- He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2 – The imagery in the psalm is beautiful to all who read it. God, as our Shepherd, is leading us to places of refreshment and rest, for in a sheep’s perspective, places of still waters and green pastures would be the ideal place to be led. For many of us today, such places of refreshment and rest is what we are longing for and praying for. We’re pleading with God to remove us from the season we are currently in and to finally take us to our green pasture. Yet notice something about the what the Lord did in David’s green pastures. Yes, God led David there, but God also had to make him lie down there. Sheep have a bad habit of resisting resting and may simply walk right past the fresh food and water it was led to by the shepherd. So maybe, just maybe, the reason why God hasn’t moved us yet from a season, is because that season is the green pasture He is making us lie down in for a while. Am I saying that the hospital room you’re in, or the heartache you’re in, or the family meltdown you’re is peaceful and you should get over yourself? Not at all, but if the Lord isn’t moving you from there like you’re praying for, and He is making you remain there, then know even there you can find green pasture and still water in Him. For the Lord is the same whether you are in a hospital bed or a luxury resort. He is our refreshment and rest. Wherever then the Lord has made you lie down, even if it’s in a place you desire to be out of, know in Christ the peace you are looking for can still be found. Whatever “green pasture” the Lord has you remaining in, know you can always find all you need in Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2978
- The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1 – What we find in our life when we let God lead is the things we want. I’m not meaning this like some prosperity gospel thing, I’m talking about the things we all deeply want. Believer and non-believer are wanting purpose in life, hope that there is more to this existence than just existing, love and someone to share it with. These and so many more of the deep life desires we have God can satisfy and is the only one who can. So is He your Shepherd? If what you want is on His path, did you even think about walking down it today until now? It’s almost a new year, maybe it’s time for a new path. If you’ve been going your own path all this past year and still don’t have what you were looking for, try letting God lead in 2019 to see where His path will take you. Maybe you’ll find more than you expect. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 760
- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 – In this read through of psalms I’m seeing the truth this passage reveals to us over and over again. That God doesn’t often remove the enemy or remove us from the battle, but provides for us in the battle. The psalmist writes that while surround by enemies, possibly even in the middle of a battle, God takes the time and care to set a table up for him full of the provision he needs to keep going. Not only to meet his minimum needs either but to overflow him with blessing. So when we pray to be removed from a battle, yet Jesus’ answer is to instead overflow you with all you need to keep fighting, can we truly say He doesn’t love us or doesn’t care about us? Yes, the provision wasn’t what you asked for, but nevertheless provision came for you. Let’s choose to trust that if this is how God answers our prayers He knows this is what is truly best for us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1740
Daily DEVO 