Tuesday, March 31, 2015

ARE YOU REALLY TRUSTING GOD TODAY?













I AM NOT IN CONTROL!

Psalm 125
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!

Am I as steadfast as I should be? Do I tend to waver? Am I easily discouraged? Is my life like a roller coaster? Am I bitter? Am I angry? Am I unforgiving? Am I worried? The list of questions could go on and on, but if any of these are true of me, then my lack of trust in the LORD is exposed.

Those who trust God are like a mountain that cannot be moved; their assurance never fails.

Trusting the Lord allows us to place our security in the One who never changes, the One who is eternally faithful, the One who is wise, loving, just, providential, powerful, and so much more. In fact, trusting in the Lord is like being surrounded by stable mountains.

It is so interesting that when you read worldly advice, the emphasis is always put on trusting in yourself, loving yourself, not allowing others to shake you: becoming a self-sufficient person!

True believers have understood and believed that trusting in self is not only unwise, it’s downright damaging. It is amazing how many “Christians” mix self with their view of God. So many believe that “God helps those who help themselves” is found in the Bible, or at least  reflects biblical principles.

This is a case where bad doctrine encourages us to feed our natural sinful predisposition.

Luke 9:23-24
            And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Can these words be any clearer? Our self-made goals, our earthly endeavors, do not lead us in a submissive, trusting walk in the steps of our Savior. 

Galatians 5:24-26
            And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Our life needs to be always on alert, suppressing our sinful desires, yielding to the Spirit, allowing Scriptures to renew our thoughts and desires.

Galatians 6:14
            But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

All we do and trust should glorify the work of Christ and obliterate any self-praise.
           
I say that I believe these truths, but I so quickly allow self to take control and drive my actions and reactions!

David, as he wrote this Psalm, expressed total dependence upon God for every situation in his life, for Israel, and for the final outcome.

As we reflect upon our lives, we certainly need to trust God completely. John the Baptist understood this truth:

John 3:30
            He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Not only should we trust God with our own lives, but also with the lives of those whom we love and care for. We are often overwhelmed by the sinfulness or the needs of others, and then try to encourage spiritual progress in their lives by our own efforts. We should learn, rather, to pray earnestly for them and trust God to accomplish what only He can do.


Do you need this reminder as much as I do? How easily we forget that we are utterly and blessedly dependent upon God for ALL things!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

DID YOU PREPARE FOR TODAY?










A SONG WORTH SINGING!

Psalm 124
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side…” Can you imagine walking back to Jerusalem singing and rejoicing, remembering what God had done? It sounds like a victory song, and one that Paul was to repeat in a different way, as he wrote to the Romans.

Romans 8:31-39
        What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
        “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
                we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
        No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

David writes: “Blessed be the LORD” and at the end: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth”.

In Exodus 3:14, when Moses asked the Creator of the universe what His name was, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
It was good for the Israelites to rehearse these truths as they returned to Jerusalem. Difficulty and enemies were all around them, but so was their God: I AM, the One who had brought them out of Egypt and had walked with them and blessed them and cared for them.

What does our song sound like, as we go about our day? Is God walking with us? Are we discouraged and defeated? Have we lost sight of the One who is in control? If God did not spare His Son and gave us eternal life by grace, will He not take care of our daily needs?

The reason God inspired David to pen the words of this psalm was certainly because He knows that human beings tend to forget what God has done, is doing, and has promised to do.

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Why do we worry? Why do we get discouraged? Why do we ever feel alone? Why are we so easily upset? I know why I am… because I lose sight of the presence of God, I forget His promises, and I don’t have an eternal perspective.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. God has set His affection upon us from eternity past and will continue to love us, because of His grace and His ongoing faithfulness.

The Creator of the universe cares about me! He has chosen me! I don’t know why, but I know it’s true because He has given me the gift of saving faith in His Son!

What will your song look like today? What will people hear me sing today?

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THIS IS A SONG WORTH SINGING ALL DAY LONG!


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

DOES BEING A SLAVE BOTHER YOU?













BEING GOD’S SLAVE ALSO MEANS THAT HE HAS TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR US!

Psalm 123
To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he has mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than enough
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.

The image of a servant was vivid for those Jews who were returning to Jerusalem. Total dependence and total commitment to a master was very familiar to them.

