistently fill your heart and life.
Surrender your life completely to Jesus. He will lead you to green pastures and quiet waters. He will lead you through dark valleys, but you don’t ever need to fear. You will not be in want, because Jesus will restore your soul.
Jesus will lead you to a table in the presence of your enemies, but there’s truly nothing to worry about, because your head is overflowing with oil, and your cup overflows, and goodness and mercy are following you all the days of your life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible
23 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, 3 he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name. 4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch; you anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life; and I will live in the house of Adonai for years and years to come.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Being too hard on yourself can cause immense pressure and toxic stress.
Of course, not all stress is bad.
Stress can be good for you, but when you put pressure on yourself to live up to certain expectations and you don’t, this stress can become toxic, affecting your mental and physical and spiritual wellbeing.
It creates confusion and uses up your energy resources, throwing off your balance, much like putting too much pressure on an object can throw it off balance.
Pressure is a force, and if you are going to apply force in any direction, why are you applying directing it against yourself? Why not apply it in positive, uplifting direction? Why not make a .001% extra effort to turn this pressure around into your biggest fan, encouraging, instead of discouraging, your every step?
To do this, recognize the need for change, it is important to recognize the main signs you are putting too much pressure on yourself, what to do about them:
1. “I Didn’t Get ‘X’ Done.”
Often, we tend to focus on what we haven’t done instead of what we have accomplished, then get stuck feeling guilty, frustrated, edgy, and like a failure.
When you feel yourself falling into this way of thinking, stop and say or write down what you have done. Remind yourself of what you have achieved, and that there will be time to get the rest done tomorrow.
2. “I Have to Have it All Together.”
So many of us feel like we must have it all together all the time, but this denies our humanity and the fact that we all make mistakes, mess up and get things wrong at times.
When you feel like this, remind yourself that no one has it all together.
And try not to compare your life to what others are doing, because the way you think and act, and your experiences, make you completely and utterly unique!
You will never be able to be anyone else but you, and you are amazing, and even unique, however, even if you are not uniquely perfect all the time. No one is!
3. “I Must Succeed.”
It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking we must always succeed at something or achieve something to be worthy of attention. When you feel like this, remind yourself that God defines your own success based on His Standard, not yours!
God alone knows there is always something you can do that no one else can do.
4. “I Cannot Make a Mistake.”
Even though we all make mistakes, it is easy to think we shouldn’t mess up and we need to get things right all the time.
But it is critically important to recognize our failures are often as important as our successes, and teach us important life lessons that help us grow as a person.
So, next time you start beating yourself up over a mistake or two, ask yourself what this experience has just taught you and to focus on how you have grown.
5. “I Let Everyone Down.”
Sometimes, it is easy to feel like we always let people down and like we are just failures. Here, it is important to remind yourself that we all fail at times, that your failures help you grow, and that, at the end of the day, life is unpredictable.
We can’t always control everything to make sure things turn out well, because so much of life is out of our control. Also, remind yourself that trying your best is the only way forward, even when it doesn’t work, meet the minimal standard of your own definition of success, because you will learn and grow as a person.
6. “I Feel Exhausted All the Time.”
We often take on so much and expect ourselves to do so much that we quickly find ourselves stressed out, overwhelmed and full blown full bone exhausted.
If this sounds like you, do a lifestyle check, and ask yourself:
Do I take enough breaks to recharge?
Do I give my brain and body time to rest and reset?
Am I having enough fun?
Do I take time to take care of my mental and physical health?
See what you can change in your life to give yourself the time you need to rest! This is so vitally important for your mind, brain and body and spiritual health.
7. “I Can Hardly Smile Anymore.”
It is too easy for humanity to get into a pattern of living where we are so laser focused on what needs to get done that we forget how to enjoy life, which can have an impact on our wellbeing.
If you find yourself smiling less and forgetting why you are working yourself so hard, take a step back, pick up a bible and pray upon ways to enjoy life again.
Watch something funny, spend time with a loved one, or do something that makes you smile again! You can even deliberately schedule this anywhere into your day so you don’t forget to give yourself a break, take the time to enjoy life.
8. “I Need to Do Everything Perfect All the Time.”
If you find yourself emotionally “holding onto” “bear hugging” the mistakes you’ve made, noticing more of the finite details of what, where, why, how you have done wrong than what you’ve gotten right, and getting anxious when you do a good-but-not-so perfect job, you may have fallen into the perfectionism trap, where you can’t come to accepting all your weakness’ or anyone else’s.
If this sounds a little too much like you, take the time to notice when you do this, and remind yourself that there is a difference between wanting to achieve certain things and thinking you need to do everything perfect all the time.
Remind yourself that mistakes and learning are a necessary part of life, and that you can work hard and harder, if you take some breaks, set up self-boundaries.
And, when you find yourself spinning into outer space, thinking more and more about what you got wrong, remind yourself of what you have gotten right too!
9. “I Am Not Good Enough.”
Take the time to observe and analyze your internal conversations and dialogue.
How do you speak to yourself?
How do you think of yourself?
If you are using a lot of negative, pessimistic language to describe yourself, take the time to work on the way you think about yourself.
Consciously observe and write down your critical self-talk and how often it’s happening. Then, work on creating re-conceptualized statements to counter this negative way of thinking and change the way you speak to yourself.
For example, change
“I wish I could be as good as…” to “I will never be able to live up to someone else’s example of success because I am unique and define my own success.”
This will take time to become a habit, so make sure to practice it every day!
The Happiness of Abundant Life
John 10:11-18 Amplified Bible
11 [a]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [b]lays down His [own] life for the sheep. 12 But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man runs because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep. 14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]— 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep. 16 I have [c] other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become [d]one flock with one Shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back. 18 No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.”
In our reading Jesus explains that he is our shepherd, “the good shepherd” who “lays down his life for the sheep.”
Jesus also says the purpose of his coming into the world is to give us life in abundance. Unlike the thief, who comes to steal, kill, destroy the sheep, Jesus came so we can experience permanent joy, lasting peace, and eternal happiness.
Once, during a feast in Jerusalem, Jesus stood up and declared, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38).
John 7:37-38 Amplified Bible
37 Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’”
True happiness is in knowing Jesus by experiencing him and enjoying him. This is not just a theoretical or intellectual knowledge. Jesus is the water of life. We need to drink this water. Whoever drinks this water will never be thirsty again.
Jesus quenches our existential thirst, our over abundant hunger for meaning.
Although we may feel like an insignificant speck in the vast universe, Jesus became human, just like us. He, more than anyone, values his creation and gives us an unmatched gift: abundant life, more than we could ever realize.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 27 Amplified Bible
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident.
4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me, O God of my salvation! 10 Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait]. 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence. 13 I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The Israelites were filled with fright
As Goliath started toward them
Compared to man, this giant stood so tall
But David said, “My God has led me here to defeat him,
So don’t compare him to me, let’s compare him to God.”
When compared to God, everything’s small
There’s no giant that compares at all
To the Holy One who sits upon His throne
So when you come to face a mountain so high
One glimpse of God brings it down to size
Satan will flee; you’ll gain victory
When you compare it to God.
Oh, my friend, do you fear within
As your giant marches closer?
Do you know within your heart you cannot win?
Just have the faith of David’s day and shout
“My God is bigger.”
You’ll find there’s nothing on earth that compares to Him.
When compared to God, everything’s small
There’s no giant that compares at all
To the Holy One who sits upon His throne
So when you come to face a mountain so high
One glimpse of God brings it down to size
Satan will flee; you’ll gain victory
When you compare it to God.
Psalm 13 GOD’S WORD Translation
For the choir director; a psalm by David.
13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Light up my eyes, or else I will die 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overpowered him.” My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken.
