If you can, read Psalm 23. Most of us can probably quote it, but take a minute to look over it again. Read it while putting yourself in a moment in time that you were desperate to God. Pray this psalm, it is powerful. God conceived it in his mind, the Holy Spirit inspired it, to show us how much God cares for those who follow Him.
Such a powerful Scripture. My parents had me memorize it when I was younger, and it has never left me. In my darkest moments of worry and doubt, I find this Passage making its way to the surface if my mind. God is my shepherd, as a sheep follows the shepherd, so am I to follow the True and righteous shepherd. No matter life's rumbles and jolts, I can trust my creator and my savior. God longs to be my shepherd, to lead me, to be the one that I look to for direction and guidance. To follow his beckon an call alone. A sheep only follows the voice that he is accustomed to. When I dig down deep into the word of God and spend time in prayer, I am becoming accustomed to Gods voice, and turning to him for guidance. He loves that!
He makes lie down in green pastures. He provides peace in my unrestlessness. He is my stronghold to which I turn when life seems to be turning upside down. Just as a sheep can rest easy knowing that its shepherd is so close, so can I rest in the assurance that my shepherd will never leave me not forsake me! Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with me!
There is a valley in the desert in Judah, that one can encounter that casts deep shadows on the land. So deep and dark, that when one walks through it, they cannot even perceive what they will encounter. Whether it be bandits, wild animals, or flood waters, it is impossible to see ahead. But my God says that even when I am in the deepest of darkness in my life, where I cannot even perceive what is happening, I'm lost and clueless, HE IS There! I have nothing to dear, for my God is with me. He guides me, and leads me, with comfort and peace. His rod and his staff comfort me in my darkest moments of life.
A shepherd inBible times would carry 2 "sticks" with him, One was a "rod". A rod is a short club. This club was used as a weapon of defense against enemies and approaching prey. It also was used as a disciplining instrument for the sheep. This club was both a weapon for defense and an instrument of discipline. The second "stick" that shepherds carried was his "staff". This staff is what you see all shepherds in movies carrying around. A long slender stick with a hook on the end. This instrument was used to pull sheep in close to the shepherd. It was also used to guide the sheep in the right path to go, as well as rescue it from trouble. The staff was used to comfort, guide, and protect. I believe that the true shepherd today uses the Word of God a his rod and staff. It is a weapon of defense against the enemy as temptation is thrown our way. We defend ourselves, and go on the offensive by quoting scripture back in the enemies face. The Word of God is an instrument of discipline, as we read Scripture, we feel the nudge of the spirit to change. We feel God convicting us through his Inspired Word. By reading this love letter written by God, we also find comfort in his sovereignty and and assurance of salvation. We see the heartbeat of God and his passion to reach the lost, how desperate he is to have a relationship with us. We read the Bible for Gods direction in our lives, for guidance in how to live, act, and react. We memorize scripture and quote scripture to protect us from the evils of this world. There is something about being in the middle of incredibly dangerous and "all odds against you" situations, and simply trusting God and quoting his word despite what your flesh tells you to do. Gods word is the rod and staff that comforts me when I am at my lowest. Just being in his presence changes me.
My God is with me wherever I go, whatever I face. When I follow my shepherd through the good, bad, ugly, etc. of my life, one day I will be able to spend eternity with Him! I will "dwell in the House of The Lord forever." Thank you Jesus!
Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."
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