Psalms 23

The Lord is my Shepherd… that means he is watching, protecting and loving you. At night the Shepherd lays across the opening of the sheep fold to ensure the enemy doesn’t get to His precious sheep. 

He loves you beyond your comprehension. “I shall not want”… says He is all you need. Say this scripture out loud as often as you need to remind yourself and your enemy that you and your kids are a child of God! Talk to Jesus and let Him know you rededicate your life to Him. The scriptures will save you! The devil took Jesus upon a high mountain and tempted him. Every time Jesus’ response was “It is written!” The Word of God (The Bible) will defeat the enemy every time!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. This is  where the Shepherd is. A place green with abundance. A place where I shall not want. A place of security and peace under the watchful eye of the Shepherd. Who by the way has already given his life for yours. The enemy doesn’t want you to see the green abundance. He wants you to be focused on the storm. In Matthew 14 (go read it) Peter stepped out of the boat in faith but begin to look at the tumultuous wind and waves. He took his eyes off of his Savior and onto the distraction. He started to sink in the wind and waves, panic set in and he cried out reaching for the Master of the wind and waves hand. Jesus walked him back to the boat while the storm raged around them. When they were back in the ship the wind and waves stood still. The abundance we have isn’t in earthly things but in our Redeemer, our Deliverer, our Hope! You and your family have hope! Not only in this life but in the life to come. Jesus is our saving Hope. The enemy says look at the waves and the wind. The enemy says you are going down and will never recover but Hope says reach out to the Master! What I feel right now writing this is incredible Hope!!!! I can’t even describe it! The words are flowing and aren’t coming from me! Jesus is sending you a lifeline! You and your family do have Hope! You can have Peace! The enemy is telling you a lie! John 16:24 says we can ask in His name and you shall receive “that your joy may be full”. Your joy is in the Shepherd. Your peace is in the Shepherd. Just say a simple prayer. I know you have prayed many times and it seems nothing happened but I am here to tell you this word from God himself says do it one more time in Jesus name! Put your trust in the Shepherd! He then will lead you beside still waters. Did you know that sheep won’t/can’t drink from moving water? The water has to be still. Interesting! He finds that “still water “ place for you guaranteeing your survival. And the scripture says He leads me…. Indicating I’m following! How powerful is that!!! I put my eyes back on the Master and not on the paralyzing storm around me! Not minimizing the nature of the storm and its effects on me but now I am letting the Shepherd lead me! Say a simple prayer “ Jesus I need you to make me to lie down in green pastures and lead me beside the still waters. You are my Hope and I am reaching out to you!”

Following Him causes Him (Jesus) to “restore “ my soul. Restore in this setting means to reset or even to rescue. The Shepherd resets and rescues our soul. We are rescued from the lies and deceptions of the enemy of our soul. Lucifer was the highest ranking angel. He was the worship leader of heaven. His very garments reflected the glory of the Almighty God. But he started telling himself the lie that he could be god. And he believed his very own lie! He was cast out of heaven into everlasting damnation. His top priority is to steal(our very souls), kill (our Hope and confidence in the love of Jesus) and eternally destroy us so that we will be forever damned like him. But we have Hope! When we follow the Master, He leads us in paths of righteousness or right things for his names sake! Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou (God) will keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee (God) because we trust in God. Trust ye in the Lord forever. For in the Lord, Jehovah is everlasting peace. Yea though I walk. Yea here is furthermore. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Our Hope here is the things that threaten to kill us are just shadows for the folks that get connected to Jesus. A shadow can’t hurt you. A shadow usually appears larger than the real thing. A shadow is dark and lots of things can hide in the dark. Our imagination ruins wild with scary images in our head of what is there. But turning on the light always, always, always dispels the darkness! Jesus is the light and when we follow Him with our whole heart we become that light! Which means you don’t have to fear the shadows any longer!! Praise God!!! I can’t survive without Jesus! Matthew chapter 5 says when we choose Him (Jesus” we become the “Light” of the world. No darkness can overcome light. NEVER, EVER!! If you don’t believe me go light a teeny tiny match in a dark room. When you allow Jesus to make you a light then you don’t have to fear the darkness anymore. The dark, evil has no hold on you anymore. You are the light. Fear no longer has a hold on you! Psalms 23:4 for Thy rod and thy Staff they comfort me! The rod is meant for the enemy and it keeps me safe! Thy staff pulls me back from the brinks of disaster I get myself into. Thy staff saves me from my own faults and failures. Thy rod and the staff comfort me telling me that I can rest in the storm He’s got me!! The disciples in a boat in the midst of the raging sea cried out in fear. They woke Jesus from sleep afraid they were going to perish. Mark 4:39 But Jesus simply said “peace, be still” . The wind ceased and there was a great calm. You and I know the Master of the wind!

A table is prepared for those of us who choose to set our eyes on the answer not the problem. The table is set in the presence of our enemies. The enemies that say we can’t make it. The enemies that whisper how big your storm is. The enemy that says you’ll never be whole again. 

The tables are prepared as a testimony to all of those that have seen the battle. Even for them that have prayed and hoped for you. The table magnifies your God! The table proves you know the master of the universe and He knows you! The table destroys your enemies. The table builds faith and declares hope for all who see. The table is your testimony for all the world to see! Jesus brought me through it all. He is my anchor! He anoints my head with oil! Oil to a sheep’s heads protects from bot flies and disease. The oil is poured as a protection! He anoints my head with oil! He is my protector! He will keep me! My cup running over! The blessings of the Lord are overflowing! They overwhelm me with joy! Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Goodness = good things. No more darkness. Mercy= when I make a mistake or when I stumble in my relationship with Jesus I have confidence that Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I pledge to dwell, to sit down, to settle in the house, the shelter of the Lord forever!

Prayer for today: Lord today begins a new chapter in my life not only for myself but my family as well. Please cover me and my family with the blood of Jesus which is my protection. Put a hedge of protection around us and let Your Word speak to us. I open my heart and mind up to the Word of God and pray to get closer to you. Give me courage to be obedient to your Word. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!