Tag Archives: jesus is our shepherd

July 6, 2026 · 5:42 AM

Moving Meadows

I often refer to September 25, 2003 as the day I hit rock bottom in my life. After months of struggling, the straw that broke the camel’s back hit me that night. I had to face about 30 people who worked for me and tell them I didn’t have the money to pay their checks. I was in a construction process and getting money from another business in town to fund everything. When I went to get my final withdrawal, they declined to give it. My source had dried up. They decided to take over my business and fire me. In hindsight, God was moving me to a different place in life, but in the moment I didn’t understand. I’ve seen Him cut off one source in my life to get me to follow Him to my next.

In 1 King 17, Elijah told King Ahab there wouldn’t be any rain until he said so. Then God directed him to go live by Kerith Brook during the drought where he would have water and ravens would bring him meat and bread. While he was in the place God had him, and was providing for him, the brook dried up. God was moving him to a new place and a new source. When arrived at the village God sent him to, he saw a widow gathering sticks to make a fire for her last meal. He asked her to give it to him and then use the leftovers to make a meal for herself. When she obeyed, God caused her oil and flour to never run out until the drought was over providing for both of them and her son.

Psalm 23:1-2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams” (NLT). When the Lord is our shepherd, we have all that we need. He will lead us from place place and from provision to provision. In these stories, the business I was borrowing from wasn’t my source, nor were the brook and ravens Elijah’s source. Provision is found in the place the shepherd leads us to. We need to learn to be attached to the shepherd more than the current location of provision. God is constantly shaping and growing us, and that often requires moving meadows. Instead of guarding and fighting for old provisions, listen to the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him to greener meadows and peaceful streams of provision.

Photo by Marlon Paul Bruin on Unsplash

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June 13, 2024 · 5:02 AM

Listening To His Voice

Several years ago I read a book called “While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks” by Dr. Timothy Laniak. The author lived with nomadic shepherds in the Middle East in order to gain a greater understanding of what Biblical shepherding was all about. In one chapter he discussed the position of the shepherd in relation to the sheep. There are times when the shepherd is out front leading them, and other times when he’s behind them pushing them forward. When the sheep are an open area, the shepherd is out front. The sheep follow for protection and provision. When they’re traveling through a low visibility area, the shepherd will go behind the sheep to keep them moving. The ones in front feel the pressure of the movement to move forward.

In John 10, Jesus was using shepherds to teach the people about Himself in a manner they could relate to. He called Himself the Good Shepherd. He talked about being the gate as the shepherd. They would have understood the shepherds put the sheep in a pin at night and the shepherd sleeps in the doorway to protect them. He talked about how when dangers come, hired hands run, but the shepherd stays. He then discussed how the sheep know His voice and listen when it’s time to leave the pen. Verse 4 says, “When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call” (AMP).

Is Jesus out front leading you or is He pushing you from behind right now? Are you listening to His voice as He guides you? There are a lot of competing voices out there trying to get your attention. Jesus said His sheep know His voice and listen to Him. They know Him and He knows them (verse 27). We must be tuned into His voice each day in order to go where He leads. Whether you have low or high visibility right now for your direction, take time each day to be still and quiet your mind. Pray, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” Then wait in silence until you hear Him. He’s speaking to you constantly, trying to lead you, but you must listen for His voice and recognize His call. The more you sit quietly in His presence, the more you will hear Him speak to you.

Photo by Peyman TDR on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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August 27, 2018 · 5:43 AM

Living A Full Life

If you Google, “How to have a better life,” you’ll find several articles with 10 things to do or 3 steps to a better life. There’s no shortage of ideas on how you can improve your life. There are also countless pages of Life Coaches out there who want to help you as well. All of that tells me that people aren’t happy with their lives and they’re looking for ways to get a more fulfilling life. You get one shot at this life, so why not make the most of it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to improve your life or situation, but I think we must be careful where we look for it.

In John 10, jesus is explaining that He is our shepherd and that He leads us. He says we follow a His voice and not a stranger’s because we know Him. Then in verse 9 He says, “I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction” (TPT). Not only is He our shepherd, but He’s also the gateway to the life we’re looking for. Who knows more about life than the creator of life? The freedom and satisfaction so many of us are looking for is found only in Him.

In verse 10 He goes on to say, “I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!” Being a Christian doesn’t mean you’re to live a boring life. It means you’ll live life to its fullest. We’ve got to stop going to Google for how to get a better life and go to God who wants to give it to you. Nothing is more satisfying than living the life you were created to live. The only way you find that is through Jesus. We must submit to Him and His will as a sheep submits to a shepherd, and then ask Him to lead us to an abundant life that’s more than we could ever expect. That’s how we have a full, satisfying life.

Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash

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