Living As Light

Category: the Lord is my Shepherd

  • Out of the depths my soul cries

    Psalm 130:3-4 ESV
    [3] If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? [4] But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.130.3-4.ESV

    Nahum 1:6-7 ESV
    [6]  Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. [7]  The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/nam.1.6-7.ESV

    Stronghold, refuge; we see these words often in the scriptures, especially in the Psalms, which are mostly prayers with accompanying music. In times of great struggles and trials, turning to God for comfort and strength. God ministers to us on the inside, in our hearts. He is our stronghold, our Rock, our refuge and strength. In Him we find safety and protection from the enemy that wars against our soul, attempting to rob our peace, kill our dreams and potential, and destroy us from the inside out.

    There is nothing so bad that God cannot forgive and lead us through. No matter how evil or wicked one thinks they are, God can forgive your past sins and cleanse your heart from the stains of iniquity.

    When life seems to have gotten the best of you, take refuge in Him, in God’s hands. He will shine His grace upon you. His mercies are new every morning, and great is His promise and His faithfulness. He will lead you like a Shepherd. He will provide for you and protect you. Trust in Him and His unfailing love. 

  • Take up your mighty shield of Faith!

    Psalm 64:10 ESV
    [10] Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.64.10.ESV

    Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
    [16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.6.16.NKJV

    I John 5:4-5 NKJV
    [4] For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.5.4-5.NKJV

    I John 2:13 NKJV
    [13] I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.2.13.NKJV

    I John 4:4 NKJV
    [4] You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.4.4.NKJV

    NLTPsalms 64:1-10 NLT
    [1] O God, listen to my complaint. Protect my life from my enemies’ threats. [2] Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. [3] They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. [4] They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. [5] They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. [6] As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning. [7] But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. [8] Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. [9] Then everyone will be afraid; they will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all the amazing things he does. [10] The godly will rejoice in the Lord and find shelter in him. And those who do what is right will praise him.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.64.1-10.NLT

    All day long the enemy is at work, attempting to infiltrate my mind with the fiery darts of the wicked one and his worldly schemes.

    His goal is to shake my faith and cause me to fear man and his twisted thoughts and words, and to doubt God and the promises of His word.

    The greatest enemies are my own thoughts in the hands of the evil one. The devil will use other people and outside influences to invade my territory and take control of my heart, mind and soul, zapping my strength as I lose focus on the Lord and His firm grip on me.

    Paul instructs the church in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God, which includes the shield of faith, with which we can quench the fiery darts of the enemy; those opposing thoughts, worldly philosophies, ideologies and mindsets; the strongholds of the world.

    When we raise our shield of faith, the enemy will not be able to penetrate that piece of armor, provided by the Holy Spirit living and working in me, that is, in my soul, at the core of my being.

    When we interlock our shield of faith with the shields of others, the enemy will be no match. When we stand together, as the Church, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we will be stronger yet, and be enabled by the Holy Spirit to love God and one another, as Jesus commands us to. This joining together fortifies and strengthens each of us, as we encourage and support each other in times of weakness and crisis.

    We will rejoice greatly as He hides us in the shadow and shelter of His wings. We will be enabled to walk uprightly and praise God in the presence of our enemies. That shield of faith is ours, because God freely provides it for the spiritual warfare we fight every day, knowing that the battle belongs to Him, and that in Him we have nothing short of victory in Jesus name!

  • The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need:Psalm 23:1

    Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
    [1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. [3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.23.1-6.NKJV

    Psalms 23:1 NIV
    [1] The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

    https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.23.1.NIV

    Isaiah 40:11 NLT
    [11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.40.11.NLT

    Psalms 78:52 NLT
    [52] But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.78.52.NLT

    Jeremiah 31:10 NLT
    [10] “Listen to this message from the Lord, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant coastlands: The Lord, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.31.10.NLT

    Ezekiel 34:11-12 NLT
    [11] “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep.

    [12] I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock.

    I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/ezk.34.11-12.NLT

    Jesus is the good shepherd

    John 10:11, 14 NLT
    [11]  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
    [14]  “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,

    https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.10.11-14.NLT

    1 Peter 2:25 NLT
    [25] Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.25.NLT

    Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
    [20] Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— [21] may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.13.20-21.NLT

    Psalms 34:9-10 NLT
    [9] Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. [10] Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.34.9-10.NLT

    The imagery of a shepherd leading his flock is used frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. Sheep are seen as simple, feeble, followers. They will follow whoever feeds them. They will keep on eating without paying attention to where they are going. Give them a hillside or field and they will wander, unless they have boundaries and a shepherd watching over them, feeding and protecting them from attacks of wild animals; wolves, foxes, etc.

    David, who is the writer of the 23rd Psalm, knew what a shepherd was from first hand experience. He was a shepherd boy when Samuel anointed him to be the king of Israel and the covenant bearer between God and Israel, as well as a prophetic type of Christ. In his bloodline there would always be a king, leading up to the coming Messiah, who will not only save His people from their sins, but lead them like a Shepherd, calling His lost sheep home and even leaving the 99 in the field, to go out and search for the sheep who have strayed and are lost.

    Here the Psalmist declared, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need, I lack nothing, I shall not be in want.” In other words, my God is the one who provides my every need, including my deepest needs.

    So often we are inclined to go after what we want and what we think we need and are entitled to, according to the world’s ways of thinking. From the time we are born, we are taught to provide for ourselves, to go after what we want, to be a go-getter. That is a noble thing. We should be able to use our own abilities to provide for ourselves and take care of our family and friends and our own needs. But often, need turns into greed, and we find ourselves lusting over that which we don’t have. Lust turns into coveting, which is one of the ten commandments; “thou shalt not covet.” Lusting and coveting go hand in hand. They are synonymous with one another. We lust for and covet what we do not have

    Declaring “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all I need” is the believers identifying, like David did, that God alone is my portion and my strength. I’m declaring within my heart, mind and soul, that Jehovah Jireh, God who provides, is watching over me. He will feed me, clothe me, shelter me. He is my provider, who will supply my every need. I will be satisfied with all He has provided. If there’s anything else that I need to I will wait for Him to provide.

    The Lord is my Shepherd

    The Lord is my portion

    I lack nothing that I need.

    Am I content with whatever God provides each day?

    Give us this day our bread for the day. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s bread and provision. Each day will bring its own portion. Be content with what you have and be thankful.

    1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT
    [6] Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.6.6-8.NLT

    Matthew 6:33 NLT
    [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.33.NLT