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Psalm 23:5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 25, 2017

Safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of Jesus.

Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
 
[We tend to think of peace as being the absence of any threat, but you give us a different perspective, Lord, one where your presence is enough to bring peace, no matter what may be threatening us.
 
In the picture you give us, you provide us with a sumptuous table set out on the lawn, decked out elegantly, filled with delicious food, ready for the guests. But, on the edges of the wide lawn are a roaring lion (fear), a growling bear (worry), a prowling tiger (greed), a slinking jaguar (lust) and a menacing rogue elephant (impatience) trumpeting his anger. The sight and sound of any one of these dangerous enemies is enough to strike fear in our hearts.
 
Yet there stands Jesus, calm, quiet and smiling. He calls us to the table and motions for us to sit down. The threatening roars and growls increase, but our enemies dare not come close when the All-Mighty Shepherd is there.
 
As we turn our focus to Him, the threat, the noise, the fear all fade. Peace comes because of His presence, contingent not on the absence of danger but on the absolute power of Christ. We eat in peace, enjoying His company, the conversation and the feast provided by His hand.
 
He could remove the enemies if he wanted, but as we live in a fallen world, he allows Satan and his cohorts to exist, for he uses them to accomplish his purposes of bringing all who are willing into the Kingdom, of maturing His children, of giving us opportunity to live out the Truths of His Word. We are safe, in spite of the presence of danger.
 
Lord help me today to live in the power of your presence, ignoring the threats of the enemy, focusing instead on you, on Truth, on your might, on your beautiful character, on your being the One in control, the One who has a plan, who will carry it out in faithfulness and power, and on the fact of your continual abundant provision. Praise be to you, our Conqueror, our Protector and our Provider.]
 
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A God Worthy of Our Enthusiasm

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 23, 2017
Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of waking from disturbing dreams and finding you there, strong and gracious, kind and firm., protecting and delivering. In the midst of all the world’s uncertainty, the stability of your goodness is such a support. It is so comforting to know that you do not change, for you never tire, grow impatient or fade in your love.
 
You are my resting Place, my Shelter, my Shield, my high Tower, my Fortress and my Deliverer. As I think of the past, a long stream of God sightings come to mind, events where you have provided, protected, intervened and answered prayer—all showing your love, commitment and goodness.
 
As I look to the future, which is ever uncertain–every day could harbor a disaster—knowing you as the unchanging, mighty and gracious God, I can relax in your love, rejoice in your goodness and be ready to embrace whatever comes.
 
Not only do we have you as our personal Shepherd, you have given your children a wide and high perspective on history, both past and future. You have great and comprehensive plans which you will bring to pass. You are dealing with injustice, violence and evil. You are working to bring as many as possible into the Kingdom.
 
In addition, you are giving your children multiple opportunities to mature, deepen and earn rewards by responding to all in faith. As we offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving for whatever you allow, we can, like Jesus–for the joy that is set before us–endure whatever cross you give us, despising the shame, knowing that we are going to be set down with you in heavenly places (Heb. 12:2).
 
We can know that, along with whatever challenges you bring to us, you will give us more than enough grace to move through them with power: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1). You will give us more than enough insight, answers, direction and resources.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, for your mighty grace, your majestic love and your magnificent plans, into which you have brought us. I praise you for the purpose, the meaning, the hope and the future you have laid out before us.
 
I praise you for your giving us your Spirit to teach, rebuke, guide and provide for us whatever we need to live for you. I praise you that no matter how I may feel, the truth is that you, Lord Jesus, in your “divine power [have] given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of [you] who called us by [your] own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3).
 
Help us to live in the light of these Truths, Lord Jesus, to walk in wisdom, in faith and in grace so that we may be hope carriers, light bringers and faith givers to all those around us today.
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Psalm:23:4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 21, 2017

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”

[Such valleys come in my life. I have been faced with physical death, with death of a vision and death to self: dark times that were difficult, disorienting, distressing–like my wife’s long lasting depression. You knowingly lead us into these, just as when you sent the disciples out  in their boat into the teeth of the storm (Matt. 14:22-24)

And it is for good reasons that you, Lord Jesus, lead me into and through these valleys–the greatest two being my giving you glory through trust, and my growth in grace. And you have other reasons beyond my present understanding. I can trust you as you lead me through the darkness, no matter how it feels–what you taught me in the light is still true in the darkness.]

