We already have everything we need (Nov 28)

Verses for the day

• Ps 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
• Ps 23:6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Thoughts

Do you live with the confidence that God HAS ALREADY provided everything you need? If God promised it, it is as good as if we have it right now! That’s the life of faith.

These words of Psalm 23:1-3 have really ministered to me this morning. As David reflects on God as His Shepherd, he declares:

• I have all that I need. He doesn’t say, “God is going to provide all I need.” or “I am hoping God will provide it…” David says, “I ALREADY have all that I need.”
• He lets me rest in green meadows. In “The God of All Comfort” Hannah Whitehal Smith reminds us, “The Shepherd knows what pastures are best for His sheep, and they must not question or doubt, but must trustingly follow Him. Perhaps He sees that the best pastures for some of us are to be found in the midst of opposition or of earthly trials. If He leads you there, you may be sure they are green pastures for you, and that you will grow to be made strong by feeding in them.” David says, “I can rest in God’s green pastures!
• He renews my strength! When Jesus offered “living water” to the woman at the well, he told here, (John 4:14) But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Jesus Himself is a bubbling spring of life… thirst quenching, never ending refreshment… He invites us to drink of His life and His Word..

David goes on to say that (Ps 23:6 ) Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life. No matter how many times Israel walked away from Him and rebelled and disobeyed, God’s unfailing love pursued them! It did all the days of their life, and continues to this day! And as his bride today, we can be confident the same is true of us!

May we have faith like Abraham who, believed God’s promise. Standing, looking up at the stars, and God said, “That’s how many descendants you will have,” Abraham believed, and God credited him with righteousness. (Gen 15:5-6)

Prayer

As we approach Thanksgiving, Father I want to thank you for your unfailing love and your goodness. Thank you for pursuing me with your love. Thank you that you will never stop loving me, and that you will never leave or forsake me.

Father thank you that I can live with the confidence that I have everything that I need. You said in 2 Peter 1:3 that you have ALREADY given us everything we need for living a godly life! You reminded your disciples that we can’t add even one minute to our lives by worrying (Matt 6:27), so why are we worried about such things.

Father thankyou for your green pastures. May you teach me to rest in them with the confidence that I will grow stronger by feeding in them.

Father thank you that Jesus Himself is a bubbling spring of life within me, quenching my thirst, and providing a never ending source of refreshment when I choose to drink from Him and His Word.

I pray for my children today that they will find you to be sufficient in these things. I pray they will go to you and your word and find you to be a never ending source of refreshment for their souls. Thank you that you are, and we already have everything we need!