Psalm 23 [NIV] | ¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³     he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, ^a I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

One of many well-known scriptures in the Bible is Psalm 23, and it is filled with God’s promises. In these words, God promises we lack nothing and he leads the steps of our lives. He refreshes our soul when we are down or worried. Our Father guides us to everlasting life through the gift of his Son, Jesus. Our Lord promises we need not fear challenges we encounter for he is standing by us. His word and commands comfort us with direction for how we live our lives to the glory of his name. With his word, God shows his unending love and richly blesses us.

Is it any wonder why Psalm 23 would be so popular among God’s people? Wherever we are in life God speaks to us in these powerful words. There is such peace, comfort, and strength for a new day. The Lord is our shepherd, the one who stands in the storms of life with us. Jesus tells us, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Our Shepherd approaches us directly in his Word through the Holy Spirit and lives among us. Our Good Shepherd has our Father’s authority, and he shares it with all who believe in Christ. Our Shepherd meets real needs, and we recognize his voice and follow him. Jesus has proven his sacrificial love by willingly laying down his life on the cross for the sheep.

Whatever situation we may face in life, Psalm 23 can give us hope and direction. God never promised that each day of our lives would be perfect or that he would answer every prayer as we desire. He promises that his will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. God is aware of the desires in our hearts, and he knows what is best for our lives. We live life today in the sure hope that our cup overflows with his deep love.

Prayer:
Lord, you are our shepherd, and we thank you for constantly looking over us. Help us to see more of you and less of the darkness around us. Lead us through the still waters and give us strength for a new day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Action Plan:
What situation(s) in life are you facing today can you take to God as you read Psalm 23?

Genesis 46:2-7 [NIV] | ² And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. ³ “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ⁴ I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” ⁵ Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. ⁶ So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. ⁷ Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

It is interesting how God spoke to his people in the Old Testament, it is as though he were standing face to face. Perhaps we would welcome a conversation with God in a vision to help us clearly see the path he has prepared for our lives. In today’s world when someone speaks out verbally to God and says, “Here I am,” we question their mental state. God continues to speak to us today in several ways. He communicates through prayer, in reading and hearing his Word, and in mutual conversation with others.

Our challenge in listening to God is that we are not always sure God is the one speaking. Our minds get confused or blurred with the world’s view of life, the evil forces that work against us, and Satan. Listening to God requires a great deal of concentration and time. Imagine the trust Jacob had when God said, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there…” And Jacob responds: “So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan.” Trust – Jacob had a tremendous amount of trust in God enabling him to uproot his family and follow.

If we honestly assess our lives, we would have to confess our failures in our lack of God with everything. We find ourselves holding tight to the things we fear we may lose. We often trust in ourselves first and only turn to God when struggles or challenges are beyond our personal control. God has provided a Helper to lead and guide us. The Holy Spirit is God living in us every moment of our lives. Our God speaks boldly to us, we just need to take time and listen. We praise Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit into our lives enabling us to grow in our trust in God.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to put our trust in you with everything. Help us in times of doubt and reveal to us your will for our lives. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Action Plan:
Today I will ask God to help me increase my faith and trust in him.

Matthew 13:47-50  [NIV] | ⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  

As we look around the world, we may be asking ourselves, “Why does God allow all this evil to continue?” It is hard to understand why a God filled with love tolerates the evil and at the same time allows those who entice evil to prosper. We are reminded that earth is not our final destination and that the Prince of the World, is Satan. Sin has entered this world and the final judgment will not take place until Jesus returns. Only then will there be no pain and suffering caused by sin.

The parable of the fishing net deals with the dividing of people much as the parable of the wheat and weeds does. While the parable of the wheat and weeds highlighted the length of time during which good and evil people must coexist, this parable focuses on the final judgment day. As the net catches all kinds of fish, the gospel message will go out to all kinds of people. At the end of the age, the angels will “sort the fish,” separating evil people from righteous. Like the wheat that will be gathered into the barns, the good fish will be put into baskets. We look for the Day when Christ returns to rescue us from evil.