“I will fear no evil, for you are with me;”

[Evil is there in both presence and potential, but I need not fear it, for you are with me–you, my Great and Good Shepherd, who is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer. When you are there, what grounds do I have for fear? You are over all and in control of all; you are our great and mighty Ruler. I praise you for your faithful and powerful presence, full of wisdom and grace, love and firmness, able to  protect us in the midst of any evil.]

“your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’

[With your rod, you hold our enemies at bay. You rule with a rod of iron; no one can defeat you in battle: “there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30). Therefore I need not fear.

And with your staff, you guide me, correct me, bring me back to the path when I wander off your way. It is my nature (old self) to veer off the path, for I don’t have a valid compass of my own. But your constant correction with your staff (your Word, your Spirit, consequences to my wrong choices) keeps me on track. My course may be a zigzag as I stray and you bring me back, but the progress with you is always forward.

Praise you that you are helping me to walk more in wisdom, to zigzag less, to squander less time and energy on my own way, thereby bringing you more glory as I tread your path.

Praise you, Lord Jesus, for your faithful and powerful presence and protection. To you be glory and praise and honor, for you know the way through the dark. You are worthy of exaltation, thanksgiving and obedience.

I bow before you today in faith, I rise up in the day’s dawn to walk in submission to your loving guidance, especially when it takes me through dark times. Truly, the commandments of the Lord are radiant, giving light to my eyes (Ps. 19:8). Praise be to YOU!]

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Psalm 23:3b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 21, 2017
Psalm 23:3b,“He leads me in paths of righteousness”
 
[I praise you, Lord Jesus, Our great Shepherd, that you carefully and consistently show us the right way, the best way to go, so we can walk with you well through whatever circumstances you bring or allow.
 
We can be sure that you will always lead us in what is righteous; when we feel led to do something that is less than righteous, we can be sure this is not from you.
 
So often we are advised by well-meaning people to “just follow your heart!” But our hearts are naturally “deceitful above all and desperately wicked…” (Jer. 17:9). You came to save us from your hearts, so we should follow you instead.
I praise you that we can know the way of righteousness because you reveal it to us with your Word, your life and the Spirit’s guidance.
 
Praise you for the preparation you have done to give us direction–drawing and driving us into the Word, teaching us your thoughts and giving us wisdom. Praise you for your constant presence to lead us step by step as we listen to you. Thank you for your loving, gracious care.]
 
“He leads me…for his name’s sake.”
 
[What a wonderful motive you have for guiding us—we can be sure your guidance will be right, for you will never guide us in doing something that would dishonor to your name.
 
Praise you that your foundational desires are always clear in your Word, that your Spirit prompts us in the right way, and that we can then bring glory to you by obeying you.
 
Part of your leading us on these righteous paths, is teaching us how to respond to difficulties and persecutions, which are possibilities to share in the sufferings of Christ. May we do this well, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving at each juncture and rejoicing in the privilege of honoring you.
 
I think of my lost passport in Charlotte, of our delayed arrival in Dallas, of my plane being late coming into Frankfurt and missing my train.
 
These uncomfortable situations were all opportunities to follow you in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake, by rejecting complaining, fear and anger, and instead exalting your name through offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, trusting you to have a plan and to work it out for the best. And in each case you did.
 
I praise you that these happenings show how trustable your leading is, how you always help us move away from our natural, selfish responses towards doing what is right and righteous, to keep your name clear and clean before all the seen and unseen beings around us.
 
You, Lord Jesus, are our gracious and good Shepherd, worthy of trust, worthy of worship, worthy of following. May I obey your leading today, following you in paths of righteousness.]
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Psalm 23:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 20, 2017
Psalm 23:3 “he restores my soul.”
 
