I AM: Discovering the Nature of Jesus!
Thursday, March 18, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being my Shepherd! Thank You for providing everything I need in life, all the material blessings as well as the new life of Jesus that He gave me at such a high personal cost to Himself. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit today, that I may live faithfully and obediently in every area of my life. God, show me what it means to be follow wherever you lead, and to hear and obey your voice whatever the situation and circumstance. I pray that even if I must walk through the dark valley of death today, that I will not be afraid, because of Your presence with me. I pray that as I live this day, my life will be a testimony to those who are “lost” and encouragement to those who are “found.” I ask You to be glorified in my life and actions today and always. These things I pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ, my risen Savior and Lord, and for the sake of His ever-advancing kingdom. Amen.
God's Word Today
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything 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 dark valley of death, 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 welcome me as a guest, 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.
Reflecting on God's Word
What would it be like to go through your life without having the Lord as your shepherd?
When was the last time you stopped to consider how dependent you are on God?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
Taking a closer look at the shepherd metaphor in Psalm 23, what are the specific promises to the “sheep” in 23:1-4?
What other image(s) from the culture of King David’s day is (are) used in today’s reading? (23:5)
What role does God take toward us when it comes to seeing that we come to know Him? (23:6)
Understanding God's Purpose
What difference does it make to you to know that God “pursues” you in your life?
What is the most important thing You learn about God and His purpose for your life from today’s Scripture?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What one thing do you need to do today as a result of reading Psalm 23 again?
Thoughts...Pursued By God!
In the New Living Translation of the Bible, Psalm 23:6 reads, “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.” This is actually much more accurate than the KJV which reads, “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, since the Hebrew verb does mean PURSUE. How does that make you feel to know that God is PURSUING you, and will pursue you every day of your life? Isn’t that a great comfort? When we feel that God is far away, we can be certain that it is we who have moved and not God. He is out to get us—in the good sense of that phrase. He will never give up the pursuit. Whether we want to be found or not, God is looking, searching, seeking us, and if we do want to be found, we can be sure that He is there! As we go about this day, let’s remember that the “Hound of Heaven” is on our trail! He is pursuing us with everything He has. May we be willing to be found, that we may, as King David, dwell in the house of the Lord—forever!
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