"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."
-Psalm 100:3
Reflection is a tool that I use often to aid me in answering some of life’s most important questions –Who am I? What do I want from this life? What’s my purpose here? If I asked you to reflect on this question, “to whom do you belong?” What would be your first thought? Your parents, your family, your job, and your organization –the list could go on and on.
Psalm 100 is a Psalm for Giving Thanks. And in verse 3 of this Psalm, we are given the reason behind why we should be rejoicing and giving thanks –He is God, and we are HIS! And not only are we His but belonging to Him ensures that we are cared for, protected, and loved. We are His sheep, and He is our shepherd.
Many times throughout the Bible we are referred to as sheep. I may not have a vast knowledge of sheep; however, I can tell you a few things that I do know. If you don’t believe me, just go sit and watch these fluffy creatures in a field one day. They seem somewhat aloof and overly indecisive. When faced with an obstacle or challenge they dart to and from like a squirrel dodging the front wheel of a car. That indecisiveness typically leads to one of two things, an unnecessary depletion of energy or disaster from the dangers that lie ahead.
We need a shepherd –One that watches over us when we are unable to see the coming dangers. One that establishes boundaries for our safety, feeds us when we are hungry, and ensures that we have water to quench our thirst. One that’s life was, and still is devoted to teaching us the way to abundant life. That shepherd is, of course, Jesus.
Another thing about sheep is that they rely on their shepherd and they are keen on discerning the voice of him. In John 10, verses 3-5 Jesus tells us that “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls to his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Let us go back to the question we started with: To whom do you belong? Do you belong to the world or to Jesus? Do you attempt to find your joy, happiness, peace, and contentment in the world or the Creator of the world? Do you know that the Lord is God and that you are His? Do you understand that He made you with plan, purpose, and intentionality? Your answers or belief to that question doesn’t change “THE TRUTH” it only changes your truth and the entire course of your life on this earth as well as the hereafter. Can you say with assurance today as Psalm 23:1-2 says – “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still water.” Spend some time meditating on this verse and allow it to speak to your heart.
If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, trusting Him as your Lord and Savior – the director, guider, sustainer, protector, and shepherd of your life –I encourage you to meet Him exactly where you are today. Whether it’s in confusion or misunderstanding; guilt and hurt; anger and regret – He will meet you there and show you the abundant life that only comes from entering into a relationship with Him.
spiritual disciplines
Spiritual Disciplines have been such a ginormous part of my growth in Christ. These disciplines changed my daily walk with the Lord and have taught me about reliance and dependence on Him! My prayer is that this space can help deepen your knowledge and understanding by teaching you to lean in closer to God. With that being said, my goal is to incorporate these disciplines slowly so that you can gain a clear picture and understanding of each one as well as learn how to incorporate them into your daily walk with the Lord. Here is a list of the 8 disciplines that we will cover. If these disciplines are already a regular part of your day, now is a great opportunity to reach out to a friend that could use some help learning and growing.
Bible Study
Prayer
Worship
Memorization
Meditation
Evangelism
Fasting
Solitude
Starting next Monday, March 14th, we will begin to walk through these disciplines together by learning and incorporating one discipline at a time into our day. I will give you resources and practical tips on how to incorporate these 8 tangible spiritual disciplines into your life. If you are interested in a book as well as a tool that will help you keep track of this; check out my newly published books below.
GROWING IN GOD
Would you like a tool to encourage your growth in God? Check out my newly released 12-month spiritual disciplines book/journal. This journal will give you a brief understanding of 8 tangible spiritual disciplines in addition to creating a year-long journey that teaches you how to incorporate them into your daily walk.
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