[You, Lord Jesus, are the Shepherd of my whole being: spirit, soul and body. I praise you that, in believing in you, I was born again and you made my spirit come alive. Praise you that in living with you, my soul is being restored–moving me towards the pre-fall condition Adam and Eve enjoyed.
 
This is a partnership process, with each of us playing a part. You transform my soul (my thinking, my will and my emotions) as I lie down in your pasture, drink from your still waters, as I take in of your Word, bask in the beauty of your being, and live in the light, the love of your presence.
 
The rich discipline of memorizing your Word and praying through it while personalizing it, brings more transformation in each area. You teach me to think your thoughts, to desire your will, to lead my emotions. You are transforming what I understand, decide and feel.
 
In addition, worshiping you through praise brings additional change, much of it on an emotional level, as seen in a solidification of strength in my soul.
 
Praise brings a multitude of shifts:
–A greater grasp of your love, a deeper understanding of the security of belonging to you.
–A detachment from the thoughts and opinions of others, as I learn to fear you instead of people.
–A growing desire to please you, a deepening certainty of your goodness to do what is best, a deepening of faith.
 
Praise leads to:
–the response of giving thanks instead of complaining,
–of positive words and actions in in the place of critical negative statements.
–a deepened patience flowing from grasping that you control the timing of what is going on around me.
 
You, Lord Jesus, are the source of life, of healing, of transformation, of hope and joy. I praise you for your great and deep love which keeps you working with us, your stubborn sheep, who wound you afresh every day with our willful, selfish, sinful choices.
 
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for hurting you so. Forgive me for my rebellion and unbelief. Forgive me for not walking consistently with you through the day, not praying during conversations, not denying self when necessary, not rejecting fear of man, not immediately fleeing from lustful thoughts, not being diligent in what you have given me to do.
 
Help me today, Lord, to walk in close communion with you, to obey the clear commands of your Word, and to follow the promptings of your Spirit, so that I may not grieve your heart, so that my soul might be further restored and that you may receive more and more honor and glory.
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Psalm 23:2b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 19, 2017
 
Psalm 23:2b “…he leads me beside quiet waters,”
 
[As our good Shepherd, you know of our need to drink deeply of your Truth. Therefore you carefully and consistently lead us to the source of living waters–your Word. You encourage us to come to quiet waters, to spend focused and unhurried time with you.
 
However, instead of coming to drink wisely, we often wade into these waters with our worries and impatience, riling our thoughts and muddying our perspective.
 
Praise you for your patience and graciousness, working to train us in quietness and contemplation, teaching us to lift our souls to you, to pour out our hearts and then wash our negative thoughts, worries and frustrations away with the cleansing water of your Word.
 
Praise you that your provision of quiet waters is perfect: it is pure, it is abundant, it is healing. In our physical lives, drinking sufficient water can prevent problems caused by dehydration, and can speed recovery from sicknesses we have.
 
So it is in the spiritual realm. Time with you, in your Word, in worship, drinking deeply of Truth, all bring transformation, strengthening of faith, deepening of understanding, broadening of surrender and nurturing of our first love. These prevent us from falling unnecessarily into sins like rebellion, selfishness, worry and fear.
 
I praise you for your persistent faithfulness in calling us aside to drink of the Word with its powerful enlightening, revealing, convicting and healing properties.
 
I praise you, O Lord God, that you give us significant choices: to follow you beside still waters or not; to drink or not; to spend time with you or not.
 
Being in your Word–reading, memorizing, meditating, praying–are such unnatural activities, fought against by the world, the flesh and the devil. Yet they are the most normal ones for the sheep who love you, who desire to live for you and are committed to following you wholeheartedly.
 
Praise you for the privilege of soaking in the Word with the understanding your Spirit brings. Help me to drink of it daily, to delve into its depths and see more of your beauty and goodness. I thank you today for what you will teach me through it. Glory be to you.]
 
