Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  ² He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.  ³ He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.  ⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  ⁵ You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.  ⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”  NLT

As I prayed, read, and pondered the Word of God today, my heart was moved with the intricate care and keeping of the LORD!  In Psalm 23, a powerful reminder of who God is and who we are provides hope of total victory in the darkest of times.

For us to become all that God has declared us to be and walk it out in our lives, we must come to the place where we know who we are in Him.  That involves intimacy with Him.  It is not a cliché, “I am the Lord’s.”   It is embracing and experiencing His person, nature, character, love, grace, and trustworthiness in our lives.

For us to become all that God has declared us to be and walk it out in our lives, experiencing the provisions He has made available, we must reach a place that we understand, recognize, and embrace His Covenant.  As we know, God’s Covenantal Promises and Provisions, we are able to implement them in our lives and live in complete peace and confidence.

For us to become all that God has declared us to be and walk it out in our lives, we must realize that we are sheep.   We need a Shepherd, and our Shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ! He is our total supply, and we are dependent sheep!

In Psalm 23, there is a dimension that too often seems to be missed.  In the Valley He Restores Our Souls!  That is a wonderful truth, but the disturbing reality that our souls need to be restored is troubling for many. Man, although he expresses his inadequacy in words, in action, and heart, seems to believe that he is good and somehow his personal goodness will buy favor with God.

We all need our souls restored!  We all need a shepherd! We all need a savior! We all need to be transformed!  We all find ourselves on the Ash Heap of Life and need to be rescued!  None of us is capable of handling what life hurls at us in our own strength, willpower, ability, or determination. We need JESUS!

Just as Jesus declared, “Behold I stand at the door and knock” to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:20, He is standing at the door of our hearts today. He wants to be our Savior and our LORD!   He wants to be our Shepherd and our Guide!  He wants to be our example and enable and equip us to become who He has declared us to be.

Today is our day to become more than conquerors in experience, not just in theory!  It is time to rise from the Ash Heap of Life and roar with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! I declare today a day of victory!

Have a fantastic day in the LORD and become all He has designed and desired you to be!

1 Peter 5:5-9 – “In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ⁶ And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand ⁷ by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be sober and alert. Your enemy, the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was once again blown away by it.  What a book we have.  You can read it hundreds of times and still find fresh revelation, new encouragement, and inspiration each time.  It is food that sustains and water that keeps us alive. It is THE WORD of GOD!  It is a way God speaks directly to us individually and collectively.

In 1 Peter 5:5-9, the Holy Spirit deposited in my heart, spirit, and mind something wonderful (to me).  Humility!  It is something we lose the moment we think we have it.  Humility is self-effacing. Humility is a requirement for promotion in the Kingdom of God.  Humility keeps everything in proper perspective.  It is Christ “in” us, “through” us, and “with” us.  God is always first, and love is our fuel.

Here’s what I heard in my spirit, heart, and mind as I read: Humility brings God’s presence.  God’s presence brings us the peace of God. The peace of God protects us.

I Peter 5:5 – “God is opposed (resists) the proud, but gives grace (divine favor and supernatural enablement to the humble.”  Humility is totally dependent on God.  Humility is unconcerned with credit or recognition. Humility has one objective – God’s will and purpose being enjoyed by others.

1 Peter 4:8-11 gives us understanding that love acts, love serves, and love loves. No passivity in love!  Think of how deeply we are loved. That alone is motivation enough to seek to live in obedience to God’s desire!  Putting off or aside everything that does not bring Him honor.  Loving with His love enables us to resist temptation and humbly serve Him and others. Being humble before God is easy (He is God).  Being humble before others is hard because they are flesh like us.  Therefore, we need to see Christ “in” them and serve Him “in” them.

Don’t pray for humility.  Be humble by seeing Him!  The only comparison we are to ever to make is JESUS!  How do we compare to Him?  Remember, He is “in” us, and the life we now live is His.  If we desire to live as Christians, let 1 Peter 3:10-12 be our guide.

• Action: verse 10-11.
• Motivation: verse 12.

Father, help us to live a life of humility so we can live a life of power!

