Thoughts Reflections and Inspirations

This freedom from self centeredness is so wonderful. When walking with the Good Shepherd, I don’t need to worry anymore what everbody else thinks of me. I don’t have to protect myself or do things to protect my reputation. I am now free to follow Him and let all consequences with Him. Because He owns me and I am His sheep I don’t have to worry any more, but just follow Him wherever He leads me and do what He says, In all this, we don’t become robots because this is by choice, not by force or obligation or demand.

I now realize this walk and this life is all for His name’s sake. Life is now all about Him and not all about me. This is a relationship of love and free choice and my will joining with His will. Now because of the work of restoration He has done, I no longer want anything different than what the Good Shepherd wants. Now my life can be free and full of joy and thanksgiving.

When I face the hard things in life, I don’t face it alone. Being in a position where you don’t need to be afraid is such a relief. When I know He loves me enough that He died for me, then I also know He will work out the best for me and Him in every situation. He has thousands of powerful angels at His command 24/7, and He can send them to help me any time He decides to. What a life!

“…he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalms 23:3. Some people have an endless struggle in life with things that they know are wrong. That\’s very sad for many Some people have an endless struggle in life with things that they know are wrong. That’s very sad for many reasons. First, this is not necessary because it is not the plan of God nor the provision of the Good Shepherd. Some have an endless struggle with pornography because they keep feeding it instead of completely turning their back on it. When you realize that your eternal welfare depends on the work of Christ in your life you will find the blood of Jesus sufficient to cut off sinful habits. There is total victory in the finished work of Christ. You bring that victory into your life by faith. Faith will come to you as you take in the Word of God. Talking to God about your failures, needs, and shortcomings will strengthen you. Just take one step at a time and He will lead you in the paths of righteousness.

If we fail, we have a Good Shepherd that understands and forgives if we ask Him. We must then forgive ourselves and follow on. He can only lead us on as we follow on. This is a walk, a journey, and we are never alone. Even when others forsake us, He, the Good Shepherd, never will.

When we focus on the Good Shepherd and the path He is leading us on, we tend to forget about ourselves. This is a great relief when we no longer have to be self centered because it is all for His name’s sake.

When the Good Shepherd restores us, He does a complete work. He puts within us new desires, His will and His laws are now written on our hearts. Nobody has to walk beside us with a big stick to keep us from doing wrong. The desires have changed. I know of people hooked on drugs or alcohol that were delivered instantly by this work of God. God can take away the very desire for wrong things, but we must decide that we are completely finished with it. That usually is our decision. Then ask the Lord to take the hunger away for it. Don’t stop there though. You need to ask Him to give you a hunger for something new. He will!

Feed the new life He gives you. Will you ever be tempted again? Usually, yes, since the devil does not give up easily. If you look for it, the strength will be available to say ‘no’ to the wrong and ‘yes’ to the right. That is our responsibility.

“…he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalms 23:3. After restoration, He, the Good Shepherd, will continue to lead you forward. The secret to not going back into the old life and habits is to keep moving forward with the Good Shepherd. Because you are completely finished with your own way, you have become leadable. That is the character of a real sheep. The Good Shepherd will now lead you further into right living, right thinking, right actions and right habits.

There are people who specialize in restoring old tractors or cars. They take the old paint off and repaint. They, in some cases, may rebuild the engine. Perhaps they upholster the seats. In short, they clean everything up, put on new parts, make the old machine new again. Some people do this with old houses. By the time they are finished in some cases, it’s hard to recognize that it is actually the same house.

The Good Shepherd restores our soul (Psalms 23:3). He cleans us up from our sin and sinful ways as we confess them He gives us a new heart. There is a description of this in Hebrews 8:10b “…I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people;”. Verse 12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

It is the work of the Good Shepherd to clean us up. We are not capable of doing it ourselves. Our part is to bring ourselves completely to Him, totally admit who we are in our condition, however broken it may be. He will then strip off the old, and clean us up. Then He will bind up the broken hearted, bring liberty to the captives, release us from our bondages, comfort those that mourn, give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise in exchange for the spirit of heaviness. He will then clothe them with His righteousness, and the Lord will be glorified (Isaiah 61:1-3).

We have the choice between two masters. The One created us, loves us, gave His life for us, is a faithful Promise Keeper and is preparing a wonderful place for us. The other one is a deceiver and one who robs, steals, kills and destroys. By deception, he entices the ignorant into his trap of sin and tries to hold them captive until they die. Then they belong to him forever.

Some have said, “But it is so hard to follow the Lord.” The reality is, it is much harder a life to not follow the Lord. Why is this true? Because the Lord truely is the Good Shepherd and you can trust Him with everything.

When a person releases himself fully into the hands of the Good Shepherd, he will begin to come into peace and blessing. As we cast all our care on Him, He cares for us (I Peter 5:7). That full 100% commitment makes all the difference. When a a person finally realizes he cannot help himself nor become righteous by himself, then he is ready to receive divine help from God. He is the God of all comfort.

When a person makes a whole hearted commitment, with no reserves, to follow the Good Shepherd, it will then make it possible for Him to lead us into green pastures and beside still waters. We can rest there, we can be refreshed there, we can live there under the care, protection, blessing and provision of our Good Shepherd.