5 But I trust your mercy. My heart finds joy in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord because he has been good to me.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
“How Long, O’ Lord?” Will You Forget Me Forever?
Psalm 13:1-2 GOD’S WORD Translation
For the choir director; a psalm by David.
13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
This lament of David is a cry of the heart from someone who feels that he is alone and forsaken.. isolated, forgotten and cut off from the favor of the Lord.
David’s soul is crying out in bitter anguish of mind and inner confusion of the soul because to David, in the moments he penned this, the Lord seems to have forgotten all about him and has apparently hidden His face from His servant.
David, in the throes of this time of deep depression could not understand why the Lord was delaying the help he desperately needed.. and so his heart was grieving and his soul cried out in bitterness and distress – “how long O Lord?”
David felt that the enemy was triumphing over him while the Lord seemed to have distanced Himself far away from His faithful servant.. and so he lashed out at the people around him and God, challenged the Lord with multiple questions:
How long O LORD.. will You forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
David wanted to know how long the bitter trial and manifold difficulties that were flooding into his life would continue, before the Lord would step in..
to right the wrong and injustices and comfort His servant?
And in our own days of greatest distress and difficulties we too will often find ourselves locked into David’s position.. calling out in desperation to the Lord as we become increasingly submerged by the struggles and sorrows of our day.
As we too cry with our loudest, saddest voices, out to a iron-clad heaven and we find ourselves wrestling inwardly with the very same rhetorical questions that burdened David’s heart, flowed from his pen some three thousand years ago.
How often do we too feel that God has forgotten us and that like David we seem to have been completely, utterly cut off from the abundant favor of the Lord?
How often we experience feelings of deep depression.. anguish of soul and bitter heartache as the enemies of our soul seem to be attacking us from every side..
and we not so subtly discover ourselves to be increasingly overwhelmed by all the news of everything which is bad, tragic, that is coming on the earth today.
Psalm 13:3-6 GOD’S WORD Translation
3 Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Light up my eyes, or else I will die 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overpowered him.” My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken.
5 But I trust your mercy. My heart finds joy in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord because he has been good to me.
But David is a man after God’s own heart.. and although that does not preclude him from having to go through the inevitable trials and tribulations of life-
his confidence in God stands firm in the goodness of the Lord and his bitter pleas for help.. come from the heart and the soul of a man who ultimately trusts in God’s mercy, grace, loving-kindness; and rejoices in the joy of his salvation.
However, it was not long before the bitter lament of David turned into a hymn of praise when he remembered the many precious promises of the Lord –
for he knew that the “brief sufferings” of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory of God that is to be revealed to us in the days to come.
The same is no less true today.
Indeed the enormous complexities and difficulties and dangers we face in life today.. should be pondered as momentary, light affliction, which are producing for us an eternal weight of God’s glory far beyond what we could ask or think.
But, Still, We Need to Very Much Talk About Suicide
When it comes to an awareness of mental health, it is important to be aware of our own, as well as, others’ feelings – We never know what a person may be going through – they could be doing alright, but they could also be on the brink.
First and Foremost it must absolutely be said, in no uncertain terms, our own mental health needs to be taken extremely seriously, given the utmost respect and great personal attention – we must take the value of our lives to the utmost.
If we need to make and take the time to “sort out the things of this life” which increasingly do not make sense, threaten to overwhelm our sense of wellbeing, then by all means we must exercise our own absolute right to life and to seek help!
We cannot think more highly of others until we can straighten out our own thoughts and feelings of how we feel about ourselves and why we feel less about ourselves!
Please! Please! Please! Absolutely, avail yourself of every single opportunity to take the utmost care of yourselves – You are always Highly Valued by God, our Father!
Be Affirmed! In the name of God, the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit!
You are a wonderful creation of God, in His Image and God loves you so dearly.
The Hand of God created you singularly, uniquely, loves you unconditionally.
Even before you were born, God knew you and He had a wonderful plan for your life — a plan shaped exclusively for you, and God knows that only you can do.
Maybe you have tried many things and tried them over and over and over again, and only messed up worse each time, but God still has a great idea for your life.
Things Christians Need to Understand about Suicide
My own professional background is as a Registered Nurse whose many years of clinical practice was devoted to the area of Psychiatry, Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Addictions – to both the Acute and Chronic and the Homeless.
Over the years, I have attended many professional conferences and seminars.
Conclusions are generally the same of the PhD level presenters: Suicide is a word that often makes people feel very uncomfortable for several reasons.
For some, it triggers past pain or current fears, while for others, it provokes the final, ultimate taboo, it evokes judgment, concern, and a lack of understanding.
Many who experience the depth of internal stress of major depression have an enormous difficulty expressing it to anyone for fear of being labeled as weak or emotionally unstable or risk being embarrassed as too emotionally insecure.
In other cases, I have counselled many homeless who will see family members dismiss the concerns of their loved ones due to the stigma surrounding suicide.
Additionally, Christian culture has added more rancor and division within this topic by neglecting to provide a serious measure of support for those suffering, thus perpetuating the needless stigma associated with psychological distress.
The truth is, an advanced clinical university degree or whether we have little to no personal knowledge of suicide, we as true believers need to be informed and prepared to address the acute reality of pain, both personally and relationally.
For as much as we may or may not want to admit, talk of it, the reality is that professional burnout and suicidality is increasing within the church family.
From pastors to their Laity, the body of Christ in their diversity of backgrounds, experiences are silently struggling to minister in the name of spiritual maturity.
The rates of suicide across the board is rising at an all too alarming rate not for the church to give its utmost attention too – where can it play an essential role.
Unfortunately, the topic of suicide has been an untouchable, taboo topic within the church for centuries.
Starting as early as mid fifth century AD, churches began to condemn suicide and punish those who sought to take their own lives and disgracing the burials of victims of suicide.
While we have certainly come a long way over the years, made great strides in providing more facilities and resources the church has not fully embraced its own role to provide non-judgmental support for mental health-related issues.
Lifeway research reports that although a large majority of church members want their pastors to talk openly about mental illness, 66 percent of pastors speak to their church once a year or less on the subject (Lifeway, 2014).
Consequently, this zone of silence unintentionally isolates those impacted by mental health, suicide, allowing room for some to believe that their struggles are simply a sign of a critically weak faith or even worse, spiritual immaturity.
Maybe, this is you or this is someone very close to you – maybe your Pastor?
It is long past the time we bravely speak up and support each other in seeking to end the silence, the stigma of suicide by learning facts, sharing our struggles.
What We Each Need to Understand
1. The Word of God for the Children of God
First, we must ground our learning process in the Word of God.
Believe it or not, suicide is nothing new to our current culture.
Did you know that there are over six accounts of suicide mentioned in Scripture between the Old and New Testament?
The most well-known passage, found in Matthew 27:3-5, is the account of Judas Iscariot’s death, hanging himself after betraying Christ.
Why is this significant?
Because it affirms and validates the history of hopelessness and severe mental health issues experienced since the beginning of time.
Just look at David’s psalms, Hannah’s prayer, Jeremiah’s Laments, the Apostle Paul’s account of his persecution, which led to him say he despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8).
These men and women of God spoke honesty and publicly and vulnerably of the excruciating, overwhelming depths of pain that gripped their hearts and souls.
Scripture invites us to acknowledge and recognize this pain, suffering, and emotional distress as consequences of our broken state and Satan’s attacks.
We are indeed all in need of a hope that does not minimize nor stigmatizes our suffering.
The message of the gospel is just that.
Although often misused as a sugar-coated solution, Christ’s hope does not minimize nor negate our own seasons of pain but repurposes it for our gain.
