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Worship XIII, Day 8 God Is My Confidence

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Worship XIII, Day 8 God Is My Confidence

Lesley Crawford

April 2, 2025

Adoration,Blessed,Creation,Fear,Good,Joy,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 57
Psalm 18:2-3
Lamentations 3:22-24
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Romans 8:28-31

His Words Before Mine
Psalm 57
“Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in You.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until danger passes. 
I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 
He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me. 

Selah

God sends His faithful love and truth. 
I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down among devouring lions—
people whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords. […]

They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it! 

Selah

My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises. […]

For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds 
God, be exalted above the heavens; 
let Your glory be over the whole earth.” 

My Words Back to Him 
God, I look to You for protection.

Thank you for being my refuge and place of safety, for covering me with Your wings and shielding me with Your faithfulness. (Psalm 91:4)

Thank You for protecting David as he hid from jealous King Saul (1 Samuel 23:13-15) so he could look back on this time and testify of Your rescue:

“The LORD is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer, 
my God, my rock where I seek refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, 
and I was saved from my enemies.”
(Psalm 18:2-3)

May this truth spark in me the same trust David had in Your goodness and faithfulness. May I share David’s confidence that Your purposes will be fulfilled, regardless of the challenges or opposition I face.

I look to You as the One with power to save, trusting in Your sovereignty.

“If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31) 

Thank You for Your love and faithfulness which remain the same despite my ever-changing circumstances and challenges.

I come to You, confident that “all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I praise You for working good even in what was meant for evil (Genesis 50:20) and thank You that evil will ultimately be defeated.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Because of Your great power and love, “we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

God, my confidence is in You.

Wake my soul to praise You as I should. 

Help me lift my eyes above my circumstances to see Your power and glory. Help me trust in Your faithfulness. Help me to put my hope in You alone so I may praise You and proclaim Your greatness to those around me.

Thank You for Your unfailing love and faithfulness which are so much bigger than my mind can grasp (Ephesians 3:18-19) and thank You for the hope and confidence they instill in me.

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love, 
we do not perish, 
for His mercies never end.
They are new every morning; 
great is Your faithfulness! 
I say, “The Lord is my portion, 
therefore I will put my hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:22-24)

God, may Your name be glorified.

I declare You are my refuge and in You I find rest. Help me live daily in that knowledge and trust in You each day.

I Confess, Lament, and Praise
God, I confess that when I am under pressure, I am tempted to look to my own strength and wisdom. 

I too often place my confidence in my own thinking and strategizing, and look to myself to find a solution, rather than seeking You. I put pressure on myself to work out what to do, and I carry an unnecessary load. Help me cast my burdens on You instead, knowing You care for me. (1 Peter 5:7)

On other occasions, I focus too much on my circumstances and the challenges I face, and I become caught in a spiral of worry instead of turning to You and knowing Your peace.

Thank You for Your promise to “keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, 
for it is trusting in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Please help me lift my eyes above it all to look to You, knowing whatever trials I may face here on earth, You are with me always. My eternal future is safe in Your hands because of Jesus and not because of anything I have done.

May I know the blessing of one whose confidence is truly in You. May I be like a tree with deep roots, drawing strength from you and flourishing, whatever my situation. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Thank You for being “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love” (Psalm 103:8), for removing our sins far from us (Psalm 103:12), and for, from eternity to eternity, faithfully loving those who fear You. (Psalm 103:17)

Awaken my heart to praise You, and may my confidence be in You and You alone.

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goodness,hope,prayer,worship
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Worship XIII, Day 9
Digging Deeper

David was preaching an inspiring message to his soul. So exhilarating was the truth of the message, it afforded him the perspective he needed.

As he progressed though the layers of his thoughts, David began to consider the greatness of his God.

But not content with just sitting in this magnificent reflection alone, or even simply "preaching to the choir,” David determined to include all the people from all the nations!
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Done Day 1 Chosen For Blessing

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Done Day 1 Chosen For Blessing

Lesley Crawford

May 6, 2024

Faith,Glory,God,Good,Hope,Love,Redemption

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 1:1-8
Malachi 3:16-18
Deuteronomy 14:1-2
Psalm 103:11-14

As I consider the concept of being chosen, it brings back memories of teams being chosen at school for a sport or a game.

The usual method in my school was to select two team captains who would take turns in choosing someone to join their team until everyone had been allocated a place. This may have worked well for those who were sporty or popular, but if you were anything like me, you knew the only chance you had of being chosen anywhere near the start was if your best friend was a team captain. Otherwise, there was the agony of waiting while person after person was chosen, hoping that you wouldn’t be last. 

Everyone would be chosen in the end, but if you were only chosen because you were the last one left, it didn’t really feel as though you had been chosen.

For a long time, when I thought about being chosen by God, this is the image that came to mind.

Of course, I knew God loved everyone, but I couldn’t quite let go of the idea that if I was chosen, surely it was out of obligation or politeness. I certainly wouldn’t be His first choice.

Ephesians 1 helped me think differently about this.

Paul begins by addressing the believers in Ephesus as “faithful saints” (Ephesians 1:1), and goes on to list the many blessings they have because they are chosen by God, wonderful blessings such as adoption, forgiveness, and redemption, in fact, “every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” (Ephesians 1:3)

The exciting part is that if we are followers of Jesus, all of this also applies to us.

We may be all too aware of our faults and failings and struggle to think of ourselves as “faithful saints,” but that is who we are “in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 1:1)

Those three words provide the key to this whole passage. We don’t receive God’s abundant blessings or the accolade of “faithful saint” by our own goodness or effort. It is all a gift of God’s amazing grace “in Christ Jesus.” None of us earn “first pick status”, we’re all first because of His lavish love!

