My Shepherd: Peaceful Streams
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." Psalm 23:2 NIV
Thoughts for Today
Peace? As we watch news reports from around the world, we see strife, turmoil, and uncertainty. When we consider the economic condition of the United States—and the world—we don't gain a sense of peace. In fact, it would be easy to respond in fear. Sometimes when we look at our own family, we feel anything but peace. Bickering, rebellion, failed marriages, overdue bills, sickness.
Often, we don't have any control over what is happening around us. And if we focus on those problems or try to fix them ourselves, we will only experience frustration, anger, and a sense of hopelessness—certainly not peace. We can only find peace by following our Shepherd. By focusing on him and his love. By trusting him.
Consider this. . .
God doesn't promise to remove all our problems, but he has promised to give us peace as we go through them. How is that possible? By trusting God and not ourselves. By remembering he is our Shepherd. He will take us through the problems and dangers. As we trust him, he will even help us grow through each situation. No matter what is happening around us, we will be able to "rest in green meadows" and walk "beside peaceful streams."
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Prayer
Dear Father, help me to stop worrying and start praying. Help me to stop focusing on problems and start focusing on you and your love. Help me to stop trusting myself and start trusting you. Thank you for all you have done. As I follow you, fill me with the peace that only you can give. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from. . .Knowing God My Father: Applying the Names of God to My Personal Life by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This curriculum is designed to help people strengthen their relationship with their heavenly Father by applying His names to their personal life. Along with helping Christians know God better, it can serve as an evangelistic tool by giving a true picture of God to people who may have a distorted view of Him because of an absent or abusive earthly father who did not or does not provide for them. This group can also help men who want to be better fathers. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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©Living Free 2018. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