The gospel Christ preached rightly recognizes shame, sin, pain, brokenness, and lovingly invites us, welcomes us, into the healing process of Salvation.
In light of Scripture, we can begin to cultivate a new understanding of suicide, by way of suffering, and seek to hold fast to the unfading hope found in God’s eternal promise (1 Peter 1:2-7, Revelation 21:4-5).
2. The Stats
For many, suicide is a personal battle or a deep wound of loss, yet others would say they know little about suicide or its prevalence in our current culture.
Why is it important to understand statistics surround suicide and suicidality?
Because our awareness of a problem prompts our responsibility to address it.
Do you and I know where suicide ranks on the leading cause of death report?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018, suicide ranked as the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of over 48,000 people.
Within this vastly significant number, suicide was recognized as the second leading cause of death among the ages of 10 and 34 and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54 (CDC, 2018).
Even more astounding, research states 1.2 million people attempted suicide in 2018; one attempt every 26 seconds (American Association of Suicidology, 2020).
By knowing this reality, our response is likely to change when a friend stops reaching out or when a family member begins to isolate themselves.
Our awareness of the likelihood of suicide is what will prayerfully prompt deep and meaningful conversations, support our efforts in loving those around us.
4. The Psychology
Ever wonder what causes someone to end their life?
I believe this is the question to answer when a loved one is lost to suicide.
All of our whys do not always end with solid answers, and for many, the lack of psychological understanding gives way to missing the seriousness of this issue.
In seeking to bring closure to the unanswered questions many survivors may have, it is helpful to know suicide is complex, much more so than depression.
Dr. Norman Wright notes that the most common answer to why people take their own lives is psychological pain, or “psychache” (Crisis & Trauma, 2011).
The Founder of the American Association for Suicidology (2020) expounds on this broad understanding stating,
“Psychache is the hurt, anguish or ache that takes hold in the mind. It is intrinsically psychological – the pain of excessively felt shame, guilt, fear, loneliness, etc.… Suicide occurs when psychache is deemed unbearable and death is actively sought to stop the unceasing flow of painful consciousness.”
Because emotional pain is experienced in diverse and various forms, Dr. Schneidman categorizes five clusters of psychological needs, which I have connected to scriptures, that if left unmet can account for suicidal action.
1. Need for love, acceptance, and belonging (Isaiah 43:1-4, Ephesians 3:14-21)
2. Need for control, achievement, autonomy, order, and understanding (Ephesians 2:10, 5:15-17)
3. Need for positive Self-image (Romans 8, Hebrews 12:1-12)
4. Relationships, nurturance, and affirmation (1 John 3:1-3; 11-24)
5. Need for dominance and emotional expression (James 1:19-27)
(Crisis & Trauma, p.300).
Scripture speaks of these significant needs in our lives through many biblical character’s experiences.
Look again and again at David’s words in Psalm 13:1-4 God’s Word Translation
13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Light up my eyes, or else I will die 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overpowered him.” My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken.
As we seek to understand and value how our emotions communicate our lived experiences, we can begin to normalize the prevalence of emotional distress and support others who may feel as though God does not care about heartaches.
4. The Signs
The fourth thing that is important to know about suicide is the signs.
Whether we are currently struggling or know someone who is, understanding and assessing the warning signs is key to prevention and providing support.
As we have already learned, many contributors lead to suicidality, so how do we know if someone is actually at risk or deeply struggling?
Intrusive thoughts and/or statements of suicidal intention or ideation (“I don’t have a reason to live” or “I keep thinking people would be better off without me”)
Seeking access to or having access to items such as firearms, pills, sharp objects
Having a plan or contemplating a plan for attempting suicide.
If we are experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek support immediately (see resources at the end of this article).
For those of you who may know someone exhibiting these signs, speak up.
Assessing risk can be done with four basic questions (status, frequency, duration, plan):
1. Are we wanting/thinking about suicide/self-harm?
2. If so, how often do we think about it?
3. How long have we been feeling this way?
4. Do we have a plan and/or means of carrying this out?
The answers to these questions will help us determine how to best proceed with obtaining and providing support.
5. The Support
Finally, the accumulation of our understanding allows us to be equipped to both find support and offer support to one another.
As the family of God, we are called to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2) and carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
By no means does this place the responsibility of other’s choices on our shoulders, but invites us to be active participants in supporting the work of healing for our hearts and the hearts of those around us.
As a Christian with my years of professional experience as a Mental Health Counselor, I readily encourage my friends and family to find a professional counselor they trust and encourage them to both make and the take time to acknowledge their pain and access healing through various forms of therapy.
Also, there are many groups, online and locally, that readily support the work of addressing the seriousness of suicide prevention and of survivor support.
Ultimately, the most meaningful way we can personally support someone in our life who is struggling with their thoughts of suicide or the loss of a loved one by suicide is to be in it with them – Gracefully, we learn to listen, love others well.
Lastly, If we are personally struggling, I want to be the one to tell you, God, our Father, and Jesus Christ His Son and God the Holy Spirit are 100% in it with us.
Please reach out to those in your circle and/or call the Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for support.
Until Heaven, Let us hold onto our LIVNG HOPE found in our LIVING SAVIOR!
Drapeau, C. W., & McIntosh, J. L. (for the American Association of Suicidology). (2020). U.S.A. suicide: 2018 Official final data. Washington, DC: American Association of Suicidology, dated February 12, 2020, downloaded from http://www.suicidology.org.
Wright,Dr. H Noram (2011) The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What to Do and Say When It Matters Most. Regal Publishing, California.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 Amplified Bible
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with [b]oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.
Heavenly Father, Savior Christ, Intercessor Holy Spirit, thank You for the example of David who despite the many successes, many problems, pressures, disappointments and pain that he brought upon himself, he was called upon by you to suffer, still he trusted in Your never-failing promises, kept in his remembrance Your never-ending faithfulness. Help me to follow his example when life’s pressures bear down on me and keep me under the shadow on Your goodness and grace – I ask in Jesus name.
At times, you may feel too alone, and think that you have no one to care for you.
Know that all of us are God’s children, and he never allows us to stay alone.
There’s no point in keeping yourself aloof from the rest of the world, for God is always there even when we are too emotional to acknowledge it, to help guide and move you out into the light from your entire struggle.
You may feel that you have not got anyone to be there for you, and support for you.
Although it is easier said than done, we often tend to suffer from such kinds of frustrations and suppressing thoughts.
However, you need to understand that you are not alone. You are never alone, for God is always there with you and you have your guardian angels to pave your ways, no matter how tough the situations get! Just be humble, have patience and get going!
Nothing is hidden from the Almighty, and he has been keeping an eye upon you all the time. He is there to guide you in all your odds, and even when life has been making you walk through the hurdles, you have Him.
Believe me, God is always there for you and he has been working behind the scenes of your life. You may find it difficult to get going, but if you have faith, things will surely start falling in their places all by themselves.
God is always there to talk care of you, even when you aren’t aware of it. He is going to take over when things go out of your hand. In any case, if situations seem to be pushing you to the last extent, keep your trust upon God’s powers and God’s promises and in time, by God’s grace, things are going to work out all by themselves, sooner or later.
Psalm 137 GOD’S WORD Translation
137 By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and cried as we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our lyres on willow trees. 3 It was there that those who had captured us demanded that we sing. Those who guarded us wanted us to entertain them. ⌞They said,⌟ “Sing a song from Zion for us!”
4 How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget ⌞how to play the lyre⌟. 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
7 O Lord, remember the people of Edom. Remember what they did the day Jerusalem ⌞was captured⌟. They said, “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundation.” 8 You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us. 9 Blessed is the one who grabs your little children and smashes them against a rock.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
The book of Psalms is a book of poetry; most often each Psalm is a song written for a specific purpose.