Truly, this is an incredible gift! Paul goes on to highlight several aspects of God’s purpose in choosing us:

  •     We are chosen to be made holy, to be set apart for God as His own special treasure. (Ephesians 1:4)

  •     We are chosen to be adopted into God’s family, brought to Him through Jesus. (Ephesians 1:5)

  •     We are chosen for redemption and freedom, purchased with Jesus’ blood and completely forgiven, showered with kindness and grace. God doesn’t hold anything back as He pours out His grace on us. (Ephesians 1:7-8)

Ephesians 1:6 uses the word “lavished.” The pastor of my former church used to say that the word translated as “lavished” in the text came from the Greek word “Nutella”. He was joking of course, but he went on to describe a slice of bread thickly laden with chocolate and hazelnut spread, right to the edges, and it was certainly a vivid illustration of the richness and abundance of God’s love for us.

It is encouraging to know this was always God’s plan.

Paul writes that we were chosen “in Him, before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), so it is clearly not dependent on anything we have done. It was what God had already decided to do.

We see glimpses of this throughout the Old Testament of the Bible.

Malachi prophesied, “‘They will be mine,’ says the LORD of Armies, ‘My own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.’” (Malachi 3:17)

As Moses gave the Israelites the law, he encouraged them, “[Y]ou are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 14:2)

David wrote of God’s desire to bring forgiveness and cleansing, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

It was always God’s plan to give us Himself, to free us, to forgive us and to make us His own people. His plan is not dependent on our goodness or our abilities.

If you’re still wondering whether there is any sense of being chosen reluctantly or out of obligation, I love how the New Living Translation of Ephesians 1:5 makes it clear that is definitely not the case. Speaking of God’s plan to make us holy and adopt us into His own family, it says, This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.” (emphasis mine)

When we begin to truly grasp this truth, it changes everything.

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abundance,blessing,chosen,done,ephesians,fullness
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Done, Day 2
Digging Deeper

Every aspect of tabernacle worship reminded the people of God’s holiness.

The people brought sacrifices throughout the year as a reminder of the holiness of God.

These sacrifices didn’t remove their sin guilt permanently, as they needed to keep returning to the Lord with sacrifices in order to be forgiven.

Living up to the expectations of God was indeed impossible.

How could they be holy?
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Devoted Day 15 Worthy Healer

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Devoted Day 15 Worthy Healer

Michelle Brown

March 22, 2024

Adoration,Broken,Character,Excuses,Faith,Fullness,Good,Healing

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 15:22-26
Psalm 103:1-12
Psalm 147:1-3         
Luke 4:16-21
Psalm 51:7-10

Staring our lustful idols in the face,
naming them,
then bravely choosing to reject them
to worship the Only One Worthy
isn’t easy.

This action requires a heart made whole
by the God of healing. (Psalm 103:3)
A God whose Name is healing. (Exodus 15:26)
A God whose Name is a safe shelter. (Proverbs 18:10)

If we would truly tear down the idols of our hearts, we must deeply know the God who heals the empty places we’ve tried to satisfy with lesser loves. The more deeply we know and understand the God who heals, Jehovah Rapha, the more fervent our desire becomes for us to wholly love Him and others!

The Hebrew word rapha means “to heal, to restore or mend.” The Lord called Himself by this name following His miraculous rescue of His people from Egyptian slavery. (Exodus 7:1-5) When God began to teach His newly liberated children how to live in freedom, devoted to their One True God, He paired His previously revealed Name “I Am” (Exodus 3:14) with “LORD” (Jehovah) “who heals” (rapha).

“If you will carefully obey the LORD your God, do what is right in his sight, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” 
(Exodus 15:26, emphasis mine)

When the Israelites, faced with a desert sojourn, murmured against Moses instead of trusting in God’s faithfulness, the faith and focus they had previously experienced wavered. (Exodus 15:22-27) Collectively, they chose to prostrate themselves before the idols of their immediate and temporary lusts over whole-heart worship to the God who had already proven to be a faithful rescuer. 

Therefore, implicit in this passage is a warning: devotion to their own way, hardening their hearts, and abandoning the LORD’s loving guidance would lead to the kind of disaster the Israelites had just witnessed the Egyptians experience. 

Yet in that moment, demonstrating His unfathomable love, God concluded this warning by revealing Himself as the LORD who heals, calling His people to devotion to Him alone. As they sought God with single-minded devotion and He healed their hearts, the outward evidence of such healing would be lives of careful obedience to the LORD, pursuing righteousness and holiness with their whole hearts. 

In Psalm 147, we see a declaration of the LORD our healer at work (verse 3)
within the context of His vast omnipotence.

Lay down your idol of self-reliance, we might hear the psalmist call, for the LORD alone is your Rescuer. (verse 2)
Lay down your idols of lesser things and even your own knowledge, for the LORD’s greatness, power, and understanding are unmatched. (verse 5)
Lay down your idol of earthly power, for the LORD will move on behalf of the oppressed. (verse 6)
Lay down your idols of the gods of rain, of harvest, of war, of love, for the LORD alone holds all of creation in His hands. (verses 7-10, 13-20)
Lay down your idols and devote yourselves to Me, the LORD invites His people, for “[t]he LORD values those who fear him, those who put their hope in his faithful love.” (Psalm 147:11)

As we look to examples of Jehovah Rapha in the New Testament, we see Jesus, led by the Spirit, Jehovah Rapha incarnate, repairing our brokenness, freeing and healing from sin, ministering by the Word of God. (Luke 4:18-21) The living embodiment of wholehearted devotion to God the Father (John 15:9-10), Jesus’ desire for us is wholeness; His ultimate concern is spiritual healing.

