Lead me beside still waters, Restore my soul..

This morning I was at a bible study, it is so good to be in a season in life where my Monday morning starts with someone else looking after my child while I am challenged and blessed with studying God’s word & chatting about applying it to real life, the highs and lows, with other women. It is so encouraging and I don’t take it for granted, I want to savour it! If you are ever free on a Monday morning and live near IVY please join us!

We are going through ‘Eat, Pray, Hustle’ series at the minute looking at our dreams. Today was all about God being with us through the journey, not just providing answers and solutions right now, but building character and caring so much about you as an individual. Not all the hats you wear but the unique, designed, deep inside of who You are.

The psalm we looked at for this was Psalm 23. I LOVE this psalm as I have written before about how it was the song I would sing over my Lion to get him to sleep when he was smaller and would cry (a lot!). It soothed him but it also soothed me, it reminded me of who He is and helped me worship and rest in Him..not found much else able to do that at 3am with a screaming baby! It is also the prayer I pray over him each night..

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I found this beautiful info on a blog about Psalm 23 so have totally stolen it but I, of course, give ‘Pastor Bill’ total credit..

‘Fact: Only when you can say, “The Lord is my shepherd”, can you say, “I shall not want”. David took the sacred name “Jehovah” and linked it with the word “Shepherd”. This was a daring thing, but he did it by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. That name is Jehovah Rohi.

Names have meanings. They reveal the nature and character of God – who He is and what He wants to do in our lives (Character – determines – Conduct) The verb “is” was in the present tense. David was telling us what God meant to Him at that present moment! Note that David used the personal pronoun “my”. Our experience with God can never be vital until it is personal.

There are seven times where the name “Jehovah” is linked with another word. Each time it reveals to us the reasons why “I shall not want.”

Psalm 23.1, Jehovah Rohi – The Lord is my Shepherd

Gen 22.13,14, JehovahJireh – The Lord will Provide

Exodus 15.26, Jehovah Rapha – The Lord that Heals

Judges 6.24, Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace

Jeremiah 23.6, Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness

Ezekiel 48.35, Jehovah Shammah – The Lord Ever Present

Exodus 17.8-15 Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner

The Lord Jesus, our Shepherd, tells us that we shall not want. He has Gracious Sufficiency for His children. The names above fit this Psalm perfectly. Note how each name in in this Psalm.

Jehovah-Rohi The Lord is my shepherd.

Jehovah-Jirah (The Lord will provide) I shall not want.

Jehovah-Rapha (The Lord that heals) He restores my soul.

Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord our peace) He leads me beside still waters.

Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The Lord our Righteousness) He leads me in paths of righteousness.

Jehovah-Shammah (The Lord id present) I will fear no evil, Thou art with me.

Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord our banner) Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Just think of all we have when we say, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

Green pastures speaks of provision.

Still waters speaks of peace.

The restoring of my soul speaks of pardon.

Leading in the paths of righteousness speaks of providence.

His being with me in the dark valley speaks of presence.

His rod and staff speaks of preservation.

The table in the presence of my enemies speaks of protection.

The anointing of my head with oil and overflowing speaks of plenty.

‘Dwelling in the house of the Lord speaks of paradise.’

We were all really encouraged by this and it is definitely truth to meditate on. In looking at what our dreams are as individuals, families, a church community it is so good to know that our hope and faith is in this God. The one who is shepherd, provider, healer, peace, righteousness, present, victorious! The answer to every need.

I was encouraged last night as I visited my friends church in Harphurhey, people shared testimonies at the start which is always a winner! A friend shared how God has been speaking to her and her husband about ‘enough for today’, that there will always be ‘enough for today’. To trust Him for today, and therefore not worry about tomorrow. They have seen God show this truth many many times, her story last night was of a day when they had literally spent the last bit of money they had-she started to panic about how they would afford tomorrow (her sisters birthday meal)- yet gave it to God saying “You have provided enough for today, tomorrow you will provide for tomorrow.” She put her trust in Him and He provided, her husband had money come through that he wasn’t expecting and they could celebrate with her sister- ‘God even cares about the fun stuff’ her husband added! That is so true! Her history with God, the journey they have been on in seeing him provide, be there, never let them fall, meant she was quicker to give it to Him and get rid of worry and choose to Trust instead. Giving faith a seat at her table not fear.

Lets trust him in our dreaming, in our troubles, in our needs, in our expecting and in our fun! He is all we need. All He wants is your trust, is your closeness with Him, for you to stay with Him a little longer. Please take a bit of time to just be with Him again. I know I need to allow him to lead me beside still waters and restore my soul, I pray you experience this too. Listen to this song (for at least 4.5mins as that’s when the good stuff comes!) and know that He is all we need and all He wants is you..

A Little Longer. Bethel.