1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
Here are some thoughts I had the other day about how wonderful it is to follow Jesus. I hope they bless you…
Isn’t it just the neatest thing to think that all we have to do is lift up our prayers to the Father and go on with our day not taking any of the “care” in our prayer on us? Our prayer goes up to the gold bowls of incense in His Presence and He takes on all the care for us, and those in need. What a blessed, gracious, loving Father we have, precious people. Amazing love. He takes all on care on Himself leaving us care-free. Hallelujah!
Wow, to think of not having run right smack into Jesus, of never having and taking the opportunity to discover all the things Jesus wanted to help me/us with. Why would anyone want to miss such an opportunity, such a life-changing and life-giving experience? His grace, mercy and faithfulness know no bounds or limits. He just keeps leading…
I’d been raised in a Christian home with a father who was the president of a well-known Christian organization. And, I was training to be a pastor so how could I need counseling, right? How could I not know how to have a successful marriage and ministry? I found out that I was only fooling myself, that God knew it and stepped into my/our lives to heal us, face the facts, make us truthful, and to set us free on an ongoing basis until we reach Heaven. Thank You, Father. We would have been living a lie and totally lost without Your great faithfulness.
Now, I’m not saying that we didn’t grow weary at times and feel like giving up, but we kept feeling like Jesus was really leading us to a new place of living free in Him. We also had others loving us onto victory in Him.
There are so many dynamics that counselors look for and help us with. They may point areas of unnecessary care, strife, non-verbal communication issues like sighing or rolling the eyes in one partner that can really hurt the other partner and children, a lack of communication, a hurt in one or both partners that’s preventing the marriage from thriving, anger, unforgiveness, lust, a resistance to needed change, pride that can prevent healing – we can think we know it all so why change, or feel that I’m not going to make a change unless he/she does, fear of change and wondering if it’s worth it or if it will really help.
Identifying a moody or grumpy tendency, manipulative behavior, family/generational strongholds, getting to the point where they two can communicate without getting defensive and without finger-pointing. Identifying hurts of all kinds and learning to communicate honestly, responsibly and in a more mature fashion so real problem solving and health can take place. Learning to love, I mean really love, compromising, giving in. It tends to stop strife, selfishness, and calm us down.
Left untreated – and unrepented of – insecurity, inferiority, self-pity, selfishness, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, insensitivity to each others’ needs, will decimate a person and marriage. But, if these are repented of and dealt with, the person and marriage will thrive and be free in Jesus and all that He has in store for them.
Because we’ve been through counseling and lived with Jesus for a number of years now, we can often identify areas Jesus wants to touch and heal in others. We know what He can do for anyone willing to follow Him into honest to goodness renewal. Really, that’s why we began choosing Jesus every day. We wanted to put the desire for restoration in others and let them know that it is definitely possible and worthwhile.
Ann and I fall in love all over again all the time. Really! ☺ And, faithful Jesus continues to help us get more and more free as He keeps releasing us from more and more of “our” ways. There’s nothing like this wonderful life He’s given us. And, all because He loved us enough to help us get free in His matchless ways and love.
Truly, nothing we desire compares with Jesus, with The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
You (God) will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.
Psalm 16:11
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
The Lord is my shepherd. Mmmm…
God bless,
Mark