These songs and poems consist of praises to God, sorrowful lamentations, and joyous celebrations.
Psalm 137 falls into the sorrowful lamentation category.
The Psalmist here is speaking of Israel’s captivity in Babylon (vs. 1).
The southern tribes of Israel, the land of Judah, were all that remained of Israel after the Assyrians had captured the northern tribes (2 Kings 15-17).
Later, the southern kingdom was taken captive by Babylon (2 Kings 24-25).
In this Psalm, the psalmist is lamenting that the captors of the Jews, the Babylonians, are asking them to sing songs about Jerusalem, or Zion.
Because these were songs of worship and praise to God, they would remind the people of their sin against God, the thing which led to their painful captivity.
These songs would also remind them of their longing to be back in Jerusalem.
The second stanza of the Psalm is a self-reflection of what the author would wish upon himself if he were to ever forget Jerusalem.
The final stanza is what revenge the Psalmist wishes upon his captors.
While the picture is disturbing and graphic, it gives us a real portrait of how desperate the Jews were and how badly they wished to be freed from captivity.
It also reveals to us the incredible depth of emotions these exiles were feeling.
The depths of rage, anger and of depressive sadness is quite palpable and for us who would come to read those hard words, quite emotionally provocative also.
God had sent His chosen people into a seventy year exile for their sins against Him – and the beginning of that exilic road to Babylon was exceedingly brutal and one could easily use the word merciless unto the very absolute maximum.
But God is a God of Mercy, of Grace, Slow to Anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving of transgressions, remembering them no more, casting them into the sea of forgetfulness, as far as the east is to the west – just max gone!
So, it leaves open to the reader of such scriptures the very significant question;
Does God Authentically Care About Our Feelings?
Ever feel like God gave up on you, does not care about your feelings?
You are absolutely not alone.
This assumption is one that can promote a sense of invalidation within our relationship with God.
In many ways, this belief can frame our faith in such a way that it leaves us quick to mask the messiness of our emotions for the sake of spiritual maturity.
If we authentically feel our feelings, does that mean our faith is fragile?
When our emotions overwhelm us, is God actually 100% for us or against us?
This disconnect between emotional health and Christian theology has been at odds for some time.
The common Christian response to uncomfortable emotions is phrases like “You just need to pray more” and “trust the Lord in all circumstances,” which risks adding to the distortion that our distress impairs our spiritual maturity.
I whole-heartedly believe that the spiritual disciplines found in Scripture were never meant to invalidate our pain and problems, but rather not so subtly invite us into expressing our feelings openly and freely unto a loving and caring God.
Here is the truth: You absolutely matter to God, feelings and all.
Never in Scripture do we see Jesus dismiss the feelings of others or invalidate those in distress.
On the contrary, God’s Word repeatedly reiterates the safety found in seeking God as our refuge when we are weak (Psalm 46:1–3), and as a shelter when we are suffering (Psalm 62:8).
When we are faced with a depth of feelings that shake our faith to the core of our being, we must go back to Scripture and be reminded that our emotions, created by God, are meant to bring us closer to Him, not pull us farther away.
In my frequent exploration of this concept, I have found 4 ways God responds to my feelings which have ultimately strengthened my faith, comforted my soul.
1. God Is Present in My Feelings
In Psalm 34:18-19, David speaks of how God is attentive in our distress saying:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
God does not leave us in our distress or dismiss the weight of our worries, but graciously and mercifully comes near to us as a father comforts his dear child.
His awareness of all things at all times is absolutely active 100% of the time.
The passage states God saves the crushed in spirit, delivering them out of pain.
What is even more powerful about this passage is that in the original Hebrew, the term for saves is translated as “to be safe.”
God is not simply standing with us, around us, by us, but He actively provides absolute safety for us in His presence.
2. God Values My Feelings
In addition to God’s attentiveness, He also values emotions.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see His expression of emotion and how He values caring for those who were suffering.
Jesus wept with those who experienced loss (John 11:34-36) and comforted many with compassion and consideration (Mark 6:50).
The intersection of emotional expression and feelings validation was first modeled for us by God throughout the Old Testament, and then again by Jesus throughout the narratives of the 4 gospels and Paul’s letters to the followers.
We see how God so gently guided the Israelites to their promised land flowing with milk and honey and manna and quail and water and shelter against the sun despite all of their rebellion and complaining throughout the book of Exodus.
Similarly, Jesus speaks to many emotions in his Sermon on the Mount saying,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4).
The apostle Paul in Romans speaks on this same value of emotional expression, encouraging believers to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:15).
I wonder what it would look like if we too were to authentically begin to value the emotions we experience and authentically own all the freedom to express them, knowing our God is near and desires to comfort us with His compassion.
3. God Challenges My Feelings
Within God’s attentiveness and compassion for His children, He challenges the feelings that no longer have a place in our lives and hearts.
Paul writes on this disputation of futile feelings, encouraging his young protégé Timothy to not be overcome by the spirit of fear but to remember his faith first.
He says, “For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit, not a spirit of fear but power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
This very Pauline response to my own feelings is one that helps me identify the foundation of my emotions.
As I seek to understand God’s Word and His truth, I am reminded to focus upon my aligning my feelings with the myriad of God’s promises found in Scripture.
This passage reminds me of the truth of the Holy Spirit of God at work in me.
4. God Reframes My Feelings
Finally, I believe that God’s Word so beautifully helps us to reframe and to refocus our emotions by placing our focus and intention back on God’s power, God’s provision, God’s strength, and God’s ability to meet us in our emotions.
One of my favorite passages that help reframe my feelings and focus on my faith is found in Paul’s prison letter of Philippians 4:8-9 where Paul writes,
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Then further bolstered by these words of God assurance, Christ like confidence;
Philippians 4:10-14 GOD’S WORD Translation
Thanks for Your Gifts
10 The Lord has filled me with joy because you again showed interest in me. You were interested but did not have an opportunity to show it. 11 I’m not saying this because I’m in any need. I’ve learned to be content in whatever situation I’m in. 12 I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little. 13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.
Paul’s thoughtful and timely words subtly remind me how to slow down and replace my thoughts that have led to distress and distortions within my heart.
When feelings flood our minds and muddy the truth of God’s goodness and grace, we are invited to renew our minds in the truths found in His Word.
Romans 12:1-3 GOD’S WORD Translation
Dedicate Your Lives to God
12 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. 2 Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
3 Because of the kindness [a] that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.
So, whatever you may be feeling, acknowledge them, just remember that God is near and desires to be involved in the fears and failures, the loss and laughter.
His Living and Active Word continually reminds us to always feel and to be free from the false kind of faith negating the weight of legitimately raw emotions.
Let us continue to seek after God, training our hearts, tuning our hearts, to find rest in the absolute truth (Matthew 11:28-30, John 5:1-9, John 11:35, John 14:1-6), knowing God authentically cares about all of our feelings no matter how deep.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 King James Version
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
84 Your dwelling place is lovely, O Lord of Armies!
2 My soul longs and yearns
for the Lord’s courtyards.
My whole body shouts for joy to the living God.
3 Even sparrows find a home,
and swallows find a nest for themselves.
There they hatch their young
near your altars, O Lord of Armies, my king and my God.
4 Blessed are those who live in your house.
They are always praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those who find strength in you.
Their hearts are on the road ⌞that leads to you⌟.
6 As they pass through a valley where balsam trees grow,[a]
they make it a place of springs.
The early rains cover it with blessings.[b]
7 Their strength grows as they go along
until each one of them appears
in front of God in Zion.
8 O Lord God, commander of armies, hear my prayer.
Open your ears, O God of Jacob. Selah
9 Look at our shield, O God.
Look with favor on the face of your anointed one.