If I’m honest, this topic has touched some raw places in my heart.

Recently, my best friend’s only child died. We prayed earnestly for God to heal her, and my heart shattered when I realized He would not. Thy will, not my will, was His plan and I had a choice to either trust His heart to still be good, or insist my plans would be the idol to which I bowed. (Matthew 26:36-46)

When Paul pleaded for the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh, the Lord of Healing responded, no, in good kindness, for, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We lean upon God’s grace with our full weight, surrendering our idols to be crushed and our hearts moved to whole-life worship of the Savior who heals.

“Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 
Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt. 
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:7-10

Such joy is found in knowing God is mending our broken hearts; He is the God who takes our crushed spirits, whether from sin, idolatry, or the pain of grievous loss, and proves Himself to be Jehovah Rapha.

How do we respond to this kind of God?
With praise! Let’s glorify the God who tears down idols and heals us from the inside out; He is worthy to be praised!

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healing,hope,idolatry,idols,worship
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Devoted, Day 15
Digging Deeper

Make no mistake, the Israelites were in dire need. Three days without water, while walking in a desert, is a deadly scenario.

Their need was a true need; it was absolutely essential for Israel to receive water at this point in order to live.

Even having witnessed the impossible rescue of an entire nation through the Red Sea, it would be natural to wonder, after three days without water, that the Lord had saved them only to watch them die in misery.

At this point, their thinking had been led astray from the good character of God, having been sabotaged by the Deceiver, Satan.
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Pause VII Day 15 Show Me Your Glory

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Pause VII Day 15 Show Me Your Glory

Rebecca Adams

February 9, 2024

Adoration,Beauty,Dwell,Glory,Good,Holy Spirit,Life,Pain,Pause,Peace

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
Selah

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah
Read More Of His Words

We’ve come to the end of our Pause Study in Psalm 46. Hopefully, its rhythms and truths have begun to burrow deep in your soul. Come back to this psalm as you review your memorization work in the weeks ahead and as you read regularly through the psalms (a great inclusion to your everyday quiet time with God!).
May the Lord grow much fruit from your time spent here with Him!

We’ve studied the history, looked at cross-references, viewed these words through the lens of the gospel, researched other passages in Scripture both Old and New Testaments, and we’ve come to know God better. Rich treasures indeed!

Today, we’re closing with deep prayer modeled after the Spirit-inspired format the Sons of Korah left for us centuries ago. This will take a little extra time, so we’d like to invite you to plan ahead and plot some extra time with the Lord for this. Ask a friend to watch your kids, go to a coffee shop, block off space in your work calendar and mark it “busy”, or make the commitment to wake up early on your Saturday morning. Do whatever you need to spend this time with the Lord, then follow through!

Trust me on this one, Sister, it will mark your heart in deep ways. The Lord will be faithful to come near to you as you come near to Him if you come with a heart of humble surrender. (James 4:7-10)

You will need your Bible, a journal, pen, and a quiet space. Bonus if you can be outside in His creation, or at least position yourself by a window.

Enter with prayer, asking the Lord to show you His glory as you meet with Him. (Exodus 33:18-19)

Open to Psalm 46 and read one phrase as a prayer, then keep repeating His Words until you have your own words to pray back to God about your life.

Here’s mine from the first phrase to give you an idea:

His Words (repeat in prayer): “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
My Words (written in my journal): “Lord God, I praise You for being MY refuge and strength. I confess I don’t always feel you are a very present help, but how I praise You that You ARE! Steadfast. Faithful. Constant. Never Abandoning. You are my praise, Lord! Thank you for being my refuge today when I felt overwhelmed, I could sense Your nearness. Thank you for sending me encouragement through my friend’s messages; I know You saw my need for comfort and Your Spirit prodded her to reach out to me. I see Your goodness in that kind act, Father; thank You! I praise You for being my Strength today and this week. I have been weak, worn, exhausted, and at the end of myself. I confess how I have been sharp with words and distant with people. I have felt overwhelmed and wanted to blame others for my struggles. But You still graciously provided! You gave me stamina when I had little sleep. You gave me good food and coffee when I needed it. I praise You, O Lord, for being my refuge and strength this week, for never leaving me alone in my trouble. You are worthy of my praise!

When you come to “Selah” following verses 3 and 7, close your journal and Bible and move your body. Go for a walk (outside is preferable!), fold some laundry, move up and down a few flights of stairs, or listen to a worship song. A “Selah” pause isn’t confined to sitting still!

Come back to your Bible and journal with a fresh mind, ready to let the Spirit speak to you again. Phrase by phrase, pray His Words back to Him and allow them to guide you in bringing your full self, confessions, griefs, and joys to the Almighty Father.

When you finish, my guess is you will want to schedule another date like this soon! The goodness of the Lord is sweet and refreshing; it’s deep and renewing like nothing else! So, make the date, open your Bible, speak with the Lord and learn to hear His voice in ever deepening ways as you truly understand what it means to “Be still and know” Him as our God!

Today's Pause Challenge

1) As you Pause today, on our final day of studying deeply together, begin with prayer and your Bible open to Psalm 46. As you pray, consider kneeling if you’re able and opening your palms upward, open flat to symbolically both give yourself wholly to the Lord and receive what He has for you with eager anticipation.

2) Here is our last hand-crafted Spotify playlist for Pause VII!
Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause VII! Sing your refrain of God’s kind Stronghold and kind warnings to turn from evil, cease your warring, and know Him as your God!

