From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson
February 10
The Lord is My Shepherd
Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 23:1-6 | Exodus 30:11-31:18 | Matthew 26:47-68 | Proverbs 8:27-32
Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul, He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23: 1-3 NIV)
The Lord is our shepherd, our good shepherd, who cares for us. His aim is for our souls to be at rest and for our paths to be right and straight.
Jesus promises to take care of all the things that cause our soul to be restless, to be anxious, or disturbed. He promises to care for every need. He will bring comfort as he walks with us through difficult times. He is there with us even in the presence of our enemies.
The Shepherd desires rest for your soul. He wants to take you to quiet places beside the still waters, places of rest in green pastures. Yet in all of busyness—our hurrying and scurrying—we often resist the paths that will bring rest to our souls.
Your soul shrivels and dries up without sufficient times of rest that restore the soul. Find a quiet place and spend time with your good Shepherd. Allow him to restore your soul and “revive your drooping head” (vs 5, The Message).
Then follow the paths of righteousness, the paths of obedience. Your shepherd knows what is best. Obedience, too, brings rest to the soul.
Those who follow the lead of the shepherd can expect goodness and mercy to follow them all the days of their life; they can rest assured that his path will lead them to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
pastor jeff's neighborhood 