Are You Tired?

Prayer – Lord, I am tired—bone tired—but rejuvenated remembering that You love me…and care enough about me to not only go to the cross for my sins, but day by day take me by the hand and lead me through whatever I’m facing for this day. That is a relationship that I treasure—day by day. Thank you.

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. Psalm 23:1-6 NLT

 

Meditate. Consider how much Jesus, our eternal and personal shepherd, loves us.

 

The twenty-third Psalm—no matter what translation is read is always renewing, comforting, and refreshing to my very soul.

 

A flock of sheep in Israel.
This is their green pasture. 
The Lord is their Shepherd.

Shepherds care for their sheep, like they care for themselves and their own family, providing everything they need. Food—whether it is green grass or a rainbow of nutritious food from all over the world—Jesus provides. He protects His sheep by leading them to quiet streams of water—where they are safe. If they were to fall into rushing water, they would surely drown—they don’t swim. Are you a strong swimmer? Most of us don’t have to worry about water quality—we turn on the faucet and out pours fresh, pure drinking water. Even in a foreign country there are usually bottles of safe drinking water available for the visitors who would otherwise be plagued with the Turkey Trots or amebic dysentery. That is no fun. Rely on Jesus. He will renew your strength. I know that He gives me hope and the fortitude to keep going even if I’m oppressed—temporarily just down in the dumps.

 

Paths can lead us astray—but read His word and trust Jesus daily to guide you along the right path—the straight and narrow one. He will be by your side all the way. Just as David wrote in this Psalm, you’ll bring honor to the Lord by walking on the right path.

 

Has your life taken you into the Valley of the Shadow of Death? It can be disheartening to lose a loved one. We all are going to die someday—and even when we have time to prepare for the event—is can be a lonely, scary, depressing and discouraging time. Life changes—and for some, even with a new normal, it is still in that shadow of death. Part of that person dies along with the loved one. I’ve seen it recently in a few friends and although everyone is different—it is the same valley. When my sister and her family, and then my parents died, I experienced that veil that covers that sadness. It eventually lifts, but life isn’t the same. Relationships have abruptly ended. Life has changed, but God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today…and forever, protecting and guiding us. He provides for us—even in the presence of those whom we fear or resent. Maybe it is not a who…but a what. An enemy can be a person, place, or even a disease.

 

Jesus, the great shepherd, was honored by being anointed with perfume from an alabaster jar. He will anoint you with the oil of His love, peace, joy and blessings. Loving Him will assure you of an eternal home in heaven—living in the house of the Lord forever.

 

Focusing on Jesus, I am less tired. A good nap also helped. How about you? Are you tired?

 

Verses of Salvation ~ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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