3) How is your memorization going for Psalm 46?! Whether you memorized one verse or all 11, celebrate the intentional work of keeping Christ as your anchor by holding tight to His Word. Keep practicing! The Spirit will be faithful to use His Word to bring you closer to Him!

Close by reading Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
Selah

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

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Holy Spirit,pause,prayer,refresh,scripture,study
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Pause VII, Day 14

Yesterday, while working, Ellie Holcomb started singing in my ear about lullabies she’d sung before her baby was born and how her heart had never stopped singing no matter how old her baby grew or how far from home she roamed. (Mine by Ellie Holcomb)

I went from composed and efficient to scrolling old photos of my babies while tears gathered. I ended up sending a text to my little girl, now two decades removed from the days of lullabies, reminding her of my love for her.

The power of a song was intentionally handcrafted by the Author of music because He knew it would be a potent method for ministering truth to our needy hearts
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Pause VII Day 2 Stronghold; Strongly Held

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Pause VII Day 2 Stronghold; Strongly Held

Rebecca Adams

January 23, 2024

Amazed,Courage,Desperate,Dwell,Good,Mercy,Power

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
Read More Of His Words

We each choose our strongholds.
The more we give ourselves over to them, the more tightly they bind us.

I think of my friends who have suffered under the grasp of various addictions. Whether it’s pornography (yes, women friends, this is our battle too), comparison, gossip, weight and body image, drugs, alcohol, or literally anything else, we are bound by our addictions.

Truth?
It’s not just my friends or family members who I’ve witnessed become caught in ever-constricting bands of a stronghold. It’s my story too. I’ve coveted other marriages. I’ve been obsessed with my body image. I’ve manipulated and attempted to emotionally control my children and their choices. I’ve experienced the inescapable truth that the more I lean into that addiction, the more tightly I’m held by it.

There’s a reason it’s called a stronghold; its grip is fierce and unyielding.

Wonderfully, every single Christ-follower finds this law to be exponentially true when choosing the Lord as our Stronghold. To the degree we seek Him, we find Him binding us to Him all the more.

Such peace is tucked into that reality!

Today as we pause, we are quietly, in full surrender, soaking in the truth that when our Stronghold is the Almighty God, we are indeed strongly held.

Held by a sheltering Refuge who is both Father and Omnipotent (all-powerful) One.
Held by Strength itself.
Held by the Helper who is always found in trouble.
(verse 1)

The Hebrew word our Bibles translate as “always found” (CSB) or “very present” (ESV) is “מָצָא” (pronounced “maw-tsaw”), meaning “to discover what was lost, to find to be secure”.

Doesn’t that description just take your breath away?!

In the middle of our pain, every single pain, for Scripture says God is “always” found in trouble, the Lord God and all of the attributes of His good heart, are ready to be discovered as if new. He will prove His character to be trustworthy. He will prove His heart to be secure. Every Time!

What an incredible gift in the midst of suffering of all kinds! (2 Corinthians 1:3)

It doesn’t matter if the suffering is significant loss of a child, spouse, or dear friend, or if the pain is a broken finger nail. The Almighty One is IN it ALL, ready to be found, ready to be proven safe and secure.

That kind of love brings me to tears, for I have felt lonely pain many times, but I have sought to squelch its fingers of grief with other strongholds. Food, people, social media, and all manner of distractions that would lure me in with their strongholds, but always leave me empty and abandoned.

One Stronghold is ready to hold us strongly.
It’s Christ.

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Start each day of Pause by reading the full of Psalm 46, so we can grow in deep familiarity, which will help root truth in our hearts for the day ahead and help our minds memorize!

2) Spend 60 seconds repeating the words of verse 1 over and over, prayerfully asking God to sew them into your heart.

3) Look up the cross references for “refuge” (Psalm 14:6), “always found” (Psalm 145:18, Deuteronomy 4:7), and “trouble” (Psalm 9:9, Psalm 62:7-8)

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awe,cease,dwell,glory,pause,quiet,study,worship
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Journey Into Pause VI!

Interesting note, He can’t redeem what we won’t surrender.

And if we are just too busy to let go of a handful of minutes each day, it’s no wonder we feel disconnected from Him and can’t hear His voice or see Him at work.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray by “go[ing] into your private room and shut[ting] your door”, it wasn’t a metaphor. He was serious and meant His instruction to be taken literally. (Matthew 6:6)
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Worship XII Day 3 Silent Night; Holy Night

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Worship XII Day 3 Silent Night; Holy Night

Brenda Earley

November 22, 2023

Adoring,Encourage,Faith,Gift,Glory,God,Good

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46
Acts 27:5-26
Psalm 22:1-5
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Silent Night 
Holy night . . .
It was a night like no other, a holy night. God, the Father, sent His Son to this earth as a baby, to bring peace and salvation to all humankind. The Messiah was swaddled and placed in a manger, housed in a stable. (Luke 2:4-7)

Let’s just stop right there. Don’t you wish all stories were this sweet?

Anyone for warm, fuzzy slippers or a soft, comfy blanket? Give me a quick minute to pour myself a coffee (or maybe, a peppermint mocha?). Whatever your fav, let’s meet back here for a cozy, not-so-sweet story. 

All is calm . . . 
As our family stood poised to embark on a “family-owned business” adventure, very little seemed calm! “The opportunity of a lifetime” presented itself and we dived into the deep waters of “unknown.” Expectations were high, but we were unequipped to navigate the rough waters ahead. 

The franchise owner said, “We need to move quickly!” (Uhmm, rocky waves and red flags? Yes, everywhere!) And before we knew it, we were on our way to owning a donut shop on the quaint side of town . . . location, location, location (it’s real, y’all!).

