Let The Sheppard

I have been instructing a writer’s camp for children and after the first week I got sick. It was Friday and all of a sudden, I was sick. At the same time the ministry God placed upon my heart was being attacked. The enemy was out to get me and destroy my perspective of what my Sheppard, the Lord has been establishing within me.

I had another week to instruct the children so I thought I have to do something for a speedy recovery. I finally decided to go to the doctor and I sat down. I did absolutely nothing during the weekend but pray, rest and pray some more.

On Sunday, I began to feel better and I was able to go on through the next week. I had to continue to call on God because in my Spirit I knew it was deeper but I could not put my hands on it. I found myself totally dependent on God for each day knowing a spiritual battle was taking place. As I knelt to pray today, I prayed to the Sheppard.

I was drawn to Psalm 23; most people learn this psalm as a child. I never understood it as a child.

It says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

As I have grown, I am learning more of what David was really saying. I imagine David saying “My Sheppard can meet my spiritual needs and so much more.” As your life feels like it is strenuous the Sheppard can restore your soul.

When you feel like you can go no longer and your soul is dry look to God to make you lie down. Maybe you are in a dry season as God is positioning you to a place of rest. Sometimes our Sheppard crafts a circumstance that makes you give up all of your ability to fix whatever has drained your life, so you are completely resting on Him. Possibly you are in a circumstance you can’t get out of it is because you are not suppose to be doing the fixing.

God presents to us our insufficiency by our faults. God is saying sit down so He can restore you from what is draining you. Our Sheppard is sufficient but when we refrain from yielding and continue to go on and on our soul is not being restored by our Sheppard.

If you are trying to tally up enough money to pay your house note, opening up your piggy bank in hopes for just enough for gas for the day, running to your bed to rest for a moment and do it all over again perhaps you are drained. As you look around can you continuously see how insufficient you are? Do you seek God as you are on your way to your next destination hoping He will shine some light so you can make it through?

Consider your insufficiency alerting you to lie down in His green pastures. Allow the Sheppard to restore you in the midst of His green pastures and stop looking at the still water and let Him pour the living water in you. Ask God to halt your thoughts. Pray to the Father to make you weak so He may give your soul what it has been thirsting. For God is able.