Life In the Shepherd’s Care

Last night I had a gathering of 7 ladies at my home, just to worship and wait on the Lord. In Psalm 22:3, the bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. Together, we created an atmosphere to welcome His presence. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and God always shows up.

I shared with the Ladies how the scriptures show us what the normal Christian life looks like and how we are to intermingle our lives with His to walk the Christian walk. To be able to lean on Him, get strength from Him, get wisdom, hear His voice, get refreshed, receive peace and be able to walk above whatever life throws at us. It seemed to speak to them. I thought I’d share it with you all and see if it speaks to you as well.

Years ago, as I was reading 1 John 10, a concept stood out to me that has guided my convictions ever since. In context, we know that this passage of scripture is speaking about how Jesus is the only way to salvation. It’s saying how others might think they can get in another way, but Jesus is the gate keeper and the only way. As I read verse 3, something spoke to me metaphorically.

Verse 3 reads:  My sheep know my voice and I lead them in and out of the fold and they will find pasture. 

I saw this as a model for our relationship with God. Let me explain.  Jesus likens us to his sheep, He is the Shepherd, and the sheep go in and out of the fold by His leading. What happens in the fold. The sheep are taken care of, fed, cleaned, groomed, and given whatever they may need. Then they go out of that fold having had their needs met, while the Shepard continues to keep His eye on them.

My takeaway, as simple as it may be, is that this is a perfect picture of our relationship with the Lord. Each day, I go into the fold (my secret place) and spend time with Him. I get what I need to live a godly life for that day. I am fed, I can rest, I can receive wisdom, be nurtured, be strengthened, and get to know Him better. All by following my Shepherd. Then I go out of the fold to meet my day and all my responsibilities.  I go to my job, I mother my children, be a wife, and whatever else the day may hold for me. In my going, I can be confident that I’m never alone since His watchful eye is always on me, which allows me to connect with Him throughout my day.  When I’m stressed, I remind myself about the pasture he leads me into. His pasture reminds me of a slower, more rhythmic way of being, grounded. What a blessing to be given this way of life as we follow Jesus.

In Matthew 11:30, Jesus said my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If you stay out of the fold (neglect your time with him) for too long, you will grow weak, hungry for the wrong things, look for love and care in the wrong places, become weary, vulnerable, frazzled, and overwhelmed by life. If this is you and your burden in life feels heavy, maybe you need to go back to the fold and lay it all down in His pasture.  Let this be a sign you’ve been away from him for too long. Turn around and go back to the shepherd who is always waiting at the gate to let you back in where you belong.

This chapter also says that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus has come that we might have life, life more abundantly or fully. (verse 10)

How can we have this abundant, full life he came to give us? By following this example of on living a life surrendered to Christ; always returning to the fold so the Good Shepherd, Jesus, can tend to our needs and clean us up before we go out into the world again.  We know how much dirt can get on us in this world, don’t we?

Getting back to my ladies meeting, where we went back to the fold together, we all said the results were refreshing, enlightening, encouraging, strengthening and peaceful. Have you been back to the fold lately?

I’d love to know if this spoke to you at all. My hope is that it will motivate you to press into God more often so that he can love on you and instruct you in the way that you should go. (Psalm 32:8) Then you can go out into the world strong, equipped, powerful, and overflowing with the love of God.