Such a concept as servants and masters is unfamiliar to our daily lives. Although we try to understand, it is hard for us to know what it really meant to live in utter submission and dependence on someone else.

A slave had no other place to go; his treatment was completely at the mercy of his owner. A servant had no control over his life or even the use of his time. He had one and only one responsibility: to serve his master. Serving was what he did when he got up, and serving was what he did until he went to bed. He got up when he was told, and went to bed when he was told he had done enough for the day. He was fed and cared for according to the decisions of his master.

When a master did not treat his servant well, there were no alternatives but to bear up beneath the demands of his master.

As the Israelites journeyed back to Jerusalem, they looked to the LORD for their provision, and to find mercy in His presence. Their lives were hard, living in the midst of those who had no respect for them or for their God.

As we live our lives, are we aware of our relationship with our Master, Jesus Christ the Lord?

John 12:25-26
        Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

When we look to God to take care of our needs, are we recognizing our total dependence on Him and our need to be totally devoted to Him?
One of the verses that has always caused me to think about my relationship to Christ is found in Luke.

Luke 17:7-10
        “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
       
I love the fact that I can look to God to take care of me, but I should never overlook my duty to serve Him faithfully and without expectations. As I think of the cost of Christ dying for my sins, I realize all the more the care and love that the Father has for His servants.

May we live our lives totally committed to our Heavenly Father, to whom alone we look for help, in difficult circumstances and in the midst of many who love neither God, nor those who serve Him.

Being slaves of a perfect Master is a privilege: may our attitudes reflect this truth!



Thursday, March 19, 2015

GOD IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE!













A JOURNEY UNDER THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!

Psalm 122
 was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

In this Psalm of ascent the writer, David, rejoices at the fact that the tabernacle is back in Jerusalem and that he is able to see Jerusalem regain its stature.

David remembers well when he had been recognized as King and, having defeated the Jebusites, had established Jerusalem as the center of his reign. He called it ‘the city of David’. He also remembered how the Ark of the Covenant had been brought back to Jerusalem by him.

Although 2 Samuel 6 describes how the returning of the Ark had exposed David’s sin, at the end there was great joy.

As the pilgrims would come back to Jerusalem, singing these words brought back to their memories the sovereignty of God and His great care for Jerusalem. It also evoked in their minds the fact that God expected them to follow His instructions, and that there was great joy in submission to God.

At the time of David, Jerusalem was not as large and as wonderful as it would be under the reign of Solomon. Even in these verses there is a sense of expectation about what God would do in the future.

We know that perfect peace will be found in Jerusalem only when Christ, the eternal King, will reign forever.  

Jerusalem, meaning ‘city of peace’, has been a city of much strife over the years. But one day, peace will reign forever. As the pilgrims came back to Jerusalem, they shared in the joy of being in the city they loved. And they also participated in prayers for the peace of this city, where those who worship God would find peace.

As we look at the work of God, and His love for the Jews and Jerusalem, we are certainly encouraged in our own walk. As I read the Old Testament, I am continually reminded of the fact that God is in sovereign control over all, and that He desires that we walk in step with His will. One cannot overlook the fact that God rebuked and punished His chosen people, but He also showed continued grace toward them in bringing them back to their homeland.

Looking back at my own life, I can see how many times God has shown me His faithfulness when He has rebuked me and caused me to return to Him. I know the reality of the joy and peace that is found when I followed His ways, and the darkness of those times during which I wandered.

As believers, we long for the day when God will establish His perfect reign and we will know perfect peace. We are also reminded of our responsibility to be light to those around us. Certainly the Jews failed many times and we do also, but our lives should be lights in this dark world.

Knowing that God keeps His promises, and that man cannot limit Him or change His plans, gives me great peace, while facing daily difficulties. God will continue to do His perfect work in me, as He continues to mold me into the image of His Son.

I rejoice in God’s faithfulness, and in the fact that I have brothers and sisters who accompany me on this journey. Take time to thank God for His love, and take time to thank those brothers and sisters who are being used by God in your life!


Tuesday, March 17, 2015

DO YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT TODAY?













GOD IS MY ALL: I SHALL LOOK UP!

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Read it! Reread it! Be humbled by it! Be surprised by it! Be amazed by it! Be embraced by it! Be loved by it!

The Creator of the universe cares about me! My Protector never sleeps! My life is in all-powerful hands! My every step is carefully guided!

