Psalm 23:1---The Lord is my Shepherd I shall now want. (The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.)
At times, there is a disparity between what I actually have and what God says I have. I'm sure Job felt that way too when he lost his children and everything he owned. Anyone who has lost their home in a tornado or hurricane or lost their home spiritually through death or divorce have come up "wanting."
So what does the Lord is my shepherd I shall lack nothing mean? It means that God is God and Job realized that when he heard God's voice after going through a battle with losing everything that God was still God in his life even when he had nothing.
God is God even when I don't have a dime in my pocket. Its the same thing that Habakkuk said. I will rejoice that God is God and I serve the living God.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights Habakkuk 3:17-19
I had a dream that I walking down this very dark road and I started becoming afraid. I heard this voice and it said, “Mary.” All of a sudden there was all this peace and comfort when I heard my name called. I believe that was Jesus who called my voice. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice."
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-29
David spent a lot of time in the shepherd fields with God and I’ve spent a lot of alone time with God in seeking him. As that voice that brought me comfort, it’s God’s voice in my life that brings me comfort now and understanding his will for my life.
His voice teaches us what to do in our lives and like David said he leads us in the right paths in life. He guides me in the right paths.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
We are to "test" and "approve" the will of God in our lives. Like Jesus said to pray "Your will be done on earth as in heaven." We know there is no murder in heaven, no sickness or disease, there is no ill will to our neighbor. Praying "His kingdom come, His will be done in our lives."
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. Romans 12:2
I find it's a "daily" acknowledging God in all my ways and he will direct my paths. My daughter Hannah and I were talking about how at times we have been attacked when we have tried to help people. She was trying to encourage someone who had a birthday it was when she was held up at her apartment at gunpoint by thieves who wanted to steal her car and get money. Since someone was just shot and killed this last week at her apartment complex, she is currently staying in a hotel.
I went to encourage someone who lost his mother when a dump truck got in front of my car and threw a rock the size of a baseball and broke my windshield.
In all your ways submit (acknowledge) to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6
I don't quite understand when you try to do something good that it backfires in our face, but I told her God's word says to keep doing good, and not let the enemy discourage us from helping and encouraging others because it backfires on us. I've had a number of times I reached out to help a person and it backfired on me. It says that God is pleased with this sacrifice. I know the enemy wants me to be selfish and back off from doing good. I've seen other people get discouraged and quit helping others.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
What I attribute this to is that the Bible says that bad times are coming and as Christians, we will be affected by those bad times as far as wicked and evil men in this world. I had the tire stolen underneath my SUV in my driveway. A thief cut the cable and stole my tire. A faculty at my work had his catalytic converter stolen underneath his car in the daylight at work. When famine came in Egypt, Jacob's family was provided for but they left their country to live in Egypt because of seven years of famine. Jesus warned that thieves break through and steal on this earth.
It says that "he prepares a table in the presence of my enemies." So these are some of the enemies in life which is discouraging us to help and reach out to people before we get to the "goodness and mercy."
Sometimes reaching out our hand to the poor is a "stretch" of faith as a single mother when our own needs can be so great.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
At times, there is a disparity between what I actually have and what God says I have. I'm sure Job felt that way too when he lost his children and everything he owned. Anyone who has lost their home in a tornado or hurricane or lost their home spiritually through death or divorce have come up "wanting."
So what does the Lord is my shepherd I shall lack nothing mean? It means that God is God and Job realized that when he heard God's voice after going through a battle with losing everything that God was still God in his life even when he had nothing.
God is God even when I don't have a dime in my pocket. Its the same thing that Habakkuk said. I will rejoice that God is God and I serve the living God.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights Habakkuk 3:17-19
I had a dream that I walking down this very dark road and I started becoming afraid. I heard this voice and it said, “Mary.” All of a sudden there was all this peace and comfort when I heard my name called. I believe that was Jesus who called my voice. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice."
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-29
David spent a lot of time in the shepherd fields with God and I’ve spent a lot of alone time with God in seeking him. As that voice that brought me comfort, it’s God’s voice in my life that brings me comfort now and understanding his will for my life.
His voice teaches us what to do in our lives and like David said he leads us in the right paths in life. He guides me in the right paths.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
We are to "test" and "approve" the will of God in our lives. Like Jesus said to pray "Your will be done on earth as in heaven." We know there is no murder in heaven, no sickness or disease, there is no ill will to our neighbor. Praying "His kingdom come, His will be done in our lives."
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. Romans 12:2
I find it's a "daily" acknowledging God in all my ways and he will direct my paths. My daughter Hannah and I were talking about how at times we have been attacked when we have tried to help people. She was trying to encourage someone who had a birthday it was when she was held up at her apartment at gunpoint by thieves who wanted to steal her car and get money. Since someone was just shot and killed this last week at her apartment complex, she is currently staying in a hotel.
I went to encourage someone who lost his mother when a dump truck got in front of my car and threw a rock the size of a baseball and broke my windshield.
In all your ways submit (acknowledge) to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6
I don't quite understand when you try to do something good that it backfires in our face, but I told her God's word says to keep doing good, and not let the enemy discourage us from helping and encouraging others because it backfires on us. I've had a number of times I reached out to help a person and it backfired on me. It says that God is pleased with this sacrifice. I know the enemy wants me to be selfish and back off from doing good. I've seen other people get discouraged and quit helping others.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
What I attribute this to is that the Bible says that bad times are coming and as Christians, we will be affected by those bad times as far as wicked and evil men in this world. I had the tire stolen underneath my SUV in my driveway. A thief cut the cable and stole my tire. A faculty at my work had his catalytic converter stolen underneath his car in the daylight at work. When famine came in Egypt, Jacob's family was provided for but they left their country to live in Egypt because of seven years of famine. Jesus warned that thieves break through and steal on this earth.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 2 Timothy 3:1-3
It says that "he prepares a table in the presence of my enemies." So these are some of the enemies in life which is discouraging us to help and reach out to people before we get to the "goodness and mercy."
Sometimes reaching out our hand to the poor is a "stretch" of faith as a single mother when our own needs can be so great.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
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