THE GOOD SHEPHERD MEETS THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” —Matthew 7:9-11

 

Yesterday, we read how the Lord, our Good Shepherd, pardons us and restores us back to Himself.  Today, let’s see how the Lord provides for our necessities.  There are many times, that before we even ask for help He delights in meeting those needs.  We could say it like this; He knows what we need physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and He is already at work, providing things that we may not even have thought of as yet. 

 

Have you ever thought how God is at work as a protector in your life?  Psalm 23:4 shows us that we are not to be fearful when we are going through difficulties.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Take note of the words, “rod” and “staff” in this scripture, as they help to give us understanding what the writer of the Psalms was referring to.  You see, in those days shepherds used these tools to defend their sheep from vicious animals.  Likewise, the Good Shepherd goes ahead of us clearing our path of the Enemy’s snares and entrapments, and He will pull us back to Himself when we cry out to Him. 

 

It is good to note that in Psalm 23 we are comforted by the fact that although God does not lead us around “the valley of the shadow of death,” rather, He leads us through it.  This means that God’s plan often requires us to walk through painful circumstances, facing those shadows and dark places in our lives; however, in the midst of the rough journey and difficult times, we can remain confident by keeping our eyes on the Shepherd, who leads us safely home.

Have you experienced the Lords’ provision, only to fall into subsequent doubt and fear because of loss or hardship?  He has not left you.  I want to encourage you today that God remains your faithful Good Shepherd, leading you through the darkness and into the light, where He is.  You can trust Him for your every provision.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that before I even know that I have a need You are moving in my behalf.  Thank You for protecting me from pitfalls, snares and hidden traps of the enemy and that You are always working in my behalf to provide for me, in Jesus Name.  Amen.