Shepherds quake . . . 
While it should have been an exciting journey, it was also filled with anxiety and fear of the unknown. Never before had I so easily identified with early church preacher and apostle Paul, as he set sail on a fraught voyage to Rome. I imagined Paul standing at the bow of the sailing vessel, weighed down by a growing sense of foreboding as he gazed at the darkening sky. (Acts 27:1-8) 

I understood the feeling.

In the midst of fearful circumstances, my heart echoed the psalmist’s cry:

“My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
By night, yet I have no rest.”
(Psalm 22:2)

Everything happened so fast and soon spiraled out of control. From looking for rental spaces to purchasing equipment (refrigerators, freezer, ovens, mixers, sinks) to interviewing potential employees, life was a chaotic mess. However, like the crew aboard the ship with Apostle Paul, we had a plan and we pushed on. (Acts 27:9-13)

Then came the day we cut the tape for the Grand Opening. We were all smiles, but deep within, our hearts continued to quake with fear. 

Within a few months, customers dwindled. 
Employees weren’t doing their jobs. 
We were exhausted. 
Income was scarce. 

This was not what the franchise owner said would happen, and certainly not what we expected. We were trying to keep our heads above water, maybe even drift a bit and land on solid ground . . . ? But, just like Paul, we were sinking! (Acts 27:14-19)

My mind was a battlefield. While I dredged the waters, they were overtaking me. Sinking deeper, I withdrew, using the excuse my family needed me. Taking care of the home front was what I knew, so I pressed on there. Busyness kept my mind from dwelling on what was happening. How was I to see above the waves? 

My husband carried on the early mornings, the late nights, the employees’ shifts, and paydays. Little did I realize what he was going through — a battlefield in the mind, body, and spirit. He was in deep waters, with no chance of a lifeboat. How was he to get out of these waters? (Acts 27:20-34)

But then, shipwreck! (Acts 27:39-44) Our egos were splintered like Paul’s ship run aground; our family was in shambles. Still, God was allowing a teachable moment in the midst of our wreckage! 

God taught my husband to praise even through the “eye of the storm.” (Psalm 46:8-11) 
God taught me to be still and trust. (Psalm 46:10)

(Now is a great time to take an intermission: let’s get our hearts and minds focused on Who can weather our storms. “In the Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson)

Sleep in heavenly peace . . . 
Yes, we were devastated. 
Yes, we lost everything. 
But God! 

God took control, and spoke into our storm, “Be still.” He promised us survival. Our family would be saved to higher ground, landing in safety under His wings. (Psalm 46:4-7)

This is why even in the chaos, we can sleep in His heavenly peace! It truly was a “Glorious Unfolding.” (Steven Curtis Chapman)

Ok, sweet sister friends, what does all this have to do with Messiah’s birth and a silent, holy night? 
The truth is, there wasn’t much of anything calm or sweet about the night of Jesus’ birth. 

Here’s my story’s connection…

He was born amidst the hustle of ordinary life and the hassle of a national census. 
He was born into political oppression and economic struggle.
He was born into a faith so mangled and twisted by the humans who held it as to be nearly unrecognizable. 
He was born into a shipwrecked humanity,
“jammed fast and [. . .] immovable” (Acts 27:41) into the sandbar of sin, a humanity who could only be rescued by God.

And so God came.
“Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!”

Sinless Jesus would pay the price for our sins with His death, and with His resurrection, He would break the shipwreck of sin and drowning us to our death.

