Put your faith in Christ and be strengthened; and your faith will grow. The Lord your shepherd is always with you. He is faithful. God is able to do what he promised. No need to worry because the Lord is with you.

Through this series, you’ll learn how to live well & enjoy God's promises. You are loved by God; He knows your name. He has a plan for your life. Get helpful advice, encouragement, and hope for a life well lived.

Are you walking in faith and victory? Set your eyes on the promises of God. You only have one life journey; say yes to Jesus.

God’s desire is to bless you and help you grow, especially in hard times.

Rely on the Lord and be renewed.

In life’s journey, how you view God will determine how you face life’s challenges. How you face trials and difficulties in life will reveal your faith. You need not fear or worry when you trust the Lord, and when remember that he is also the shepherd who guides you each day. You can rejoice no matter the circumstance

“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, 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. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23, NIV).

You have no need to fear when you know Jesus as your Lord and Shepherd. Understand that no matter what you face in life, you are not alone.

Christians in the United States have had it easy compared to some Christians in other parts of the world where Christians have been martyred for their faith, and that is true even in our lifetime. Christians down the ages have faced spiritual and physical attacks and yet kept the faith.

Additionally, when under spiritual and physical oppression one’s faith is put to the test, and those who rely on the Lord will be renewed in strength and their faith will grow. God, the sovereign Lord Almighty, is who we should place our hope and trust in; we will be comforted and secure. Friends, we are not promised a lifetime free of pain or suffering; however, the Lord, your shepherd, is always faithful and true.

He is worthy of all praise. Rejoice and be glad.

God is faithful and he cares for you.

Here are a few scriptures that speak to how the Lord, your shepherd, cares for you.

• “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3).

• “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).

• “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

• “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

• “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels” (Revelation 3:5).

• “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20-21).

Consider these promises in the Psalms David wrote:

• I will keep watch over you and guard you forever (Psalm 12:7).

• I will reveal my secrets to those who fear me. (Psalm 25:14).

• I will guard those who have a childlike heart (Psalm 116:6).

• I will look after you and teach you the way that is best (Psalm 32:8).

• I see all your hardships and I care about your suffering (Psalm 31:7).

• All your days are known to me and your inheritance is secure forever (Psalm 37:18).

• You can trust in my faithfulness because my word is true (Psalm 33:4).

God can be trusted; he is with you.

David trusted God when he faced Goliath, and years later as he was running away from King Saul who wanted to kill David.

Joseph trusted God even after his brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph continued to trust God as a slave in Egypt when Potiphar’s wife lied about him, and later in prison as the chief cupbearer forgot about him for a long time until the Pharaoh had a dream and the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Joseph would come to realize God had placed him there in Egypt to save his family.

Elijah, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and many others trusted God on the mountain top and in life’s valley.

Paul was faithful in sharing the Gospel message for years, and yet he had to endure suffering and hardships. Paul experienced being beaten with rods, stoned, in prison, shipwrecked, life threatened, in danger (often from Jews and Gentiles alike), sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, and cold and naked (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29). All this was for preaching the Gospel.

Understand, it was not the Lord who brought on the pain and suffering in Paul’s life. It was the enemy; however, the Lord was always with Paul. The Holy Spirit’s presence in his heart strengthened Paul’s faith and resolve to be faithful through it all.

You’re in good company if you feel that you are suffering hardships and are being spiritually attacked and people are lying about you even as you stand firm in faith. The Lord is with you and will rescue you.

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:10-12).

Paul tells Timothy why he chose to endure all the pain and suffering he endured.

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).

Paul endured suffering and pain to prove all the faithfulness of the Lord. To all those who would believe, both then and now, to the glory of God.

I know I have given you many scriptures, but I have a reason for doing so. It is because when you have trouble and pain in this life, you need to know that you are not alone. You need to know the faithfulness of God.

We must always remember to fan into flame the gift of God. The gift of faith. Fan into flame, faith in Christ and know that on the other side of pain and suffering you will experience eternity with the Lord forever.

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).

God wants to guide and bless you.

Last week we focused on the first verse of Psalm 23, where David said; the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. The reason David could say what he said is found in the following verses:

1. He makes me lie down in green pastures,

2. He leads me beside quiet waters,

3. He restores my soul.

4. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Green pastures and still waters all are found in the valley area. Being well fed and having quiet waters available whenever you need a drink will undoubtedly restore your soul.

Knowing that the Lord and shepherd is guiding you in the right way to go is comforting and reassuring. Experiencing all this is a great blessing and would go a long way to make you realize that all will be OK.

The fact that the Lord does this for you is a blessing but there is another reason. The Lord’s name, his reputation, his character, his word are on the line. He is faithful, loving, just, gracious, and full of mercy.

