The Good Shepherd Ps. 23

Before you read this post, you should read Psalm 23:1-4. Here, I'll make it easy for you:

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. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, or you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.

Now for some Questions to Ponder:

Am I in want?
If so, why?
valuing things of this earth more than the promises of the Lord

Is your soul restored?
Or are you constantly seeking/searching ways in which to fill it?

Are you walking in paths of righteousness?

Are you allowing yourself to be lead or are you desperately trying to find your own way?

Are you fearful?
Do you truly believe HE is with you? (Josh.1:9)

Do the Lord's rod and staff comfort you?
Are you heeding His direction and realizing the comfort it brings as opposed to your attempts to bring comfort to your own life?

And now for some of my thoughts:

In order for me to have a Good Shepherd, there is first the step of saying, "Ok, I am your sheep. And on my own, I'm lost, helpless, and in need of you, the Good Shepherd."

Once this step of realization that you need a Savior occurs, and that you are willing to be lead instead of leading, He appears out of the dark forest, or vaelley, or cliff or wherever it is you've found yourself. And he comes to your aid,. To rescue, save, restore, and lead you into better places, brighter places, and away from the wolves of the world.

But the point is, there would be no reason for living life if we didn't receive a free will. Otherwise, we'd just all do what God wants and be in heaven already. But our God is relational, even human (Jesus), and He wanted us to choose Him as He chose us. So here we are, sheep in a dangerous world. Will we continue to try and make it by our lonesome and fall further into the snares of this owrld, or will we surrender our will, realize our neediness, and ask to be the follower intead of the the leader?

There is a Good Shepherd, but He won't rescue us from this world, from ourselves, until we ask Him to. Cry out to your Savior.