The shepherd’s love causes me to rest, and also to move. He causes me to lie down in the pasture, and urges me forward on the path in spite of my reluctance. He knows the limits of my strength, and he knows the path ahead.
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Scripture
Psalm 23:1-3
“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.”
Observation
“He makes me lie down in green pastures” – Why?
Evidently, because the sheep doesn’t always know when a rest is needed.
“He leads me in paths of righteousness…” – Why?
Because a sheep at rest doesn’t always recognize when it’s time to start moving again.
Application
God knows what I need, long before I do. When I’m pushing full-steam ahead, it’s frustrating to be slowed down by obstacles. Whether illness, a flat tire, a delayed shipment, or anything else–often what I see as an obstacle is actually the shepherd causing me to lie down for a moment.
If I’m fixated on the path that I’d rather be walking on…I can completely miss the benefit of the green pasture.
Once I’ve rested though, I can become complacent and comfortable in the pasture and lose my urgency and interest in walking forward. At those moments, the shepherd’s love urges me forward in spite of my reluctance. He knows the limits of my strength, and he knows the path ahead.
So today, I choose to walk at the pace of my shepherd–resting when He causes me to rest, and walking forward when He leads me to move.
Prayer
God, thank you for rest! Help me to gladly receive your rest when you cause me to lie down in green pastures. I don’t want to miss the beauty and tranquility around me! Help me to cheerfully walk forward when it’s time to start moving, following you on the path instead of allowing rest to decay into laziness.
I choose to move at your pace.
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