Redeeming grace, born of God’s incomprehensible and radiant love for us, would be the light guiding us home. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Now, do you need a coffee refill? Or a tissue? Here, I have both…

~~~

(God showed my husband the parallels to Acts 27 after our business venture. Also, the song links listed in this story were the same songs God gave us to anchor our souls to His lifeboat. We learned to praise and worship more during this time!)

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Worship XII, Day 4
Digging Deeper

Just as Yahweh came to meet with Moses on the mountain, in a blaze.

Just as He led the Israelites through the wilderness in a column of fire.

Time after time, the one true God came to meet with His created people and make a way. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, came as a defenseless baby.

A God-man, born to live, then to die, and come back to life again, so that all who repent of their sin and put their trust in Him may have eternal life, and life abundant.

Praise God, Christ the Savior is born!
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Known Day 12 Jehovah Rapha: Digging Deeper

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Known Day 12 Jehovah Rapha: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

July 25, 2023

Bold,Faith,Glory,Good,Healing,Heart,Peace,Perfect

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Jehovah Rapha"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103:1-10

My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits. 3 He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases.

4 He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. 5 He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle. 6 The LORD executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He revealed his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. 9 He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. 10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why does David exhort his own soul to bless the Lord and remember His benefits? (verse 2)

In Psalm 103:2, David addressed his own soul by saying, “My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.” David was reminding himself that God had blessed him greatly by recounting the numerous ways God had already provided for his needs.

David Guzik suggests, “It was as if David looked at his soul and understood that it was not praising God enough. He called upon his soul to do more.” It is easy to lose sight of the good things God has given us and focus on the negative aspects of our circumstances. David understood this and was encouraging his soul to concentrate on all of the positive things God had done for him. (Psalm 78:5-7)

Remembering God’s benefits encouraged David and gave him hope. Remembering all the times God helped him in the past reminded him to turn to God when times were tough. (Psalm 42:4-5) Shae Tate asserts, “Remembering what’s true stops the chaos around us long enough for us to remind ourselves, ‘Ok, God’s not forgotten me. So, I’m not going to forget His promises for me.’”

In the Old Testament, God often instructed His people to make a monument to Him after a miracle or blessing so future generations would ask about it and they would have opportunity to teach them about the goodness of God. (Joshua 4:20-24, Genesis 28:10-22)

We can incorporate this practice of reminding ourselves to bless the Lord for His benefits, thereby instructing and encouraging those around us (and our own souls!) of the sure victory and hope found in a God who never changes. (Hebrews 13:8)

He who was faithful in the past remains faithful to His beloved even today. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

The Everyday Application

1) Why does David exhort his own soul to bless the Lord and remember His benefits? (verse 2)

Years ago my church compiled a book of testimonies and answered prayers from parishioners. I recently re-discovered it and marveled at how faithful God has been! There were stories of hardened hearts turning to God and desperate needs being met.

One woman dreamed she should pray about an upcoming calendar date, and on that date her husband experienced a medical emergency while driving and was able to make it to help safely. In one testimony, someone received a free house in answer to a prayer! I was amazed at God’s goodness, but I was also amazed that I had forgotten about so many of these wondrous testimonies. This is why David’s exhortation in Psalm 103:2 is so important.

Reminding ourselves of God’s blessings from the past bolsters our faith in God to continue meeting our needs and surpassing our expectations in the present. (Ephesians 3:20) Arlene Pellicane suggests David is “giving a ‘locker room talk’ to an audience of one — like a rousing speech coaches give to sports teams before playing a big game.”

David reminded himself God has come through for him in the past, and He will come through for him now and in the future. (Philippians 4:13) Shae Tate reiterates the importance of rehearsing God’s benefits to us, noting that “What has always been true will always be true. And it’s true for me today, even if I don’t feel it in completeness right now.”

When we find ourselves dwelling on impossibilities and in need of breakthrough, we can remind ourselves of all the good things God has done for us and for others in the past. Those blessings remind us God is good and faithful at all times! (Psalm 100:5)

The Original Intent

2) Is healing from disease of the same importance as the other benefits from God that David lists? (verses 3-10)

In Psalm 103:3-10, David lists the benefits from God that he wants his soul to remember, including forgiveness from sins, physical healing, satisfyingly good things, renewed youth, compassion, grace, and love. These are some amazing deeds; things that are life-altering and memorable.

Charles Spurgeon suggests David “selects a few of the choicest pearls from the casket of divine love, threads them on the string of memory, and hangs them about the neck of gratitude.” It might be tempting to cherry-pick from this list and elevate the “flashier” blessings, like healing or renewed youth, but the order of their listing gives an idea of their importance.

David Guzik asserts how significant it is that forgiveness of sins is first on the list, “In David’s mind, the most important thing was to have sins forgiven, even more important than physical healing.” These blessings may have been listed as a sequence of events. First, God forgives us, and then He heals and redeems us.

Andrew Murray explains, “Forgiveness is the access to all of God’s love. On this account, forgiveness is also an introduction to all the other blessings of redemption.” David thanked God first for the forgiveness of sins because this is what opens up the door to relationship with God. (1 John 1:5-10)

Forgiving our sins was so important in the heart of God that He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for all our sins upon Himself on the cross (John 3:16) so we would not need to face the penalty of death. (Romans 6:23) Confessing our sins and turning from them allows us to walk with God and experience His many blessings.

God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift; without it we could not experience all the riches of His grace as children of God. (Romans 8:14-17)

The Everyday Application

2) Is healing from disease of the same importance as the other benefits from God that David lists? (verses 3-10)

When I book vacation lodging, I am extremely frugal, which means I am willing to overlook minor inconveniences to gain a good deal as long as my basic necessities are met. A few years ago, I was thrilled to find a vacation rental at a reasonable price that had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and laundry facilities, which were my must-haves. I was so eager to snag the bargain I didn’t notice the mention of a year-round lodger in the basement, which I discovered only after the cancellation date had passed.

I was so impressed by the low- price that I overlooked some of the most important details about the lodging. I tend to do this in other areas, too. When I read the list of blessings David details in Psalm 103:3-10, my attention is immediately drawn to the words, “He heals all your diseases.” I have a vague recognition of the other items listed in God’s “benefit package,” but I tend to focus on the promises of healing, grace, and love.

