The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Psalm 23: 1-3 [ESV]
So we have reached Friday and are starting the ‘last lap’ before the weekend. It seems appropriate, then, that we should look at a part of a Psalm that focuses on rest. Just as Psalm 100 reminded us on Monday that we are God’s folk, his flock and his priority is to pasture us, here we are reminded that God’s love for us longs to lead us to green pastures. His wish is to restore our souls. The question is, will we let God be our shepherd? Or, do we rebel by insisting on continual business? Do we allow the world to force us into continual business? Are we prepared to stand our ground and take time out with God?
There can be times in our lives, like when we are young parents, when it is very hard to get any time out with God at all. In these times, help has to be asked for, if it is not offered. Don’t be frightened to do that as it is a right and godly request to make.
You don’t have to be a qualified vet to understand that sheep who never graze on green pastures won’t be healthy animals. The same is true of us. So, I have a question for you to think and pray about. What/where is your green pasture? Where is the place that God gives you refreshment? I say pray and think because sometimes the things that we think of as our green pastures may not be places of wholesome refreshment at all. For example, God can feed and pasture our inner beings through a meal and a drink out with family and friends. But, if that is the only place where we find relaxation then something is wrong. As a guide I would say that green pastures will, for some, be places of solitude with God (prayerful painting or model making perhaps). They will also be places (for everyone at times) of community, laughter and fellowship, ideally with other Christians. Have a blessed weekend.
Click on the link below to hear a modern setting of the Psalm and use it to fuel your prayers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4tPkX0MG0
If I have been boring you all week and Psalms aren’t your thing at the moment, then thank you for staying with it and now click on the link below if you want to hear Guvna B’s latest “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”. Its great!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXFcxcgLB9I
John Martin-Jones
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