"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 NASB
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28 NASB
God set me free from sin in 1981. Thus began my incredible journey of getting to know Him and of finding out who I had really been created to be. I was drawn to the Psalms during that time, because I felt a close kinship to the heart of King David, the shepherd boy…and because I considered my sin to be on par with David’s sins of adultery and murder and was still considered to be a man after God’s own heart! Being able to identify with someone like David really did give me grace to keep seeking God.
During those days, it was not uncommon for me to stay up all night in anguish, as God would lead me into the wounded places of my soul and show me the green pastures and deep waters of His presence. Because I knew David had written Psalm 23, I gave it close attention and began to meditate on it. This meditation included me singing the Psalm over and over until I realized I had a very definite melody. This became my heart song! I titled is The Lord Is My Shepherd.
This song came in the early morning hours around one or two. I remember singing it over and over again, because it felt so good to finally be able to quote those verses of Scripture and really understand them, and experience them in a deep and personal way with my God. What follows is a brief summary of what God began to reveal to me from Psalm 23:
When God says He will meet my needs, I want for nothing…because He meets the real needs of my life - to know and to be known.
When I need fresh food for my soul, He leads me to quiet pastures full of life-giving replenishment of His presence.
When I feel thirsty in my soul, He is Living Water that never runs dry. In fact, He restores my soul, taking what was old and dead and replacing it with newness of life.
When I am anxious or need guidance, He reminds me of who and Whose I am.
Even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death concerning the struggle I now face with Parkinson’s, I do not walk in fear…because I am never alone.
When I am sent reeling by the lies of the enemy, the Good Shepherd gently catches me and helps me up by His mighty rod and staff and b rings comfort to the wounded places of my being.
I no longer believe the lies of the enemy that try to tell me I do not deserve anything but the crumbs of life that fall down from the table of the Lord’s presence. I am a servant of the King and my King invites me to sit AT the table of His presence and enjoy the feast of His presence in THIS life!
He has called me His own and calls me to Himself, anointing my head with oil - a soothing balm of the oil of His presence.
When I see my life from the Good Shepherd’s point of view, I do not look upon what I don’t have - I look at what I DO have…and my cup truly does overflow.
God is good and it was His lovingkindness that led me to repentance and salvation in the first place…and guess what? I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever.
Let’s sit boldly at the table of our King in the coming days and let us partake boldly of the feast of His presence…in THIS life!
Dennis Jernigan
To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on this subject and to hear the song referred to in the teaching, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-1611680283/
Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/03/26/09/44/sheep-690198_1280.jpg