James 2:13 –“For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was repeatedly challenged and reminded of the danger of a ‘Critical Spirit.”  Each of us has an image or definition of criticism.  However, what I had impressed upon my heart was that our definition is too limited and restrictive.  We gloss over things that are doorways for demons.  Things that are the fruit of a critical spirit.

James 2:13 gives an alarming warning that we dare not gloss over. “For judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”  A critical spirit is merciless.  It focuses on the problem, error, sin, or failure.  We forget that our words (of judgment and criticism) reflect the condition of our hearts.

We talk about constructive criticism, but that is usually a license to criticise. It is usually more about tearing down another to elevate ourselves and appear more holy and righteous.

James 3:14-18 reveals that the root of a critical spirit is in jealousy and selfish ambition.  In the mind of the critic, the criticism is justified and even required to keep truth safe and do one’s duty.  However, it is a gateway for demons!  James 4:11 gives a needed revelation and warning.  Read it, digest it, and avoid the spirit of criticism!

God’s desire is restoration!  Our ministry is reconciliation, not alienation.  If we keep in mind that only by grace are we kept from error.  Only by grace are we pardoned.  Only by grace are we sanctified.  If we allow a critical spirit to consume us, grace will not be able to live in us.

We do not ignore sin, but we always remember that, but for the grace of God, the errant one could be us.  A critical spirit blocks blessings, opens the door for the demonic, and hinders our prayers.   James 5:19-20 is our goal.

LORD, help us to avoid a Critical Spirit!

Exodus 33:13 – “Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, how God answers questions filled my thoughts.  I am not saying I have a formula or set of rules for how God answers our questions, but I saw an interesting pattern in Exodus 33.

In Exodus 33:13, Moses asked to know God’s Ways.  He asked so that he could know (understand, have a relationship with, and please God).  If we don’t know God’s nature and character, we have no clue what pleases Him or His purpose.  It is hard to serve if you don’t know the who, what, or why!

God’s response was (verse 14), “My presence shall go with you, and give you rest.”   Moses asked about “Ways,” and God promised “Presence!”  It is His presence that reveals His character and purpose.  Therefore, to know (truly know) the ways, purpose, and character of God, we have to spend time in His presence.

In Exodus 33:18, Moses asked, “Show me Your Glory.”  God responded in verse 19, “My goodness will pass before you and proclaim My name.”   Wait? How does goodness proclaim?  That gives personality to goodness.  It makes the goodness a person.   Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness. “  That gives personality to the kingdom and makes it a person.   If we are to know God’s ways and see His glory, we must have His presence.   

God’s way of answering many questions is an invitation into His presence. In His presence, there is revelation.  In His presence, there is peace.  In His presence, we are transformed, and out of that transformation, we become!  If you have questions, instead of focusing on the questions, seek Him!  In knowing Him, we find clarity to our questions because in Him, all the questions of life have an explanation.  It is not detailed answers we need. It is HIM!

Teach us Your Ways by leading us into Your Presence!

Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, the thought of reality filled my consciousness.   Tragically, it is possible to want something so badly that we deceive ourselves into believing it is a promise from God. Still, it is a diversion of the devil to keep us from being and doing what God purposed for us.

Jesus totally yielded His life to the Father.  He said, “Not My will, but Thine be done.”   In Exodus 20, we have the Ten Commandments.  In verse 17, we have the last commandment, which gets to the heart of it all. Covetousness!

God is always focused on the heart!  In the heart is the “want to.”  Jesus addressed that in the Gospels.  Beyond the act is the want to.  It is the “want to” that reveals the condition of the heart.  We do not murder, but we hate (want to).  We empower or employ the devil by not fully embracing the Cross.  If we make the purpose of God contingent upon some event, we rob ourselves. Our trust becomes something other than God.

If we do not fully embrace the finality of the Cross, we allow the enemy to be reemployed. Hebrews 2:14, Jesus rendered the devil powerless (unemployed the devil).  We can live life in God’s fullness and deal with an unemployed devil IF we give God our want to.   God is less concerned with our acts than our desires (the want to).

Hebrews 4:2 reveals that knowledge of the Bible is valueless if it is not coupled with faith.

• Faith is an action word. 
• Faith acts! 
• Faith receives! 
• Faith embraces! 
• Faith motivates us to be transformed!
• Faith yields!

Just wanting something to be true does not make it true!