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Living in the Light as a Joy Bringer

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 18, 2017
Thank you, Lord, that, even though it is dark and gloomy out today, within me is your light, your Sonshine to warm and cheer me.
 
I praise you that you want us to have joy: rich, deep, abiding, refreshing and empowering joy. The flow of this joy is dependent on you, and therefore is fully independent of circumstances, feelings, suffering, persecution, weakness or difficulties.
 
However, the entrance of such joy into our lives is dependent on us: “May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace AS YOU TRUST IN HIM…” (Rom. 15:13).
 
This joy is like a beam of light shining into a dark room through a hole in a wall; if we stand before it, we are enlightened, warmed and encouraged. If we move away from it, we may see it, but it does not touch us.
 
We have to look away from the darkness of this world and come to you, trusting you to be our Light, our Lord, our Life, and walk in your way. As it says in Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining on ever more brightly till the full light of day.”
 
Then Psalm 86:4 gives us another aspect of receiving joy, saying “Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for I lift up my soul to you.” It is that coming into the light, looking to you, Lord, being transparent, open, honest before you, confessing our worries, fears and frustrations to Him, comparing them to Truth and laying them aside as we stand in the warm, healing light of His presence.
 
This is what Jesus desires for us. In John 15:10,11 He said, “If you keep my commands [don’t worry! Don’t fret! Don’t fear! Trust in me!], you will remain in my love…I have told you this SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU and that your joy may be complete [full].” He wants us to be filled with His joy so that we might be light bearers, hope bringers, faith carriers and love givers to all those around us.
 
If I am negative, worried, fearful, discouraged or complaining, I have stepped away from the light, turned from trusting you, Lord, and will blend into the dark shadows of this corrupt world.
 
But if I stand in your light, thinking truth, bringing all the sin and weight that entangles me to you, leaving them at the foot of the cross, then I will stand out sharply from the shadows, a flaming torch of hope and joy spilling light and love to all around me.
 
Lord, help me to live in your light, to rejoice in your goodness, to be filled with joy because I know you, the mighty Creator, the majestic Ruler, the marvelous Shepherd, the magnificent Savior.
 
Help me, Lord God, to let go of the temporary that entangles and tramples my soul; to hold on to the truth that frees, enlightens, equips and brings joy; and help me then to rise above whatever comes, soaring on the wings of truth, borne up by the shining feathers of your grace and goodness.
 
Help me to move forward in your love and light today, drawing ever closer to you so that your joy may fill me to overflowing and bring light and life to all those around me.
 
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Psalm 23:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 17, 2017

Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down”

[I praise you, Lord Jesus, that, as my Shepherd, many times you don’t ask my opinion about what challenges I should face. Instead you, in your wisdom and goodness “make me lie down” in situations I’d just as soon avoid, like my wife’s deep depression that has been going on for some years.

Praise you for your love and wisdom in doing this, arranging events, circumstances and pressures that will cause me to grow and give me opportunity to give you glory by acting in faith.

Sometimes I could get up and walk away from this pasture (out of a relationship, off a job, away from a neighbor) before you are done with the lessons you want me to learn and the lives you want me to touch.

But once you’ve made me lie down, such rebellion would only lead to loss and then you would again make me lie down in a similar situation until I have learned what is necessary. Praise you that you are firm, persistent and powerful in your shepherding, wisely bringing me to what I need.]

“in green pastures,”

[The place you choose to make your sheep lie down is one where we can graze and grow. There is spiritual food, there is full provision, there is emotional nourishment. Praise you for your wisdom, that you know what is exactly right for each sheep and that you are persistent in providing it at that right moment.

We can trust you, no matter how brown the pasture may appear to us: an illness, a loss, a lingering depression, a difficult relationship, an unpleasant job. In your greater and more comprehensive understanding, you know it is a profitable place, providing us with the opportunity for growth, equipping and maturity.

Our green pasture is where each of us is now, the situation where, along with provision of beauty, comfort and the provision of our physical needs, there are pressures, stresses and challenges which push us onto our knees, into your Word, into your arms and through your lessons.

