Psalm 23
Spirit, Your thoughts, Your ways. Grow my faith I pray.
The Shepherd looks over His flock. Nothing escapes His attention. He knows my needs before I do. He doesn’t withhold good things from me. He longs to be one with His children.
The Lies
1. He rewards good sheep. The “good care” reward is a result of my good behavior.
2. He lets bad sheep keep going their own wicked way. He lets us make a mess of things to teach us a lesson.
3. His care is not consistent. Some days He intervenes for His sheep. Others He keeps His distance. He punishes with the silent treatment.
The Truth
1. God deeply cares for all His sheep. While I was still a sinner He gave up Christ for me. His good care is a constant, a guarantee, a promise, a covenant and not based on me. He is faithful even when I am not.
2. He searches for the wayward sheep to carry it home. He will come after me – ALWAYS. I am His sheep. He cares about me. He rescues me out of my messes.
3. He is the same always. He doesn’t distance Himself. He doesn’t pull away, get mad and put up walls. I don’t have to re-earn His favor. He is good – always. I never have to fear what He will be like today.
Monday, August 8, 2005 ~ Kristen Sauder
This is so powerful. Thanks for taking the step to share Kristen’s personal journal with us! Her influence is STILL reaching others. I sat under her teaching when she did the study from Psalm 23 (Trading Panic for Peace) several years ago. One of the best studies I’ve ever taken. Still remember many things she shared from her heart through that study. Just the other day I pulled that study book out and was flipping through it. I wrote down things that really spoke to me. One of them was this (Kristen’s own words): “When you are going through a really hard time, get as close to Jesus as you can. And stay there. As close as you can possibly get.” She truly lived that out until her last day on this earth. It thrills my heart just thinking that she is face-to-face with Jesus! Looking forward to learning more and more from Kristen’s journal in the days ahead. Sauder family, you guys are in our prayers!