He Leads Us

God leads us. What an incredible thought. Psalm 23 describes it this way: "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters..." Did you notice the personal nature of each thought? "The Lord is MY shepherd....He makes ME....he leads ME..." Have you made the Lord your Lord? There is a tremendous joy in knowing Jesus as "my shepherd." One advantage to the Lord shepherding us is that he leads us. One of the pictures described in Psalm 23 is that of a shepherd. Sheep know the voice of their shepherd. They trust the shepherd completely and will follow wherever he leads. Even when the shepherd leads, hardships and obstacles must still be crossed. The shepherd ensures that each one makes it through. Does it really matter where he leads as long as we are with him? There is tremendous joy in being in his fold. We may not know what is around the next corner, but that's ok, for we are with the shepherd. Just being in the presence of the shepherd gives us courage and peace, even in the face of danger. For when danger or times of uncertainty come, our Shepherd stands in front of us to protect with the promise to never leave us. He advances and we gain the victory. A song we sing from time to time in church is entitled "Shepherd of My Soul." The lyrics go like this: "Shepherd of my soul, I give you full control. Wherever You may lead I will follow. I have made the choice to listen to Your voice. Wherever You may lead I will go. Be it in a quiet pasture, or by a gentle stream, the Shepherd of my soul is by my side. Should I face a mighty mountain, or a valley dark and deep, the Shepherd of my soul will be my guide." Is the Lord your Shepherd? Are you listening to His voice? Are you following His lead? If so, then you can say, along with the Apostle Paul "If God is for me, who can be against me?" For Paul realized that nothing in this life could ever separate us from the love that God has for us. A love that would lead the Shepherd of our souls to lay his life down for us that we might live forever. If God would do that, then He is worthy of our following Him.