God is our Shepherd who
cares for us as His own. He abundantly supplies all of our needs according to
His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He provides green pastures upon which we feed and revitalizing, quiet
water to quench our thirst. He gives us rest for and heals our weary soul. He
directs our steps in His way of holiness (Luke 22:42). He calls us to obey Him and to follow His
directives even when we have no idea of where He is leading us (Hebrews
11:8). He loves us and He gave His life
for us (Ephesians 5:2). He
never leaves us or forsakes us (1 Peter 5:7).
Although life is often out
of our control, it is never out of God’s control (Ephesians 1:11). When we are in pain, we cannot go around it. We have
to go through it. However, we do not walk alone. God is with us and in us,
bringing us comfort, peace and joy. No matter what trials await us, He is there
to shelter and provide for us. He encourages and protects us with His rod and
staff. His goodness and mercy surround each of our days. He honors us in front
of our enemies. He prepares a place in His Kingdom for us to abide forever (Psalm 23).
Tomorrow comes with no
guarantees. However, our confidence in
our Savior grows with each passing day. As we surrender our life to Him, He
proves His faithfulness to us. Our focus gradually changes from what He does
for us, to who He is. We rejoice not in His blessings, but in His blessedness.
His love frees us from the tyranny of fear and the bondage to our self-effort (1 John
4:18). He created nature to give us proof
of his eternal authority and divine character (Romans 1:20). Every newborn baby is a testimony of the miracle of
His creative forces in the earth.
God adopted us as His sons (Ephesians
1:5), and we are now His people and
members of His household (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19). We are strangers and aliens in this world (Hebrews
11:13). Our citizenship is in Heaven (John
17:16; Hebrews 11:16). We, along with
all of creation, eagerly await His return (Romans 8:19). Eventually, God will exchange our mortal body for an
immortal one like Jesus had after His resurrection (Philippians
3:19-21). Our bridegroom is preparing an
eternal home for us in the Heavenlies, which will descend to earth at the end
of the Millennium. New Jerusalem, a 1500-mile cubed city, will be our dwelling
place forever.
We never walk in darkness,
because we have the light of life living within us (John
8:12). We are children of the Light (John
12:36), and we are to walk as children
of the light (Ephesians 5:8).
Jesus within us continually leads us, even during times when we cannot see the
way, along unfamiliar paths upon which we never walked before. He turns the
darkness into light before us and makes the rough places smooth (Isaiah
42:16). He never leaves us or forsakes
us (Isaiah 42:16), and He is always
with us (Matthew 28:20).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You promised
that in You we will live in peace. No matter how much trouble we experience in
this world, we never need to loose heart. You live within us and You already
overcame the world (John 16:33). Everyone
experiences temptation, but because of Your sanctifying work, it no longer
holds any appeal to us. You are faithful and You keep us from any temptation,
which is beyond what we can withstand. Even in those times when we are tempted,
You always provide us with a way to escape it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Thought for the Day:
God
heals our broken heart and binds up our wounds. – Psalm 147:3Thank you, Donna's Corner, for the use of your photo.