My God is the one who created all by His word! My Protector is the one who, by His word, calmed the storm! My Keeper is the one who brought a man back to life by His word! The One who watches over me is my only sure help!

Yes, I do need help! And yes, I need someone to protect me from stumbling! I need to live in shadow of the omnipotent God! And how I need protection from evil!

I am cared for if I start to stumble, if I need shelter; I will always need help!

Are you amazed that the Creator and sustainer of the universe cares for you?

Are there too many exclamation points? Well, this Psalm IS an exclamation point!

Oh, how I need to live like a pilgrim: unattached to the things of this world, driven by heavenly things! The pilgrim, as he returned to Jerusalem, looked at the city on the hill. He knew that the God of Israel was his only hope. And what an all-sufficient hope He was!

Dear friend, are you looking up, or down? I know that when I look up I am never disappointed, I never have reason to fear. My Lord is never distracted, He will never forsake me!

This psalm does not need many comments, but it should promote a time of grateful adoration. My day will be different, because I know and believe that I am cared for by my Lord!


Thursday, March 12, 2015

LONGING FOR TIME WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS















WE LIVE SURROUNDED BY GOD’S ENEMIES - WE NEED OUR LOCAL CHURCH

Psalm 120
In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
Deliver me, O LORD,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given to you,
and what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
A warrior's sharp arrows,
with glowing coals of the broom tree!
Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!

This psalm begins a group of psalms that are called ‘songs of ascents’. These songs were sung by the pilgrims who were returning to Jerusalem for the various feasts prescribed for the Jews. In this case, the pilgrim was coming from far regions: Meshech was in Asia Minor and Kedar was in Arabia.

It is wonderful to see that the writer recognizes the reality of answered past prayers and the need for prayer in his present distress.

One of the striking realities is how uncomfortable the pilgrims are, when surrounded by unbelievers who are deceitful and do not love peace, but actually live by warring with each other.

For the pilgrims, their return to Jerusalem for these feasts that honored Jehovah was a time of reprieve and of concentration on worshipping, surrounded by like-minded people. They knew very well the difference between living among Jews or Gentiles, and they were saddened by watching the ungodly behavior of those who worshipped other gods and oppressed others by their sinful lives.

Their life was totally different from those around them; God was their hope and their single-minded goal.

It is interesting that when Paul speaks of those around him, he says that they are in similar condition.

Romans 3:10-18
        as it is written:
        “None is righteous, no, not one;
                no one understands;
                no one seeks for God.
        All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
                no one does good,
                not even one.”
        “Their throat is an open grave;
                they use their tongues to deceive.”
        “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
                “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
        “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
                in their paths are ruin and misery,
        and the way of peace they have not known.”
                “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Both Jews and Gentiles were living in sin and rebelliousness towards God. Today, things are no different; we live surrounded by sin. We live around people who enjoy their sin and have disdain for God and godly behavior.

We should feel the same oppression, as we live out our Christian lives in the midst of a crooked generation. We should be uncomfortable with the lifestyle of those who do not love God. We should cringe at the philosophy of this world. But often, not only do we not have that attitude, but we are attracted by the sin of others, desiring the same things they desire and living with very similar mindsets. If we are not uncomfortable around sin, we should be alarmed!

We should love being around believers and love the reprieve we find in our local churches. The Jews lived in anticipation of their times of return to Jerusalem, and we should have the same longing for our times in corporate worship and Bible Study.

Philippians 1:3-8
        I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
       
Paul had such a love for those who were experiencing the reality of persecution for Christ, as he was. He loved the fact that other children of God were partners with him, because they had experienced the grace of God. Oh, how he longed to be with them.


How we, too, should long to be with Christ and, in the meanwhile, love to be with our brothers and sisters: the only ones who love the same things we do, live for the same things we do and long for the same things we do.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS!












I HAVE A TREASURE!

Going through this amazing Psalm 119 has caused me to meditate about the Word of God and its effect upon those who trust and obey it. I need to continually be reminded about what a wonderful gift it is to me. Meditating on the value of the Scriptures not only creates in me an ongoing gratitude, but also a greater love and desire to know the Word and apply it to my life. As I review some of my favorite verses, I trust that they will produce in you the same results.

The Word of God is totally different from my natural way of thinking.

Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The Word of God always produces God’s intended purposes.

Isaiah 55:10-11
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

The Word of God was God’s work.