The Lord’s desire is to bless you and for you to know and love him, because he first loved you.

In today’s language, green pastures might be considered a good job and food on the table. It might be your needs will be met in any number of ways. Even in unexpected ways.

Sheep are not very smart animals, and they have no real defenses. They are not physically strong animals and if their wool gets to wet it will weight them down. If they get caught in a fast-rushing stream of water they are unable to save themselves and are likely to drown.

Quiet waters are not stagnated waters but refreshing flowing water that is cool and will satisfy any thirst.

The comforting idea in what David writes is that the Lord and shepherd will provide and guide you to these places is a blessing and reassuring. This is what a shepherd does, he cares for the sheep. The Lord provides for you in the same way, as you journey in this life, if you will allow him.

God will help you through trials.

I have given verse 4 much thought. The idea of walking in the valley of the shadow of death would be terrifying, except that David uses the word through. Through the valley of the shadow of death. We will pass through such valleys in life, not remain in them. Passing through, David says, I will have no need to fear because the Lord my Shepherd is with me.

Some valley areas may be covered with shadows because of the high peaks that surround the valley. But we all need to realize something very important: green pastures and quiet streams are found in the valley area.

• The valley area is where the good grass grows.

• The valley area is where the fresh cool water streams flow.

• The valley is a place one can find rest and the shepherd will guide his flock along paths that are safe and secure.

• The valley is the place we journey most in life.

The shepherd has an instrument that he will use to protect and lead you. A shepherd’s rod (or staff) is a twofold instrument. It is a staff with a hook on one end.

Like God, the shepherd is always close to his flock and the flock can experience rest, even in the valley of the shadow of death, knowing comfort and security because the shepherd is on watch with his staff; always at the ready to confront the enemy if it were to get to close to the flock.

God brings comfort, reassurance, and health to your soul.

Verse 5 gives us a greater picture of how the shepherd cares for his flock. Here we read of a banquet and anointing oil for those who are present; they are safe from attack of the enemy.

A shepherd would use anointing oil on his sheep to remove pesky flies from around the nostrils, for healing areas of skin, and for removing unwanted parasites. It would ease skin infections that otherwise would cause the sheep to be uneasy and hurt themselves. The oil was to bring and restore healing and comfort.

The Holy Spirit’s presence and anointing is powerful, and he will comfort, reassure, and bring health to your soul.

The shepherd’s duty was to care for his sheep, and his protection, care and love for the sheep is the reason the sheep remained close to the shepherd. The same is true for the believer. Remain close to the Lord your shepherd and enjoy his love, protection and care all the days of your life.

Only when the sheep wandered off did the sheep find themselves in danger. This imagery of the shepherd caring for his sheep is why David claimed that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Like the sheep in this story, David knew he need not worry. He knew the Lord was aware of all that was going on and David learned he could always trust the Lord.

What about you? Are you trusting in the Lord for all you need?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34).

Church, as we focus on what is truly important in life—our relationship with the Lord—and as we remain close to the Lord our shepherd, we can be sure he will take care of all our needs. Oh, we may experience having to go through a valley like the shadow of death. But he will see to it that we make it through to the other side. First, because he loves us; and second, for his name’s sake. All creation will know he is faithful and the sovereign Lord of all.

Remain faithful and connected to God

Consider how experiencing trials can make us stronger and build up our faith: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:2-5).

As we hold firm in our faith and trust the Lord with our daily lives, we will be able to grow stronger spiritually. We will be able to persevere and believe the Lord in even greater trials and not wander off to seek what we might think are greener pastures.

In the end, as we remain faithful and connected to the Lord our shepherd we can know for sure, without a doubt, that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and we will hear the words” enter in good and faithful servant”.

You will make a difference in people’s lives for all eternity as they see you fearlessly sit at the banqueting table that the Lord has set in the presence of your enemies.

Living the life of faith in Christ speaks volumes to others who are without hope or Christ in their lives. Jesus paid the price of your redemption, and he is not about to allow the enemy of your soul to harm you. Stay close to Jesus. Remain focused on the savior. Allow your faith to rise and your enemies be scattered.

Believe and know for certain want is true when you focus on the Lord. everything else will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

Fear cannot exist when faith is present.

The Lord’s presence gives light to the shadows.

When Jesus is present, and your faith is in the Lord, you will experience comfort knowing Jesus is with you. The valley of the shadow of death will not cause you fear, because where faith is, fear cannot exist.

It may sound a bit radical, but I believe much of our journey in life is in the valley of the shadow of death. Here we learn more of God. It is here that we grow strong in faith. It is here that the enemy strives to cause fear in our hearts. And yet, in the valley, David experienced comfort alongside the shepherd.

Stop doubting and living in fear. He loves you. Trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.

Today, live like David and say the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

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