March 26th

For His Name's Sake

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3

I live in southern California. It's dry here sometimes. If you don't water the lawn, it dies, and sometimes the city doesn't let you water the grass because the people need water more than the plants.

So I can relate with David at least a little when he talks about God making him to lie down in green pastures. I'm sure that, as a shepherd himself, it might be frustrating when you're trying to move your sheep to new grazing land and everything is brown and dead. But this is what we know about life with God as our shepherd-He never gets frustrated by looking for green pastures; He always knows where to find them and then He leads us to those places.

I know that there are people reading this today who feel dry inside. It's like life has been hard for a long time and somewhere along the way, you lost the peace and rest that your soul needs. Maybe it's your job that feels dry, or maybe it's your marriage that feels dry. Whatever it is, the Lord wants to turn those places into green pastures as you turn to Him today, where He promises you to not just make you lie down in green pastures, but to lead you beside still waters.

You know, I think we've become complacent about the quality of water that we drink, where we get our needs met, and what satisfies our deepest longings.

Don't allow just any well to satisfy you, okay? Don't just look for the immediate meter-ofthe-need. Because, a lot of times, what we have chosen for ourselves is some stagnant, polluted, parasite-filled pond, instead of the still, pure, flowing rivers of the water of life that God has for us.

Now listen, these things happen for those who make the Lord their shepherd, for those who follow Him. Are you allowing Him to lead you today? If you're not, then don't be surprised if you feel dry today. If you are, then here is your promise-He restores your soul.

In other words, no matter how you feel today-dry, sad, lost, hopeless, hurt-God promises to restore you if you follow Him. If that's how you feel today, simply ask Him right now to show you His green pastures.

Then follow as He leads.

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You for being a good shepherd who always makes sure that I have all that I need, even restoring my soul! Please show me Your green pastures and still waters today. Help me to live in that place with You and never leave.

Amen