10 One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand ⌞anywhere else⌟.
I would rather stand in the entrance to my God’s house
than live inside wicked people’s homes.
11 The Lord God is a sun and shield.
The Lord grants favor and honor.
He does not hold back any blessing
from those who live innocently.
12 O Lord of Armies, blessed is the person who trusts you.
Genesis 22:12-18 GOD’S WORD Translation
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you did not refuse to give me your son, your only son.”
13 When Abraham looked around, he saw a ram behind him caught by its horns in a bush. So Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide. It is still said today, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
The Lord’s Seventh Promise to Abraham
15 Then the Messenger of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I am taking an oath on my own name, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son, 17 I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities. 18 Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
God Sends an Obedient Abraham and Isaac Home
When I was reading and then re-reading these verses, I was thunder struck, not just by the promises of God’s blessings to Abraham here which only seem huge.
They’re abundant, and we’ve seen those in different places.
Genesis 12, Genesis 15, Genesis 17, but here in Genesis 22, remember the story.
This is when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son.
The long promised miraculous son, Isaac, on the altar, and Abraham showed God that he was willing to humble himself out of reverence of his God to do it.
He calls his son Isaac to his side.
Obediently, Isaac goes to his fathers side.
Abraham tells his son they are going to build an altar and worship God.
He takes his son.
He gathers all of the wood.
Abraham, with Isaac, goes to where God is sending him
He builds his altar.
He lays his son on the altar and ties him down, he’s got his knife raised above him because this is what God has commanded him to do-no question or debate.
But, observing Abraham and his readiness to obey Him and stops the sacrifice, provides a ram to sacrifice, so Isaac is able to live. God shows that he provides.
Abraham returned home with his son after sacrificing the goat.
Abraham had been faithful and obedient, he was ready to sacrifice everything which was most precious to God for the blessings he, his family had received.
Following this act of faith, and obedience God had promised Abraham and his growing family that He would bless them and their coming generations more than the stars in the skies and grains of sands in the desert and on the seashore.
Abraham’s family was overjoyed.
Giving Our All in All We Illuminate God’s Blessings
But when I read these verses, Genesis 22:13–18, and God, through the angel of the Lord, says to Abraham,
“Because you’ve done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you. I’ll bless you all these ways because you have obeyed by voice.”
Genesis 22:18 says, and I just think in my own life, I want that to be said of me,
“I did not withhold anything from God, that I didn’t hold on to anything in my life, even my life itself, that my life and everything I have was before God as an offering to be used by him, for him, his purposes, his glory, however he wants.”
God gave me everything therefore I do not want to withhold anything from God.
I want to likewise encourage you the reader not to withhold anything from God.
The whole point here, in Genesis 22:15–18, is that God is faithful to provide for those who in faith are obedient to the utmost and in the utmost, trust in Him.
I just want to encourage you, as I have, to trust in him with everything we have.
Let’s obey his voice, surrender to His will, do whatever He tells us to do because our lives and everything we have come to treasure, even up to all which is most precious to us, ultimately came from His and ergo, belongs ultimately to Him.
The story of Abraham and Isaac teaches us to have maximum trust, faith in God.
As mentioned in the story, Isaac the son of Abraham was saved by God himself.
Another important lesson we can learn from the story is that oftentimes when we are faced with hardcore choices, adverse circumstances, we must try and believe in doing good as God will show kindness to those who believe in Him.
God was, is and forever shall be above our circumstances and in His time, He will prevail over them and He will let us know He was the One who prevailed.
When We Give Our ALL, What God Gives Back to Us
Genesis 22:15-18 The Message
15-18 The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.”
In Obedience, when Abraham gave his son back to God, then God said that by His own oath, His very promise of fruitfulness would be immediately fulfilled.
The rivers of living waters would now begin to flow out from him to bless all the nations of the earth as God had promised.
It was when Isaac came back from the dead, so to speak, in resurrection power that God said, “Now the fruitfulness of your life will be maximized and manifest.”
Even God’s least and greatest gifts to us are of no value until we are willing, if necessary,to lose them so that God might reign without a rival in our hearts.
When we have to come to that place to which the Spirit of God wants to bring us, that perfect relationship with the Father when God means more to us than anything, and we are even willing to give up the very gift that God has given,
then in resurrection power that gift will be a blessing to everyone it touches.
We all have been given gifts from God.
Maybe God has given you a special gift, a specialized and a singularly unique talent, and you are asked to take a job where perhaps you can’t use that talent.
You wonder about it and perhaps rebel over it.
But please remember Abraham, and when summoned, give it back to God.
Face the possibility of not using that talent, and the God of resurrection will take that talent and return it to you and make it a blessing to many hearts.
Perhaps you have a loved one, and a situation arises in which you have to part from that one or break that relationship.
This is an enormous struggle, but Abraham’s faith and trust in God says that if God asks you to do it, surrender it and then there is blessing beyond if you obey.
Maybe you are living in a situation of retired comfort and happiness, but you are needed in another place not nearly as pleasant, nor desirable, and you say,
“Lord, why do I have to give up my home, my retirement and my relationships that I enjoy and go there?”
Remember, however, if God calls us into His Work, His Labor, we must obey.
Beyond the apparent heartbreak and death lies resurrection.
In obedience to that Summons from God, In the resurrection of that experience, by God’s very own oath, God will give you back that gift and make it a blessing.
Is not this the record of every man and woman we read of in the Scriptures whose life has ever counted for God, who have been willing to give up the very areas they thought were God’s choice blessing for them when God called?
When Noah was called by God to build an Ark in the face of harshest criticisms.
When a young shepherd boy named David was called away from protecting his father’s flocks to protecting the integrity, reputation of Israel against Goliath.
David was also secretly anointed by Samuel to become Israel’s greatest King.
For such a time was Esther called to become Queen of a foreign nation that she might boldly step in, risk her life, so to save her people from total destruction.
Examine the summons of God’s prophets – Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Jonah, Amos and the rest – called into a time of reluctant obedience unto God.
Study, and examine the summons of the first twelve Apostles by Jesus Himself.
In so doing, by their full throated obedience to God, God made them a blessing.
Proverbs 3:5-12 The Message
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.
God’s summons on our lives can be in minor or major areas.
Requiring degrees and measures of personal sacrifice – up to our own lives.
This is the principle of walking the road to the Cross throughout all our lives.
We maximize our efforts, we willingly surrender our whole lives unto God, we willingly sacrifice those things which gives us maximum comforts, pleasure.
We surrender ourselves, we give to God our maximum “all in all” knowing that in the end, in God’s anointed and appointed end – there will be our resurrection.
That knowledge, faith and trust – this is what makes resurrection life possible.
When it looks as though we are throwing away every chance of blessing, God transforms in a moment the very exact thing we give up into the most richly rewarding and abundantly blessed, meaningful experience we have ever had.
I dare you to act upon this opportunity to discover what God has for you in the place and places which you previously deemed unreachable and unsearchable!
I don’t know what this sacrifice might mean for be for you, or your family, but I can say with a high degree of confidence, to know this is true, God has written your life’s account so we may know that this is His way in the affairs of people.
These Verses Lets Us Know that by God’s own Oath, God is Always With Us!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 The Message
23 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
So God, I just want to most humbly pray this on behalf of others reading this.
God, we surrender our lives to you. God, everything belong to you. Everything we are, everything we have, God, we want to trust you with it all so we lay it before you as an offering, and we pray, use us, use all that we have to accomplish your purposes, and we trust that you will be faithful to provide all along the way. There’s no better place, no better hands, to put our lives in, our families in, our future in, our plans, our surest certainties, our wildest hopes, dreams, our rusting possessions in, than your hands.