In these uncomfortable situations, you are giving us an understanding of our weakness, the opportunity to praise in distress, the chance to shed sin (complaining, gossip, selfishness and competition, to name a few) and to take up grace (forgiveness, kindness, service and love).

The harder it is, the greener the pasture. As it says in Romans 5:3,4, “…we also glory in our sufferings, BECAUSE WE KNOW that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

When we look at the larger view of what you are doing, we can gladly stay in the pasture you call green, until you tell us to move on. Help us to lie down where you lead us that we may join you in what you are doing: in us, through us and for us. May the sacrifice of praise permeate our lives so that we may be a sweet smell of grace and goodness to all around us.

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Security, Joy and Purpose

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 16, 2017
 
I am so thankful to wake up and find you waiting for me, Lord God. It is so good to be in your presence, in your hand, in your family, in your plan, in your love. Thank you that I am made to need you, to be weak in myself and strong in you.
 
You have designed me to fit snugly into your hand so you can use me in whatever way you decide, to bring glory to your name, to bring people to know you and help believers to maturity. You are the One to be lifted up, exalted and glorified. Guide me in doing so each day, Lord.
 
Be with those who are suffering today for your name’s sake; give them grace, wisdom and courage; help them to fear you, not people. Protect them from too much pressure; keep your hedge of angels around them.
 
Help them to respond with your grace by rejoicing in their persecutions as you taught in Matthew 5:11,12, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
 
I praise you, Lord, for your unwavering, gracious presence in our lives, unimpeded by anything that others can do to us. Praise you for the possibility of walking through each day in the freedom and light of your presence; help all your children to do that today.
 
Thank you for the day you have prepared for us, for the certain prospect of your guidance in all that will come. I praise you for your character, your care, your competence in all, for it is absolute, perfect, powerful and pervasive.
 
You, Lord God, are worthy of worship, of love, of obedience, of godly fear. Help me today to walk with you, following your lead, seeking your guidance at each step.
 
You are the One I want to honor by joining you in your work. Remind me to pray about all things, to be focused on what is on your heart rather than my schedule. I praise you now for how you will answer.
 
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Psalm 23:1b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 15, 2017
Psalm 23:1b “I shall not want.”
 
[Four short words, describing the outcome of having an infinite, holy Shepherd who gives absolute, total, powerful and wise provision. To know you, the great and gracious One, who holds the future in your hand, who is the source of all supply, who makes the decision of what will come to us–this is enough.
 
Your provision is not always what we desire, but it what we actually need. It goes far beyond what is visible and tangible.
 
–You provided your Spirit to convict us of guilt, to shepherd us into belief and repentance and then to dwell within giving unending gracious guidance.
 
–You provided adoption into the Family and Kingdom of God, along with love, forgiveness, transformation.
 
–You continually pour into our lives ever growing peace, love, joy and hope, as we trust in you.
 
–You provide healing, growth and maturing in our souls: our mind, will and emotions.
 
–You provide belonging, worth and competence, three items every human heart yearns for.
 
–You provide unending and immeasurable significance and security.
 
–You provide protection from the evil one, evil men and our own evil nature.
 
–You filter out of our lives the events that will harm us spiritually, and bring to us the events that will challenge, deepen, equip and mature us.
 
–You provide us with weakness, hardships, insults and persecutions–platforms upon which we can give you glory through trust and praise, honoring you before the watching crowds of people, demons and angels.
 
–You provide what is needed in the physical realm, which is often less than we desire, but much more than we deserve.
 
–You pour out more than we need, so we can then provide for the needs of others.
 
Praise be to you, O my Great Shepherd. Forgive me for grumbling about not having this or that and forgetting the immeasurable, invaluable, invisible things you pour into my life every day.
 
Help me to live in the Truth and Security of your choosing to be my Shepherd, of your being the focus of my life, my heart, my activities, my future. To you be honor and glory today in all I do, say and think.
 
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