Daily Huddle - Thu Jan 7, 2021 Surely

Love you all, praying for you,
 
Have you ever had a bad day?  No… a really bad day?  Maybe a day you had high hopes for, but you were late for school or work, you missed the bus or your car broke down, you forgot a homework assignment, or lost a sale, or a key account cancelled, after spending weeks or months trying to keep them, not to mention the money, the next or greatest thing you hoped for got delayed, something you were really expecting didn’t happen, someone you thought would come through either forgot or chose not to, then you forgot to do something you promised, and your kid or your spouse or your friend was disappointed, and what you hoped would happen, didn’t happen and from the way it looks now… might never, and that day that had such high hopes just couldn’t have gone worse… Oh, I guess it could… but you can’t even think about that.  It was a complete disaster, and you just wish it had never even happened?  That kind of day?  One thing I love about God’s Word.  It’s for a day like that.  Here’s what He says to you…  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  That’s so key…  That means – the One who is in control of everything, is the One who cares for me, and takes care of me, and provides for and protects me like a shepherd, with His own life if He has to.  And because the Supreme Authority in the universe is my Shepherd, who takes care of my every need, I will not (ever) be lacking any good thing.  I will not be in need of anything.  He takes me to green pastures so I can lie down in them.  I can rest when I need to, or when the sun is at full heat, or at night, where my rest is sweet, and there is already breakfast waiting for me in the morning.  He doesn’t lead me in dry deserts, but green pastures.  That’s where we are going, even if we’re going through the dry desert right now, He’s taking me to green pastures, where all of my needs are met.  He leads me beside still waters, not dried up creeks, or raging rivers, but places where I can drink and quench my thirst.  And then… He restores my soul.  Not just physically giving me everything I need, he meets every need on the inside of me as well.  That means He heals disappointments, He forgives my sins, He fills unfulfilled dreams, He supplies my need for significance, with grace to fulfill what will truly fulfill me.  He turns failures to my benefit, He gives me contentment with successes past, and with accomplishments yet to come.  He brings rest to my soul, and vision for my future.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.  He shows me what is right – when I’m not even sure anymore, and helps me do it… Cause I don’t know and I can’t with just my own ability – which only can do it’s limit.  His ability has no limit.  And He leads me in the path for me!  The righteousness that is that relationship with Him on the journey He designed for me, and created me for… that I’m good with! That I can be excited about… for the glory and greatness of His Name, which requires a power greater than my own.  Because my glory would be limited to my name, and His glory is as unlimited as His Name.  (Everything He is, said, does, did and will do) He’s famous for it, and He uses me to add to it (If I will just be humble, and hear, and heed).  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (a day like today) when all hope seems gone, when there doesn’t seem to be any possible way of succeeding or even surviving…  I will fear no evil, for you are with me.  Because He is with me – Because He said He would never leave me nor forsake me, I will not fear any evil.  Even if it’s all that I can see around me, even if every last person I know is against me.  I will still not be afraid of anything because the One who created, controls and owns everything and everyone, who gives life from the dust, and brings life back from the dead, is right there with me!  He never left, and He knows what He’s doing, and He’s still doing it, and working even the worst day, or week or month or year – into good.  Your rod and your staff they comfort me.  Not just blind hope, but direction, correction, acceleration, and deceleration, so I know where to go, what to do, and the pace that brings success.  They comfort me, they control the path and the pace.  They are encouraging, only painful if I reject or insist on my own way, but will fully direct me and help me if I run with Him where He’s leading.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  He gives me food in abundance, everything I need, and that would be enough to prove His love for me… but He does it in full view of those who hate me.  He is the Source of full and complete vindication - when He doesn’t have to.  You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows… You honor me like a King’s heir, and supply me like a King’s son.  My life overflows with abundance in every good thing – in the Spirit first and the natural follows.  And on top of all that… Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Not only am I supplied with everything I need and overflowing in it!... honored and loved, protected, provided for, without fear, with constant help from the Sovereign LORD – who never leaves me and it’s just getting better!  Of an absolutely certainty!  Surely! This same goodness and love for me will never end!  It will follow me all the days of my life, and after that, I will then get to live in His house forever – without end!  So what was that again?  A bad day? Is it something He can’t handle?  Is it something He can’t do?  Is it something His love and goodness and mercy don’t cover, or is greater than His ability?   This is what God says, for days like that.  He gave you this gift of truth, Psalms 23.  It’s for you to apply it to yourself.  “to me”  So you can Thank Him for it, Praise Him for it, Declare it over you, and walk in the humility and obedience that ensures so you will go where He leads, lie down when He says lie down, in green pastures… Rise up when He says rise up, so you walk in His fullness, so you fear no evil, so you eat at His table, and run with great joy, the full race set before you… knowing that His goodness and love for you will never end, and you will live with Him, forever.  Praying that you will say it, Psalms 23, for yourself.  So your words over you – are His Words over you.    
 
Love you all,
dad