PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 23
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
I could spend time on every part of this psalm, there’s so much here.
And yet my heart gets caught on the rod and staff.
Used for prodding, pulling, or gently punishing if needed.
Yet there is comfort every time God’s gentle rod of direction correction is applied.
Imagine if God didn’t care, imagine if He let me do stupid things.
Sometimes discipline is withheld for love… but is that really love?
When I need to be warned or motivated, or when I need to be aware of consequences?
I don’t like having my sins and flaws revealed, it is humbling for sure.
But I would like even less if God did and said nothing, and let me crash without warning.
God loves me, and He hates seeing me go through the valley of the shadow of death.
He especially hates seeing me foolishly choose that path, and does His best to warn me.
Is God warning you, is God trying to keep you from making a foolish decision?
Do you feel a prompting or a prodding, a persistent feeling to stop, to reconsider?
Being warned or punished isn’t nice, but He cares enough to warn us when we need it!
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your gentle rod and staff. I’m starting to realize the ‘pain’ I receive from You is nothing compared to the pain that awaits me when I go my own way.
Lord help me find rest in You alone. Help me to walk without fear no matter what season or valley I walk though. Thank you for setting a table for me! Thank you for my overflowing cup!
“I will fear no evil” – my shepherd cares for me! Still I may have fits of anxiety – not to the point of panicky – but still unsettled. Still Psalm calms me – I think of the threats David felt – I too am calmed knowing that my Jesus knows – there’s nothing outside his view! Thank you Jesus!