If you were Shepherded by Jesus would you want?

Psalms 23:1-6 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
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If the Lord were your Shepherd would you want for anything good? Would you have all you need?

If the Lord Jesus were you're Shepherd would your soul lack enough rest?

If the Son of God were your Shepherd would your strength be being renewed?

If the Saviour of the World were your Shepherd would your life be on a path that was right and brought glory to his name? Wouldn't you have confidence God's was using the path he had set you on for good?

If the Victor of the Cross were you're Shepherd wouldn't you be more peaceful than you thought you'd be even as you faced death or near death situations?

If the Host with the most, thrower of the biggest party of all time, bridegroom of the marriage feast of the Lamb were your Shepherd wouldn't you be holding the golden ticket and laughing all the way to the buffet?

If the man who turned water to wine and multiplied bread were your Shepherd wouldn't you be grazing without a care in the world?

If the God of Abraham, Joseph and Moses were your Shepherd wouldn't you be pretty sure that God would keep his promise and make an impossible situation, even after years, come good? Couldn't he because of his promise and great love extravagantly welcome you into his kingdom?

Is Jesus your Shepherd or not?

Who are you following? Who's your Shepherd?

Rivers are refreshed, canals are stagnant.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25 NIV

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The freshest water is flowing.

Do you feel a bit stagnant? Are your resources running low? When we're struggling our response is often to dam up our outflows and say, "I just need a little me time!, " When what we often need is to focus on others. It seems like turning in and focusing on self will pump us up. But or judgement is false. We need to give; we need to be in need. Because when we have an outflow that isn't selfish we make space for God to fill us up. And God works in this way. He will fill you up when you are genuinely generous.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about this verse over the years. And I can't help but see the truth in it. My experience bears it out.

Some of you may think you've been giving and you have run dry. And I'd suggest two things.

You weren't giving out of a generous heart. If your service, gift giving and "generosity" is actually motivated by your image, or your duty, or some other selfish motive, of course you'll run out. This is because you are giving out of your own self generated and hoarded resources.

To constantly be filled with new blessings every day you must be looking to an unending resource. You have to have an eternal supply. God must be your source. Let God's purposes be your aim. If you allow the limitless fountain of God's blessing become your supply and the generous just and righteous purposes of God be your reason for giving you will always have God's new blessings for yourself.

Give until you have nothing to give, so that you can only depend on God and like mana from heaven you'll have a new supply every morning.

I can tell you in the hardest situations under the most difficult circumstances I've found this to be true.

It won't make you rich but you'll be wealthy in refreshment from God and secure in his abundant spring of life bubbling up inside you.

Go give for God and get refreshed.