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Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 023’

Protection From 2 Kinds of Evil

Posted in Protection, tagged on December 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“The LORD is my shepherd … I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:1a, 4b

We need protection from two (2) kinds of evil – evil done to us by others, and evil done to us by ourselves.

Evil we do to ourselves is, really, our biggest problem. If God gave us everything we asked for in prayer we would be in a terrible fix.

We take comfort knowing our shepherd is protecting us from others and ourselves – he is our defender, he has the way out when there is no other (and when there is).

-fritz

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Doing My Part

Posted in Good Shepherd, Trust, Walking, tagged on December 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“The LORD is my shepherd … Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;” – Psalm 23:1a, 4

So what’s my part in this sheep to shepherd kind of relationship with God? I walk – choosing not to fear even if/when I am in dreadful times and places.

This is, really, the ONLY thing he expects – to follow him in my daily life trusting even in tough times he will keep me safe and lead me through; it’s just that simple.

I can’t always see the big picture or understand the “why”, but by God’s grace I can put one foot in front of the other, choose to be brave, and trust God will make things right.

The senior pastor where I once served took me aside one day and said, “Your faith is just too simple for real life”. The only response I could give – “I guess the only way I’ll survive is by the grace of God!” He agreed but not in the positive way I meant it. That was almost 30 years ago.

God’s grace has always been sufficient for my need. I walk and choose not to fear, God handles the rest.

– fritz

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Righteousness After Restoration

Posted in Good Shepherd, Hymns, Restoration, Righteousness, tagged on December 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“The LORD is my shepherd…He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” – Psalm 23:1a, 3

It’s after his restoration of our soul that we can be lead in paths of righteousness.

That restoration makes us want to do the right thing, only then can enables us follow, not as a precondition but as the result. This is his work, and he gets the glory for it.

Charles Wesley, Anglican Priest and brother to John Wesley who founded the Methodist Church, wrote in his hymn “O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing”

He breaks the power of cancelled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me

– fritz

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