2 Peter 1:19-21
        And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God produces faith.

Romans 10:17
          So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

The Word of God is inspired by God and it equips us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
        All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Word of God matures us.

1 Peter 2:2-3
        Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
       
The Word of God actively works in us.

Hebrews 4:12-13
        For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Word of God directs our life

Joshua 1:8
        This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

The Word of God protects us from sin.

Psalm 19:11
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

The Word of God is eternal.

Matthew 24:35
          Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

There are other verses and passages in the Scriptures that remind us of the value of this supernatural Book that we all have in our homes. All too often, it remains closed when it should be the most well-read book in our daily lives. We let so many activities run our lives, which leave us thinking we do not have time to meditate the Scriptures.

The writer of Psalm 1 knew the value of the Scriptures and he acted in accordance to it.

Psalm 1:2
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

And obviously, beyond meditating, we also need to obey the Scriptures.

James 1:22-25
        But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

My prayer today is that I will have a renewed love for the Scriptures, and for its work in me. As I meditate on the value of the Word of God, it should have a profound effect on the way I use my time, what I use to influence my family and friends, how I choose my church, whether I go to Bible studies and what determines my choice of which to attend. In other words, it should have a profound effect on all my daily decisions.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

OUR CRIES – OUR TEARS – OUR JOYS – OUR PRAISES - NEED A SHEPHERD


THE LIFE OF A SHEEP

Psalm 119:169-176
Let my cry come before you, O LORD;
give me understanding according to your word!
Let my plea come before you;
deliver me according to your word.
My lips will pour forth praise,
for you teach me your statutes.
My tongue will sing of your word,
for all your commandments are right.
Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.
Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.

Look at the progression of feeling of these verses! There is a cry, followed by a plea, followed by praise, followed by singing, a living soul, a call for guidance.

We have traveled in this long excursion through Psalm 119, learning the way the Word of God accompanies us through our lives, and how much our lives depend on the guidance of the Scriptures. Here, the psalmist almost seems to be reviewing the ways that we are utterly dependent upon God’s guidance through His Word

When we are going through difficulties, it is often hard for us to keep an eternal prospective. We want to quickly find earthly explanations, we want to understand why these things are happening, and we want to know when they will end. As the writer cries out to the Lord, he does not ask for earthly explanations, but wants the Word to be his source for understanding and help for navigating the event. How important it is to start there, as the Scriptures will point our minds toward heavenly purposes. There is so much peace in simply resting in God’s hands.

Our prayer will be like his: to be delivered, according to God’s Word. We need to have the Scriptures direct our prayer life. Oh, how different would our prayers be if they were bathed in the truths of Scripture. Because they would thus be according to God’s will, we would have great peace, knowing that God would answer them and that we would not be disappointed or upset with the outcome.

As we grow more in sanctification, more into the image of Christ, praise will become our way of life, for praise is natural, when our desires and our responses to our situations are aligned with God’s purposes. I love the fact that the psalmist says that he needs to be taught. Are you like me, often disappointed with your reactions and attitudes? What a comfort it is for me to know that I have much to learn. My learning at times prepares me for coming events, and sometimes my failures are also part of my learning curve. Praise God that He is teaching us!

Our growth and our praise for what God is doing should be visible in our lives.
Singing is an obvious reflection of God’s work in our lives, for it is both audible and visible to others. The author has come to the conclusion that the Word is right. It is there where he finds answers; confident that he can rely on the Word, he can then proclaim it through his audible praise.

His resolve is visible. He has chosen what guides his life, so his behavior and actions reflect that decision. He depends upon God’s hand to direct him and relies on the Lord for salvation. He is trustful and at peace while waiting on the Lord.

The psalmist is not forgetful of his frailty and his proneness to go astray. He knows that he needs rules and that he is a sheep. Sheep cannot live without a shepherd. There are times when he needs to be found and brought back.

Do you tend to forget that you are a sheep?

Praise God for preparing a way for us as sheep, even before we knew Him.

Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Praise God for Christ dying for His sheep.

John 10:15
        just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Praise God for making a way for us to become His sheep.

John 10:9
        I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

Praise God for making us His sheep.

Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Praise God for caring for us as sheep!

John 10:27-30
        My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

How do you plan to live your life today? In grateful submission? Or in stubborn dissatisfaction? May the Word of God be the power that directs our actions and reactions!