THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2022

Shepherding is the right means or process by which we receive all and everything we require from God, through the limitless provision which is in Christ. In Him we can access or receive all we need.

Reference: Psalm 23 New International Reader's Version (NIRV) "The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters."

Psalm 23 is a special Psalm of David who acknowledges the Lord as his shepherd. Shepherd in latin means "Pastor." David here refers to the pastoral ministry of the Lord, Christ, which relates to His shepherding and His role of caring for sheep.

In pastoral ministry of Christ, He gives us everything we need, just like David admitted. Everything about the Lord's shepherding involves protection, tending to physical and spiritual needs, strengthening, encouragement, feeding the sheep, making provision, shielding, empowering, refreshing, restoring, leading, comforting and guiding in the right path. The meaning of "He gives me everything I need", according to David, suggests supernatural, abundant supply. In other words, our direct connection to the Shepherd is an opportunity to lack nothing.

Now watch this: How does a shepherd make all the above necessities available to the sheep? By letting them lie down in fields of green grass or pastures. To lie down in green pastures is to relax and remain stable or fixed in the Word. It is to abide in the Word with your spiritual eyes wide open, meaning that you are fully alert, receiving the nourishments and comfort of the Scriptures. The Bible says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7 ESV).

By considering the phrases "abide in me", and "my words abide in you", Jesus the good Shepherd is asking us to remain stable and constant in our relationship to Him, as well as lie down in His Word and ensure the regular intake. Once we are able to rest in the Word, we can properly feed on its pastures. There are levels and degrees of feeding on green pastures as sheep and there are differences of skill and earnestness in such consumption, depending on the sheep. This is why 2 Timothy 2:15 reads, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (KJV). Simply put, green pastures need correct handling and application as we feed on it. Moreover, by feeding on the Word, every provision is possible and every need is supplied.

David also talked about the Shepherd leading him beside quiet waters. Now this is the work of the Holy Spirit as we engage His leading. He is the One that leads us beside calm or quiet waters, as we submit and yield to His guidance. We must never ignore the truth that He leads us beside the "quiet" waters, not troubled waters. This indirectly suggests that He leads us to drink from the quiet waters. John 4:14 (NKJV) says, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Moreover Notice the word, "beside", which denotes "at the side of; or next to." That means, He sustains our focus, direction and apt attention as we follow His calm and peaceful leading beyond disturbances.

The world around us can be full of noises and distractions that can keep even a committed person away from grasping the right spiritual information or truth through maintained focus. But we thank the Lord that He provided the means for us to always focus on Him through His shepherding. If we can yield to the Holy Spirit, He voice is always whispering into our ears, speaking to our hearts and leading us alongside quiet waters. He is always there to lead you even when you seem distracted by any concern or confusion, and when you are too busy for Him.

Although He always shows us the way, He does so by His prompting voice, and if we choose to follow His voice, we must turn off all distractions that interrupt His flow and then sharpen our focus. Isaiah 30:21 says, "Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left" (NLT). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 34:10; Ezekiel 34:14; Matthew 11:28; Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3.

Guided Prayer: Thank you Lord for your abiding Word in me which is a life-giving bond to me. I'm a branch connected to Christ, the vine. I have everything I need because the economy of the Kingdom supplies all my needs according to your riches in glory. By engaging the realities of the Word and being effectively desirous of them, I'm fruitful, abundantly supplied and supremely blessed; thus all from the pastures are beneficial to my Christian faith, in Jesus' Name, Amen!