Still Waters

"The LORD is my shepherd ... he leadeth me beside the still waters." - Psalm 23:1a, 2b

It is noted by actual shepherds that sheep require still water to drink from, and a good shepherd accommodates them.

Fact is, we are so very needy; but God understands.

"For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. - Psalm 103:14

Far from being disappointed, he not only accommodates but demonstrates his greatness through those weaknesses and necessities - so much so the apostle, Paul, wrote

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me - 2nd Corinthians 12:9

- fritz

God speaks, we can hear.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you" - 2nd Corinthians 12:8-9a

Lennon's tomb, 11:00 at night during the changing of the guard, a Russian, a friend, and I discussed the vast changes taking place. Seventy years communism has prevented open discussion about God and all that had changed. As we left we told this man we would pray for him and his response caught us off guard, "You mean, you can talk to God?!"

But that is exactly the point and privilege we have in Christ - we talk to God, he hears, and he talks to us. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice"¹

- fritz


^{1 - John 10:27}

He is all we need.

Handkerchiefs taken from Paul's body healed the masses¹, yet a self described "thorn" was impervious to prayer.

Why? We may not appreciate the answer.

Apparently God has a bigger plan than just us and our wants.

"I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." - 2nd Corinthians 12:6-10 (Message)

-fritz

^{1 - Acts 19:12
Related Post: The Prosperity Gospel, September 24, 2010}