ABBA, Father, God Almighty, You are so faithful, so good and so very gracious. You are working for our good. You’re working for your glory, and you will use everything we put in your hands towards that end, so God, we trust in you. We surrender to you. Please help all who are listening right now, not to hold on tightly to anything in our lives, to hold loosely to it, to place it before you that you might use it however you want, that you might use us, our whole lives, and everything we put in your hands for your purposes as we trust you as our provider. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and tribulation and all these things come on you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
“I can’t stand Sundays!”
The woman holding her newborn son shouted deep into the church angrily.
She rose from her pew and shared that on Sundays she often felt so lonely and empty because many of her friends were busy with families and ball games.
She was a single woman, new to the church saying she was not a member there.
She is unhappy about her situation and asked the congregation for prayer.
The congregation surrounded her, her young child and laid hands upon them.
Together, they prayed for a good fifteen minutes.
Following the service, she sat down, met privately with the Pastor and his wife.
She said she was separated, divorce papers had been filed with the courthouse.
The father of the child was caught being unfaithful.
she confessed that she felt her sense of intimacy had been badly betrayed.
She had tried dating in the past several weeks but didn’t find the “right” man.
She also went to a few churches but felt they weren’t “loving” enough either.
In their response to the woman,
the Pastor and his wife suggested perhaps she shouldn’t focus mainly on searching for the right man, or seeking even the right “loving” congregation.
The Bible teaches that everyone’s main concern should be about seeking the first love of the Lord first – cultivating and growing in their intimacy with God.
That’s the first step on our journey to a loving and secure peace and happiness.
In our passage from Deuteronomy for today we hear a call to earnestly seek the Lord with all of your heart and all of your soul.
This prophetic word was originally spoken to God’s people who would come to repeatedly betray the love of the Lord and be scattered in exile many years later.
The call is followed by a promise that those who are earnest in their search will find the Lord.
Please note that the act of earnestly seeking the intimate love of God is more than just taking a few or several first steps or a phase in our spiritual growth.
Rather, it is a lifelong quest.
The continued search for God, leading to the deepening experience of his love, is the foundation of securing our inner peace in the only One who never betrays.
Growing Intimacy in Your Relationships.
Psalm 63:1-3 Amplified Bible
The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.
A Psalm of David; when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; My [a]soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Intimacy is something that each of our souls deeply desires.
Intimacy is defined as close familiarity or friendship; closeness.
Intimacy in marriage includes physical acts of intimacy, but we yearn for intimacy in every close relationship we have in our lives.
Our longing for closeness is a part of our created design.
In Psalm 63it is articulated this way,
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
We long to be and remain close to God our Creator! [Psalm 139, Romans 8:35-39]
We long to be close to God, our Great Shepherd! [Psalm 23]
We long to be close to our Savior, the Resurrected Jesus! [John 21:15-17]
We were created by God for relationships.
Yet, we all know how difficult it is to create safe spaces for true intimacy in our lives.
Humans are imperfect, and we so easily hurt each other.
Hurt, disappointment, insecurity, and grief lead to walls going up in our hearts.
Only God is made of perfect love that we can trust with our whole hearts.
Nonetheless, we need each other and can’t give up on the work of tearing down the walls and trying again to build safe, long-lasting, and close relationships.
Intimacy requires a commitment to forgiveness.
Intimacy requires a radical commitment to forgiveness.
Please note that forgiveness does not mean you are called to remain present in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.
Forgiveness is a daily requirement to remain close to other very flawed humans.
Guess what, you need to be forgiven that much too because you bring just as much selfishness and brokenness to your home each day too!
It is so easy to see the ways one’s spouse lacks empathy, love, and kindness, but while we are worried about pointing out their failures, the question needs to be asked of ourselves: exactly what size plank am I missing that is in my own eye?
I have to lay down my right to be right if I want to feel close to this person who is my spouse, my life-long soulmate and embrace a life of radical forgiveness.
Unity is the foundation to an intimate relationship.
1 Corinthians 1:4-10 Amplified Bible
4 I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith]. 6 In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns]. 8 And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].
1 Corinthians 1:10 instructs, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
God communicates with us that we are to relate with, interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ with a whole and earnest heart and soul which seeks unity.
He likens us to a body, each of us different in our skills, gifts, and uses but we all work together towards one mission which is to keep the body alive!
We do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue in our relationships to live in unity, but we do have to be humble enough not to let divisions grow among us.
Intimacy with God and each other is built when we earnestly seek to spend much quality time together.
Psalm 24:5-7 Amplified Bible
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need, Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 27 Amplified Bible
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident.
4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me, O God of my salvation! 10 Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait]. 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence. 13 I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
Building intimacy requires time spent sharing the same space with open ears and having an open heart ready to connect.
One tip for time together is to commit to making some of this time screen-free time – time for family bible study, family devotions, family prayer sessions.
When we seriously want to really hear our spouse, friends, family members, or children’s hearts, we have to deliberately, intentionally, remove distractions such as our phones, video game boxes, our televisions, so we can fully engage.
We grow closer to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and in our personal relationships as, when we are intentional about being present with each other when we interact.
Intersecting Faith and Life.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Amplified Bible
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation! 19 The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility].
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
What connections, relationships do you feel covenanted and called upon by God to be a bit more considered and intentional about cultivating more intimacy in?
What is one way you can push yourself to be more present and available in this relationship in the coming weeks, as we move closer to celebrating our Easter?
Are there things that you need to release to the Lord and forgive before moving forward?
Carve out some family time, time with friends, write out a prayer of forgiveness and share them, allow God to start healing the broken relationships in your life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
139 1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distant sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!
7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, guide us and lead us, shepherd us to you in faith, obedience, and love. Guide us each day, teach us to be fully committed to you.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Throughout Psalm 23,David reveals the intimate, personal nature of his close relationship with the Lord.
David has said “me” a total of six times, “I” four times, and “my” seven times.
In this beloved psalm, David writes a total of seventeen personal references in only six verses, making this passionate song of trust intensely, self-disclosing.
We expect this emphasis, because walking with the LORD by faith involves, first and foremost, a close fellowship with Him.
At its essence, true spirituality is not about going through the empty motions of bare religion.
Nor is it about the mere external activities of longstanding rituals.
Rather, a life with God is about knowing Him and loving His Son, Jesus Christ, in intimate, personal communion.
As we approach the last verse, verse 6, Psalm 23 steadily builds to this closing crescendo.
David writes, “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (verse 6).
Here, David builds upon the vivid analogy that he used in the previous verse.
In this context, he sees himself as a special guest in a grand banquet hall, where he is being served a feast by the LORD Himself.
However, this dining hall is located in a very special place.
It is found in a royal palace—but not merely a worldly ruler’s palace.
It is found in the dwelling place of the highest of nobility—in “the house of the LORD.”
“Surely Goodness and Lovingkindness”
David begins with this emphatic word, “Surely” (ak).
This word could be translated as “indeed,” “absolutely,” “beyond any doubt,” or even “only.”
There is no place for any equivocation in David’s mind about what he says next.
He is deeply persuaded of what he is about to affirm.
This steadfast conviction should mark every believer.
David says that “goodness” (lob) will follow him.
This word speaks of the abundant blessings and lavish benefits God has bestowed upon him.
In this word is evidenced the spiritual prosperity that he has experienced in following the Lord – All that David has needed, God has always provided.
David also confesses that the “lovingkindness” (hesed) of the LORD has followed him.
This is the Lord’s unconditional, loyal, royal love for David—and for all who put their trust in Him.
This word comes from the Hebrew root (hasad) that means ‘to bend down, to bow down.’
This describes God’s condescending love as He reaches all the way down from heaven to where exactly David is.