I am glad for all the blessings, but I want to especially remind God of the things I can experience in a tangible way. In doing so, however, I overlook the other amazing things God has given me, some of which are even more important than physical healing in the great scheme of things. The first thing David thanked God for was His forgiveness of sins. David recognized that God wiping away his iniquities (Psalm 51:2) was vital to his walk with the Lord. (Psalm 32:1-6)

Without the gift of forgiveness, there would be no other gifts. May we be mindful of and grateful for all the gifts God has given us, not the least of which is His merciful forgiveness.

The Original Intent

3) How can David say God heals all your diseases when people who trust in the Lord still suffer from diseases? (verse 3)

In Psalm 103:3, David praises the God who “heals all your diseases.” David experienced God as a healer personally (Psalm 30:2, Psalm 107:20), which is important to remember as we read David’s personal prayer of thanksgiving.

God holds all power and rule to heal anyone at any time, but His magnificent love and personal knowledge of us knows that physical healing can actually prevent our hearts from turning to God for spiritual healing. David knew Scripture proclaims God as ultimate Healer (Isaiah 53:5, Exodus 15:26), but he also knew God didn’t always answer prayers for healing in the way and time we ask. This scenario was also his personal experience when he entreated God to spare his first child with Bathsheba, who died at 7 days old. (2 Samuel 12:16-18)

Still, David believed that no matter what happened, the Sovereign God (Psalm 135:6) could be trusted with all things. (Psalm 111:7) Ann Voskamp suggests, “We may not always get our miracle. But we always get God. And that is the miracle that is more than enough.” Even if God the Healer doesn’t heal when we ask Him, He is still Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.

Tricia Lott Williford offers the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believing God would rescue them from the fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:17-18) “They knew what they had asked God to do, and they believed He absolutely could do it. They even said He would. And then they finish the sentence with the giant caveat: But even if He doesn’t, we will not bow to any other god. […] In one hand is faith: I believe He can do anything. In the other hand is sovereignty. Even if He doesn’t, I believe He is still good.”

It is hard for us to understand why God would not heal someone when He is the Healer, but we know His ways and thoughts are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8); we only understand in part here on earth. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

We may not be able to explain or understand God’s ways, but we can trust His Word that He is always with us, working everything out for our good. (Romans 8:28)

The Everyday Application

3) How can David say God heals all your diseases when people who trust in the Lord still suffer from diseases? (verse 3)

Are you familiar with the story of quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada? In her extraordinary life since a diving accident left her disabled, Joni has served the Lord well by painting, advocating for the disabled, providing wheelchairs for the dis-advantaged, and ministering alongside her husband to crowds around the globe. She has prayed for healing, and countless others have prayed for her healing, still, she has now spent 50 years in a wheelchair.

When I read David’s words thanking God for healing all his diseases in Psalm 103:3, I wonder about Joni and others who haven’t experienced physical healing. According to author David Guzik, God “brings healing to us in this life through both natural and miraculous ways. He promises ultimate healing for all His people in the age to come.”

Joni Eareckson Tada says, “When people are healed miraculously, it should encourage us to look forward to the time when healing will be for everyone.” There will be a day when all who have trusted Christ for their salvation and heart-healing now will stand before God in Heaven, free of all manner of disease and pain. (Revelation 21:4) Until then, God continues to sometimes heal people of diseases here on Earth. More often, though, He allows the physical challenges to remain and produce the character of Christ in our lives. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)

Author Katherine Wolf, herself disabled by a severe stroke, asserts that until we see Jesus face to face, “the moments of releasing our lives into the hands of a God we cannot see are the closet to wholeness we will come on this side of eternity. This is our truest healing—the healing of our souls […].”

This soul healing is the reason Jesus came into the world (Luke 19:10), and it’s the reason He gives us the grace to become more like Him each day. (Philippians 1:6)

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Known Day 11
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What I saw broke my heart. His head was down, and his shoulders shook with sobs. He knew cancer was taking the man he loved so much. As his mom I was so concerned for his heart, his faith, and his trust in the Lord His God.

From the time of diagnosis, we prayed, “Lord, we know You are the Healer and You will heal Grandpa here on this side of heaven or home with You.”

Our desire was for healing to happen here. God’s answer was to call him home.
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Known Day 11 Jehovah Rapha

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Known Day 11 Jehovah Rapha

Meribeth Schierbeek

July 24, 2023

Comfort,Faith,Glory,Good,Healing,Heart,Know

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 15:22-27
Exodus 20:1-21
Matthew 9:1-8
Psalm 103:1-5
Isaiah 53

When I hear Jehovah Rapha, the Lord is our Healer, my mind goes immediately God’s revelation of Himself as He began to give His prophet, Moses, the ten commandments: 
“I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.”
(Exodus 20:2, emphasis mine) 

We see very quickly, as we consider our sin within light of the ten commandments, how desperately we need the spiritual healing of our Savior Jesus from our slavery to sin. (Romans 3:20) In fact, our spiritual healing began back in the garden of Eden, when God covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness and shame in their sin (Genesis 3:21), an early shadow of the righteous covering Jesus would bring. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Still today, our hearts are deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9-10) and we need Jehovah Rapha (Luke 6:17-19; Matthew 14:13-14; Mathew 8:16-17) to be wholly His and wholly healed.

As we understand spiritual healing, we also look to the physical healing most of us have desired for ourselves or a loved one. 

Our family has been in this place of longing for healing when my father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. Oh, how we prayed for his healing.  

A very special friend of all of our children, he was closest to our 15 year old son. I recall leaving a visit with him, turning to look at my son in the backseat of our car. What I saw broke my heart. His head was down, and his shoulders shook with sobs. He knew cancer was taking the man he loved so much. As his mom I was so concerned for his heart, his faith, and his trust in the Lord His God.   

From the time of diagnosis, we prayed, “Lord, we know You are the Healer and You will heal Grandpa here on this side of heaven or home with You.” 

Our desire was for healing to happen here.  
God’s answer was to call him home.  

Before he died, he was able to talk with our son. He told our son he was thankful for cancer because it drew him closer to the Lord…a testimony declaring healing begins and ends in the heart, even if it doesn’t heal the body. Jehovah Rapha did indeed minister in mercy to our beloved Grandpa. 

So often I find myself wanting healing from …
The pain of life. 
The emotional pain of a strained relationship. 
The physical pain of sickness.
