{ADVENT DEVOTIONAL} BORN FOR THE BROKEN- The Lord Is My Shepherd
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The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Have All That I NeedAdvent scripture reading: Luke 2:8-20Psalm 23:1-3 NLTThe Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.He renews my strength. Of all the names used for God in scripture, Jehovah Rohi —“the Lord is my Shepherd” — has brought me the most peace and comfort this last year.Do you know all that a shepherd does to care for his sheep?In his book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Phillip Keller gives an in-depth look at a shepherd's duties and how they care for their sheep through the lens of Psalm 23."It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways… Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance." (pg 22) Today, I want to focus on one specific aspect of a shepherd's duties to his sheep and how it correlates to God (our shepherd) and us (His sheep) that's found inPsalm 23: 2:"he makes me lie down in green pastures ". Doesn’t this paint such a beautiful picture of peace? All too often, we are distracted from true worship and celebration of Jesus during this time of year because we feel restless and discontent — which are the opposite of peace.Keller outlines four reasons that keep a sheep from lying down and resting in the green pastures. The shepherd must remove these distractions in order for the sheep to lie down and rest:.• Fear and anxiety due to dangers and predators• Friction with other sheep• Irritation from flies and parasites• HungerLike sheep, we panic easily -fearing the unknown- which can overshadow the peace that the Lord gives us. Maybe you are experiencing financial uncertainty, health challenges, or the loss of someone close. Maybe you don't know what to expect next. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) assures us;Unlike sheep we can learn to consciously and intentionally choose to trust in our shepherd. Before uncertainty arises we can decide to trust in our shepherd and replace our fear with His power, His love, and His spirit of self-control.When there is friction among sheep this is called "butting order." They literally butt heads when there is tension, rivalry, and cruel competition. Sheep also experience extreme irritation from pests like flies and parasites that invade their bodies. If we are experiencing conflict or a strain in relationships, competition or feeling of comparison, or irritating circumstances in our life this can bring unrest to the holiday season. If you are feeling that there is a "butting order" against you or irritations invading your peace, take comfort in Psalm 55:22 ;Perhaps the most profound distraction that keeps us — God’s sheep— from experiencing His peace or "lying in green pastures" is hunger.Our souls crave and hunger for Jesus, a hunger that only He can satisfy.Keller explains the tremendous labor it takes to make sure his sheep are nourished and fed." Green pastures were the product of tremendous labor, time, and skill and land use. Green pastures were the result of clearing rough, rocky land; of tearing out brush and roots and stumps; of deep plowing and careful soil preparation; of a seating and planning special grains and legumes; of irrigating with water and husbanding with care and crops of forage that would feed the flocks." (pg. 53) The LORD our Shepherd manages all our needs, cares for us, and works tirelessly to make sure we are fed in order that we are able to lie down in His green pastures to have peace, rest, and be nourished.It doesn't surprise me at all that God chose Shepherds to be part of the story of Jesus’ birth. There is such a beautiful symbolism that God tucks into this story when he draws in the Shepherds.Jesus was born for the broken, weak, and needy "sheep" that we are.
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| YES, I WANT THE ADVENT SERIES |
As you move on with your day I encourage you to continue preparing your heart for the celebration of our Savior's birth using these tools I’ve given you. Remember Jehovah Rohi, The Lord Is My Shepherd!
Christmas blessings to you friend,
Melissa
Hi there, I'm Melissa!
I equip women who want to cultivate their life and home with God-honoring and holistically healthy rhythms. Subscribe to my email newsletter or check out my latest resource to help equip you and your family to live your best and healthiest life.