Could there be anything greater given to David’s life than the “goodness and lovingkindness” of the LORD?
God has given him the very best portion in His great love.
His steadfast, covenantal love for His own people never wavers, even in the furnace of affliction.
God gave each of us the very best portion of His great love – His Son Jesus.
John 3:16-17 King James Version
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
“Will Follow Me”
David adds that the Lord’s goodness and lovingkindness “will follow me.”
“Follow” (radap) means ‘to pursue after, to chase after, to run after.’
He knows that God’s mercy and grace are in close pursuit of his life.
No matter wherever he goes, he cannot get away from these ever-following assurances.
Regardless of whatever he does, he cannot escape them.
They will never let him go, even when circumstances seem to deny their reality.
These two attributes of God—“goodness and lovingkindness”—actually represent God Himself, who is continually pursuing David.
It is the figure of speech known as personification, which assigns humanlike qualities to inanimate objects.
To be sure, these two attributes represent God, who is personally following David and caring for his every need.
By this testimony, David states that God is relentless in His love toward him.
David is assured though he will falter and fail, God will never give up on him.
Regardless of how he may disappoint the LORD, he is persuaded that God will never stop pursuing and caring for him.
Even if he trips and falls, he knows God will never distance Himself from him.
Instead, God will pick up His servant and continue to walk with him.
David will testify elsewhere, “The steps of a man or established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).
This is an irrevocable promise firmly established in God’s own faithfulness.
“All the Days of My Life”
God’s love for David will follow him “all the days of my life.”
This tender affection and unchanging allegiance of God will be a never-ending pursuit of David to the end of his days.
His devotion toward God will surely fluctuate.
There will be times when it will strengthen or subside.
But God’s love for him is ever strong and steadfast.
God’s loyal love for David does not depend upon his love in return.
God’s love for David depends upon God Himself, who never weakens or wavers.
This is why God’s lovingkindness is always following after David.
Likewise, this same love of God is always in hot pursuit of every believer.
This divine love never takes a day off.
It never rests, never sleeps, never stops, never stumbles (Psalm 121:4).
Even in the midst of trying times, the love of God never goes on sabbatical, never takes a vacation.
It is ever strong toward us, ever sure.
“And I Will Dwell in the House of the Lord”
The last line begins with the word “and,” which indicates that what follows is inseparably connected with what preceded it.
With great certainty, David knows that he will “dwell in the house of the Lord.”
“Dwell” (yasab) means ‘to sit down and stay.’
It conveys the idea of making one’s own abode or home.
This is to say, David will always be at home in the Lord’s presence, always in personal relationship with Him, no matter where he goes.
David pictures this meal in which God serves him as taking place “in the house of the Lord.”
Of course, the temple in Jerusalem has not yet been built by his son Solomon.
Instead, this “house” represents the intimate fellowship that David enjoys with the Lord as he lives in the very presence of God each day.
David is pointing his readership to the close communion, intimate interaction that he has with the Lord.
“Forever”
The relationship between David and the Lord will last “forever.”
What starts in this lifetime will never come to an end.
The word “forever” here means literally ‘for the length of days, for prolonged, never-ending days.’
Once David began this relationship with the Lord, he knew it would never be severed.
In the words of this analogy, once David moves into the house of the Lord, he will never move out.
This is the eternal security of every believer.
The Lord Himself is their dwelling place.
Once they dwell in the house of the Lord, they will always be living in the fullness of His love and grace.
David wants us to know that the Lord who pursues us with lovingkindness is He who keeps us forever.
The Lord who is ever following us is ever keeping us.
Once God begins His pursuit of us, He will never let us go.
No believer can be separated from the love of God, our great Shepherd, Host, and King.
Jehovah God is dwelling within us exactly right now so that we may dwell with Him, both now and forever more.
Let all of His Children raise up!
Bless His holy name!
Jehovah Ra’a, the Lord is our Shepherd, is with us and exactly right beside us, both now and forever more.
Let all of sheep of His pasture turn their heads and give their fullest attention!
Bless His holy name!
The essential truth of our Christian life is that God has come to save us and live in us as “‘Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1: 23).
This is the essential truth of our ministering to the Lord as well.
Forever we are Safe, Sitting in His sanctuary, abiding and residing in His house
Ministering unto the Lord, from within the sanctuary our inner temple, this is our response to the truth of Immanuel.
Because God is with us, abiding in us, and calling us to abide in Him, indeed to become one with Him, even as He and the Father are one (John 15:4, 10:14-15, 17:21-24), we joyfully, innately, instinctively, obediently, we respond, as God’s Own New Covenant priesthood (Revelation 1:5-6, 5:9-10, 1 Peter 2:5-9).
“Ministering to the Lord” (Acts 13:2) is surely what we know we must do, what our spirit within desperately, longingly yearns for, because God does live within us.
So it is a right and good and joyful thing for us to frequent the temple of the Holy Spirit within us (1 Corinthians 3:16), our “inner room” (Matthew 6:6), so we may be with our Lord in His presence, offering praise and adoration, stillness and reflection, gratitude and humility, even as He securely envelopes us in His Own “goodness and lovingkindness.”
The simple point I make here is that the more quality time and frequency we spend in God’s house now, dwelling within us, the more consistently sure we will be, every day, that “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Amen.
Love and dwell with our Lord now and looking forward to our joy of loving Him and our joy of dwelling with Him forever, always remembering with 100% joy that, “we love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19), we live because He lives.
We praise, thank, and bless You Lord God. Yes Lord, we gratefully and joyfully dwell in Your house today.
“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Hallelujah!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 150The Message
150 1-6 Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
One of the great hymns of the faith is “Surely Goodness and Mercy.”
In its verses, this hymn summarizes what is taught in Psalm 23.
The chorus, of which I’m sure you are familiar, simply quotes verse 6.
Please read Psalm 23, then sing along with this hymn (at least verse 1):
A pilgrim was I, and a wandering—In the cold night of sin I did roam
When Jesus the kind Shepherd found me—And now I am on my way home.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life;
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days, all the days of my life.
If you want to keep singing, then you’ll have to look up the other verse in your hymnal or online, but please wait to do so until after you have finished reading the rest of this devotional.
Of all the words that David could have used to describe the blessings of God, he chose “goodness and mercy.”
In this brief study of this Psalm, we have previously talked about our Shepherd providing for us, about restoring our souls, leading us, comforting us, securing us, anointing us with oil, fattening our lives, and overflowing us with blessings.
David sums all this up as “goodness and mercy.”
Goodness supplies all of our needs, and mercy saves us from our sin.
What wondrous blessings our Shepherd has lavished upon us!
Yet, the focus of this final verse is not on the blessings of goodness and mercy, but on their temporal extent—how long will they last – they will last forever!
God’s goodness and mercy will follow me “all the days of my life.”
This means that God is good and merciful when the days are bright and sunny, and when the days are dark and grey.
God lavishes me with goodness and mercy in the days of feasting and in the days of fasting.
God shows me goodness and mercy when I am in the prime of life, and when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!
But God’s goodness and mercy are not limited to this life only!
They will be shown to me “forever!”
When I pass from this life to the next, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord.”
I will not be condemned to destruction.
I will not be made to pay for my sins.
I will not be isolated from my Lord. I will dwell in His house forever!
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me, all the days of my eternal life!
What Does ‘Surely Goodness and Mercy Will Follow Me’ Mean?
This verse appears in the beginning of Psalm 23:6.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
King David wrote this Psalm.
It very eloquently an passionately speaks of the goodness of God.
One of the rewards of being a Christian is the love that God shows to us.
He loves all His creation.
However, submitting to God and accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior affords us special benefits.
As Christians, God’s goodness and mercy are available to us even when we miss the mark.
