HE will do it!

          ​Last week I shared on being thankful but this week I don’t feel the need to move on from this topic. The reality is thanksgiving is a powerful thing, a powerful tool that we should always have in our tool kit.
         I am also not going to move on from talking about Psalm 23. There is still more to say. As I said before, it is a psalm that reminds us that our God is right there with us in the midst of every trial we may go through and, He is not just there, but He is blessing us and enabling us to go through successfully. 
         In fact, from the first three verses we see that God is the One doing it all. In verse 1 it reminds us that He is our Shepherd and we have all that we need. That first verse, to me, pretty much sums up the entire psalm. But in verses two and three, each line starts with “He...”
         HE makes me to lie down in green pastures
         HE leads me beside the still waters
         HE restores my soul
         HE leads me in the paths of righteousness 
         For His name’s sake.
Do you see anywhere there where we are the ones doing the leading, the guiding or the restoring? NO! God is doing it and it’s not because we are lazy, it’s because He loves us and He is taking the initiative. It's because He is able, He can do it when we can’t. He doesn’t expect us to try to do it because for sure we will fail. And this is where we can be thankful, that even though we can’t do it ourselves God will do it for us. He will sustain us, He will keep us, He will guide us, He will restore and refresh us when we need it. In Him, we have everything that we need but many times we miss it. I think it’s because we get so distracted by the challenges of life that we lose our focus, we lose sight of our God and the fact that He is right there, unchangeable, unmoving and He is looking out for us. He sees the trouble before it even comes and He is ready and waiting with the help we need. 
         From verses four and five, however, a shift takes place. It becomes more personal and David switches from “He” to “You.” Think about it, when trials and difficulties come our way, God becomes closer and dearer to us.
         Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For YOU are with me,
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
         YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
         YOU anoint my head with oil; 
         My cup runs over.
I don’t know about you but when I am going through storms, God becomes even more personal to me. The desperation, the frustration, the hurt, whatever it is, draws me to my God in a way that I recognize that it is my God and my God alone that can and will see me through this situation.
          On top of all of this, my God blesses me for others to see, even my enemies. Yet, I don’t think He just wants to bless us so that our enemies can feel badly – that’s what we would like to think – but I think He wants them to see that if He could forgive us and take us under His wing and take care of us, He will do the same for them too once they surrender to Him. Remember, with God there is always a bigger picture!
         And finally, He will cause goodness and mercy to follow us always. To me that means that they will follow me in the valley and on the mountaintop; they will follow me in the good times and in the bad. Think about those three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3: 19-27). God’s goodness and mercy followed them straight into that fiery furnace, enabled them to walk around as if nothing was happening and brought them out safely, without even the smell of smoke on them! 
         We have so much to be thankful for! Our God will never leave us or forsake us and that’s the first and main point we need to always remember. And, if He will always be there for us and with us, it doesn’t matter what comes our way, HE will lead us, HE will guide us, HE will refresh us, HE will protect us, HE will strengthen us, HE will deliver us, HE will bless us, HE will keep us! BE THANKFUL!!!
         If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so now. God is not distant from us. He desires a very personal relationship with us. He loves us and wants to take care of us. He wants to meet us at the point of every need. Give Him that chance today to be the support, encouragement, and very personal God that He wants to be to you ALWAYS.

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