As we live our lives today, we are reminded that God is with us in each step of our journey. He uses our current situations to draw us closer to him and increase our faith. God does not allow sin and suffering to pass by without using it to grow us into stronger disciples. God is fully aware of our situation. “²⁷And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:27-28). We trust in the One who leads us as we live our lives for Christ and share his love with others.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we cry out to you to rescue us for the pains and struggles of the world. We pray each day that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Whatever situation we may face, use it to strengthen trust in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Action Plan:

Today I will seek God in helping me to understand the current challenges I may be facing.

Matthew 11:20, 25-27  [NIV] | ²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent… ²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. ²⁷ “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

In recent days it is easy to see why God would denounce towns and people that do not seek God and repent of their ways. Some wonder if the end times are near due to all the violence we see in our society. Last week we experienced two shootings at a local mall, the news was filled with violence over accusations that the election was filled with flaws. Social media is overflowing with negativity and judgment. You cannot help but wonder, “Has God denounced our society for unrepentant sins?”

As Christians, we are blessed with the gift of faith in Jesus being chosen by God to have the hidden things revealed to us. In our Baptism God calls us by name and declares is his children. Like Jesus, we too can praise our God who is the Lord of heaven and earth. As we witness the chaos that surrounds us, we have peace in the assurance that this life is not the end resolve. We live in the hope of new life that a time is coming when there will be no more pain and suffering. We rejoice in the faith and knowledge given to us through the Holy Spirit.

God has not given up on his creation. He chose to use as his messengers. For others to know God, God reveals himself through the Holy Spirit working in and through us. In Christ we are given the opportunity to transform lives – to point people to Jesus. How fortunate we are that Jesus has clearly revealed to us our Father, his truth, and how we can know him. The lost can only approach God through Jesus—he truly is the only way (John 14:6). We can transform our world one life at a time through Jesus. It’s time we share what we have in Christ with others.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for reaving your Son, Jesus, to us. We praise for the gift of life we have today and into eternity. Help us see the opportunities we have to serve other. Motivate us to be your witnesses in a world that clearly needs more of you. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Action Plan:

Today I will give thanks to God for his gift of saving faith.

Matthew 10:16-20  [NIV] | ¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. ¹⁸ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Can you imagine how honored the apostles must have felt being selected by Jesus to follow him? After all, Jesus could perform amazing miracles like healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead. But then we read in Matthew how the people and authorities will respond. I wonder how likely the disciples would have given up everything to follow Jesus had he started out with his warning? As followers of Jesus, we too are honored but will face persecution on the account of Christ, our Savior.

Twelve brave men accepted the challenge to show their love by being sacrificial followers all the while knowing life would be difficult. We too are called to a great sacrifice in loving our neighbors and serving them in the name of Jesus. As we look around in this dark sin filled world, we know that standing up for Jesus will bring pain and suffering to those who follows Jesus. No where in the Bible does it say life will be simple, safe, or easy. It does say we will face times of trouble and hardship on the account of Christ.

God does not leave us alone in our journey as his disciples. God promises he will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God sent his Holy Spirit to work in and through us delivering the words we need to speak. Faith involves action and the two cannot be separated. God calls us to be his witness to those who do not know Jesus. It is an expectation of Jesus and James reminds us that faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:17). God never promised life would be easy, but he did promise that Jesus is enough to save us from this life of sin, death, and the devil. It is time we boldly share our faith so others can experience the love we have in Jesus. It truly is an honor we have to be a follower of Jesus.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you are the creator of all things once made perfect but defiled by sin. We praise you for the gift of Jesus to rescue and redeem us from a life of sin. Lead us to be bold witnesses of your love and mercy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Action Plan:

Today I will place my trust in God as I life a life of Christ in a world that rejects me. I will seek to be a witness for Jesus even if it may cause pain and suffering by…