We have access to Him through Jesus Christ.
We can ask for forgiveness, and it is like we have a clean slate.
You will not receive this sort of treatment from man.
Man keeps a record of our faults and is quick to remind us of who we were.
Sometimes it is hard to imagine someone just forgetting about all the stuff that you used to do, but that’s God. God sees our worth.
He sees the brighter picture.
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “I know the plans that I have for you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
I pray that God will help you to grasp what it means to know that goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life.
The goodness and mercy of God especially follows you when you are hurting.
Psalms 34:18 says, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saved such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Contrite means to show remorse or be filled with guilt.
You can feel the presence of God draw near to you best when you are in tears.
That is a comforting feeling.
Even when no one else wants to listen, God will draw near to you.
You might say goodness and mercy have not always followed me.
The Bible says that “in this life you will have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
God’s peace will allow us to remain stable in an unstable world.
His peace has already overcome the world.
What is the Context of Psalm 23?
Most Christians learned Psalm 23 in Sunday School, or your parents made you read it at home until you memorized it.
In the Kingdom of God, people are often referred to as sheep.
The church leader or pastor is referred to as the shepherd.
Here King David uses the imagery of a shepherd to show God’s blessing and protection of His people (The KJV Study Bible, Barbour Publishing, 2011).
You might ask, why does my pastor care about what I am doing?
As much as we do not like people in our business, pastors are shepherds.
Ultimately, God will hold them accountable for how they tended the sheep.
We are sheep.
If you go line by line, you realize that since the Lord is your shepherd; you shall not want for anything.
I have heard some Saints say that they do not want for nothing.
Think about your life.
You have everything that you need and many things that you want.
You have so much stuff until you must give it away annually.
I know people with some incredible wardrobe closets.
A lot of people would be happy with just two week’s supply of the clothes in someone else’s closet.
God gives us what we need and much of what we want.
When God makes us to lie down in green pastures, that is symbolism for basic needs.
Verse three says “He restoreth my soul.”
God restores you when life or the enemy seeks to depress you and worry you about the cares of this life.
All humans sleep and should wake up refreshed.
I remember the host of times when I have felt that I had a difficult day, all I would desire to do, is to just go to sleep where ever, when ever convenient.
When I would awaken, I would feel refreshed and just have a different outlook on things.
It is a trick of the enemy to make us feel like our situation is the worst that it could be.
That is why you and I need to discipline ourselves to read the Word of God every single day, pray the Holy Spirit, and find out what God says about the situation.
God as shepherd also guides us.
Psalms 23:4 says “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
We should not be fearful living this life.
God is our shepherd.
Many times the wife and I I have driven by the scene of an accident and thought that if we had been five minutes earlier, that could have been us.
God is going before us and making the crooked places straight (Isaiah 45:2).
We have been, by measures and degrees ill and perhaps even sometimes close to death, but our ever vigilant God sets his rod and staff, keeps us here on purpose.
There are twists and turns on this walk called life, but God is always near us.
Verse five says “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over.”
I have been in both enlisted in the Navy and an Officer in the Army.
I have completed both of their Basic Trainings.
During marches from this point of some place to that far off place called “somewhere else, who knows where,” we sang cadences to keep in step.
I have often marched to the song;
“You dig one ditch, you better dig two.”
“You never know whose coming for you!”
Often, your blessing is in the presence of your enemies.
Everyone is not your friend, and you are a nice person.
Different people have different motives and intents, but the plan of the Lord prevails (Proverbs 19:21).
Like a Lion lurking in the brush, the enemy of mankind is wily and persistent- constantly looking to redirect our steps away from where God requires us to be
It is important to note that if you know the purpose that God has for you, you need to stick with the plan, aware of the plan and let Him work out the kinks.
You can talk to God about issues and ask Him to fix it.
Sometimes, I am amazed at what He will do if you just ask Him.
It is even better when you can hear that He is listening.
So I try to be careful about what I say and do because I know that He is listening, and we can always on the fact that He will at the most inconvenient of time (for me anyway) “drop a dime” on you and a quarter on me and on those around us.
God also gives us integrity checks.
So step up to the test.
God, your Shepherd is with your every single “pilgrim” step of the way.
What is God’s Goodness?
God’s goodness is His love.
God is love and, God is good.
Many of us can say that we do not deserve to be here.
Sometimes people do not want God to have mercy on people that have done some awful things.
I remember a soul chilling phrase from the movie Chicago when the defendant was asked why she killed someone. She said, “He had it coming.”
I am still amazed about who God chooses to use.
He is not calling us up and asking for permission to use certain people.
God looks at the heart and sees how repentant people are (1 Samuel 16:7).
His Word says that He is married to the backslider (Jeremiah 3:14).
When we sin, we must repent.
God knows that we are not perfect.
He knows that temptation and trials are all around.
We must get in the Word so that we have some help for what we face.
Look to Luke 15:11-32.
Read about the prodigal son.
He came in like a spoiled brat and demanded what he thought was his.
You normally get these things at the reading of the will.
His still living father gave him his inheritance early.
The younger son went away, lived his life as he saw fit and best for him and in the midst of all his presumed joy and happiness, things did not go as planned.
He ended up broke, wishing he could eat any food with the pigs.
He stood up, took a long accounting of himself in his mirror, returned home, presumably by the longest and the narrowest and the safest paths possible.
Amazingly, Radically, His father waited at home, treated him well at his return.
Sometimes, God will allow us to learn, earn our Doctorates in Life, through the “long way around the barn” school of hard knocks, but in His goodness and in His mercy He remains steadfast, waiting at home, stands ready to receive us.
How Can We Know Goodness and Mercy Will Follow Us Every Day?
Episode by episode, long experience, David knew God’s record of faithfulness.
Episode by episode, experience by experience, we too can know God’s record.
If you have been around for any length of time, you have experienced God’s goodness and his mercy and probably never even fully realized it every day.
If you need confirmation, become the prodigal son as he turns away from the smells and sights of the pig sties, turns around, determines that at no matter what the cost in time and effort and risk, steels himself, and just goes home.
Become that prodigal son and on the “journey home” just search the scriptures.
Look at the scriptures from beginning to end and the many clouds of witnesses.
Read the stories, as much as humanly possible, pray the scriptures, purposely become the people of the scriptures – become like Abraham, leave it all behind.
Pick everything up, go to that far off, unknown place where God is sending you.
Where step after step, meal after meal, day after day, trial after trial, tribulation after tribulation, God is setting up your table of abundance in full sight of every single enemy who will seek to stop you in your tracks from going home to God.
How long did it take for the prodigal son to finally crest the hill where he finally saw, took a glance of home – the Lord who is our Shepherd, guided every step!
Along the way, how many fields and meadows and still waters did the prodigal take his rest in, refresh and bathe himself by and long gulps, slaked his thirst.
Most importantly, look at Jesus who God sent as a sacrifice and atonement for our sins – because ultimately – that prodigal son – made it all the way home.
Hard steps?
Absolutely to be expected ….
Yet by Psalm 23, we must not allow ourselves to give up on the goodness of God.
Because our Father awaits us at our eternal home ….
“AND WEI SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD OUR GOD, FOREVER ….”
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 24 The Message
24 1-2 God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it. He built it on Ocean foundations, laid it out on River girders.
3-4 Who can climb Mount God? Who can scale the holy north-face? Only the clean-handed, only the pure-hearted; Men who won’t cheat, women who won’t seduce.
5-6 God is at their side; with God’s help they make it. This, Jacob, is what happens to God-seekers, God-questers.
7 Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter.
8 Who is this King-Glory? God, armed and battle-ready.
9 Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter.
10 Who is this King-Glory? God-of-the-Angel-Armies: he is King-Glory.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 