Contentment: God’s character (Keith Nurse)

By

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

Psalm 23:1 (Living Bible)

 

This wonderful psalm goes on to describe just some of the countless ways in which our God is for us - He leads us, He restores us, He guides us, He is present with us, He comforts us, He blesses us, He shows goodness and love to us - all the days of our lives.

 

David, who wrote this psalm, at one time a shepherd himself, faced many dark and difficult times. But when he takes the time to stop, to remember and consciously recognize what his God is like, it turns his view of himself and his circumstances upside down.

 

I find it easy to focus all my attention on the latest news bulletin, current government advice, estimates of the R number, when I’ll next find flour in the supermarket - important as they are - and forget the God who walks with me in these challenging days.

 

St Augustine said “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” In the busyness of life and balancing of responsibilities, how can you find time to refocus and rejoice in the truth that in our Father we have everything we need?

 

A prayer - Thank you, Lord, that in you we do indeed have everything we need. Forgive us for times when we allow ourselves to be drawn away from this wonderful truth, and help us increasingly to find true rest in you as we discover more of the breadth and length and height and depth of your love for us. Amen

 

Keith Nurse

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be Alert (Liz Morris)

By
Image
" And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:18 I love the inference that to pray is to be alert. As Paul draws to the end of his letter to the Ephesians, he reminds them of the importance to keep on praying at all times, in many different ways in the Spirit. Prayer is such an integral part of growing in our faith and seeing His kingdom come in our lives, our community and our world. It helps our earthly minds come to know our Heavenly Father and see His plans and purposes unfold. I love the fact that Paul goes on to put in a personal prayer request in the next verse and I am sure that the church in Ephesus often prayed for him along with many of the Christians from the other churches. I am sure too, that the alertness of all the early Christians to pray was essential in the success of the ministry of all the Apostles and the advancement of the g
Read more

Jesus and the strong man (Nico Marais)

By
Image
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[a] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5:18-20 What precedes today’s passage is the well-known story of Jesus sending the demons from this man into a herd (or litter, depending on who you ask) of pigs that ultimately drown themselves.  The Bible says this man was so strong that chains could not hold him.  When he is set free from his demonic bondage he begs Jesus to come with Him.  Jesus says no and sends him back to his family, friends and his own people to share what Jesus has done for him. This is exactly what Jesus asks each of us to do as well.  We can’t really share Christ’s peace, mercy, hope, power and love via proxy.  We have to encounter it for oursel
Read more

God Sings Over You With Joy (Penny Cox)

By
Image
"he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV ) Recently I made my little grandson cry by being a bit too animated whilst reading him a story about a dog barking! His mother rescued him and comforted him with cuddles and soothing words. In the Bible God shows his father-love for us, not only by promising to quieten our frightened and fretful hearts with his love, but in his delight in us. Not only does God sing over us when we are awake, but Psalm 42 verse 8 tells that by night his songs are with us too. Let’s be comforted and encouraged by those promises today and tonight. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that we are your children and that you love and cherish us. Help us to relax into your arms and receive your comfort through the day and the night. Amen. Penny Cox
Read more