The mental pain of trauma and past abuse.
What would you add to this list?

What happens when the healing of the pain we suffer falls short of our desires? 
Is Jehovah Rapha still our healer?  
Does His character change? 
(Hebrews 13:8)

As I grapple with these questions, I think of the story in the gospel of Matthew, when friends carried their sick neighbor to the healing hands of Jesus. (Matthew 9:1-8) I see so many types of healing in this short vignette!

To a lonely heart, one suffering under the cultural stigma of illness, the gift of friendship is like the healing touch of the Lord! 

After a lifetime of paralysis, how miraculous it must have been to receive the physical healing he so desperately desired! Imagine how this must have transformed nearly every area of his life, from his ability to work and achieve financial security to his relationships and his place within his community.

Finally, we see two spiritual healings, both in the forgiveness of the man’s sins and in verse 9, Matthew’s own willingness to immediately accept Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. In order for Matthew to become a disciple, he must have had a new heart desire to walk with God . . .  Healing the man’s legs was only the beginning of Jesus’ work here!

How often is this true in our lives, as well? We want Jehovah Rapha’s healing in one specific area, but God has abundantly more…He wants us to believe HE IS LORD, the I AM, giving us the healing we need.

Because of the redemptive work of Jesus, we can have hope that healings we don’t see manifest on earth will be brought to full completion in heaven. As we learned with my father-in-law’s journey, Jehovah Rapha is ever drawing us nearer to His heart, even through illness, and we can have faith in the perfect restoration of all things in the presence of Jesus. (Revelation 21:1-5)

As the psalmist declares,
“My soul, bless the LORD, 
And do not forget all his benefits.
He forgives all your iniquity;
He heals all your diseases.
He redeems your life from the Pit;
He crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
He satisfies you with good things;
Your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
(Psalm 103:1-5)

Sisters, how can you trust Him with your pain?

Whether you are struggling physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually,
whether healing comes now or in your earthly future or in heaven,
God is still your Jehovah Rapha, 
still with you in your hurting, 
still comforting you and sustaining you 
until He calls you home.

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Known Day 12
Digging Deeper

Forgiving our sins was so important that God sent His Son, Jesus, to take all our sins upon Himself on the cross (John 3:16) so that we would not have to face the penalty of death (Romans 6:23).

Confessing our sins and turning from them allows us to walk with God and experience His many blessings. God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift, for without it we could not experience all the richness of His grace as children of God (Romans 8:14-17).
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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121

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Known Day 10 Jehovah Rohi

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Known Day 10 Jehovah Rohi

Malinda Fugate

July 21, 2023

Character,Comfort,Fellowship,Good,Shepherd

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 23
John 10
Isaiah 40:10-31

It’s been awhile since I hung out with sheep. After trading a childhood in Ohio farmland for adulthood in Los Angeles, my opportunities to interact with livestock are limited. This makes it a little tough to connect with Scripture featuring animals and their keepers. However, the details of shepherding reveal some of God’s character, drawing us closer to His heart as we know Him better.

Before he was a war hero and king, David spent a lot of time herding sheep. I imagine sitting in quiet fields, watching the animals slowly graze, and looking up at wispy clouds pushed across the sky by a gentle breeze provided David with time to listen to God. Maybe David heard His voice as clearly as he heard birds sing and tree leaves rustle. David understood the Lord as the ultimate Shepherd, protecting and nurturing His beloved children much like David tended his flock with care. Divinely inspired, he penned a song to share God’s goodness with all the people. 

The lyrics of Psalm 23 take us to green pastures and still waters. We look to the Lord for guidance, provision, and security just like a lamb to her shepherd. In order to follow God this way, we must trust Him completely. After all, sheep are pretty helpless creatures. They require someone to take them to drink and eat. They need protection from predators, and if they’re sick or hurt, they can’t help themselves. Relying on a shepherd is essential. We also need the Lord desperately, whether we realize it or not. So many things are out of our control and abilities, and a shepherding God is essential.

We can trust Him completely because He’s good and loving. David wrote, “The Lord is good to everyone; His compassion rests on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9) The Lord is not merely A shepherd, He’s the GOOD Shepherd. David sings his psalms to tell us why. In the original Hebrew, Psalm 23 begins with David’s declaration of “Jehovah Rohi,” which means “the Lord my Shepherd.” The verses that follow explain a very personal relationship between David as a beloved sheep and God who tenderly cares for him. 

Though the original listeners would immediately relate to a life of tending flocks, we might need a bit of assistance. I’ve never walked in the sandals of an ancient Israelite, but God certainly demonstrates the care of a Shepherd in my modern life. Perhaps you see Him in yours, too. If we tried to write David’s psalm today, it might sound like this:

The Lord is my King and Guardian Caretaker; I have everything I need.
Even when I despair, He comes through and takes care of it all.
He leads me to His good blessings, whether they are basics like good food and clean water, or more complex as a loving community and purpose in Him.
He gives me rest and eases anxiety.
God guides every step and shows me the way to His goodness.
With His help, everyday decisions are stepping stones to fuller plans He has for me to proclaim His glory.
Even in difficulty and pain, I’m not afraid because God is right beside me. I know He will always protect me, therefore I feel safe.
This is how the Lord demonstrates His love for me, and everyone can see it’s true. His kind generosity encourages me so much my heart feels like it will overflow.
I’m confident God’s goodness and love will be with me forever,
and I will worship Him all the days of my life.

How has the Lord been a Good Shepherd to you?
Are you listening for His voice as David did?

In John 10, Jesus explained that His sheep know His voice. Back in the pasture, actual sheep know their shepherd so well they will follow his voice even if they are grazing among other flocks with other shepherds! The sheep spend so much time with the one who cares for them, they stick close by his side. 

Yet, Jesus goes even farther to express His love. He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) Unlike the limited devotion of a human shepherd, Christ died on the cross to cover the cost of our sin, then resurrected so we could be rescued from the power of sin and death, inviting us to eternity with Him. Imagine if a celebrated king walked out of his palace and into the fields to spend time with sheep because He was so concerned for their well-being. God is Jehovah Rohi– Lord Shepherd- the King of Kings who dwells among His children and covers us with His grace, mercy, and compassion. 

God’s character is richly complex, a multi-faceted tapestry beyond our comprehension. Yet, His love is also as simple as a Good Shepherd tending His flock, treasuring each precious sheep with great care. You are not merely one in a crowd, dear friend. You are uniquely cherished and beloved by the Good Shepherd. He will never leave you, and His goodness and faithful love will follow you, all the days of your life.

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