Thursday, Day 19: The with-God life
“‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. … I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. From Ezekiel 34:11-12
Thought: Days of clouds and darkness.
The scriptures are full of Shepherd and sheep imagery. Psalm 95 describes us as “the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” Pslam 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall want for no good thing”. John 21 tells the story of Peter’s forgiveness after straying and then Jesus asks him to “feed My lambs”. Finally, Revelation 7 ends the sheep imagery with Jesus bringing His sheep into their eternal reward. The Bible says, “all we like sheep have gone astray” and someday Jesus will “separate the sheep from the goats”. In Ezekial 34 the story is about sheep that scatter because of “days of clouds and darkenss”. Storms have a way of causing sheep and people to seek ways to protect themselves. Many times those self protective ways are destructive. The storm in this passage was a storm that the Jews caused through their own sin and rebellion… still, God plans to rescue them. We all have wandered during storms… storms that happened to us and storms we have caused. We may have wandered down roads that have descended into the darkest of places. Jesus the Good Shepherd is gathering us back to Himself. God wants the story of days of clouds and darkness...our storms, to be our with-God story.
Practice: Settle into a comfortable position; Open your heart to the Good Shepherd. See yourself as the sheep being rescued. See the ones you are concerned about being gathered into Jesus arms. Take time to meditate on this psalm/song. You Restore My Soul
Prayer: Faithful Shepherd, thank you for leading me by still waters and the promise of my soul’s restoration. Now I pray for _________. Thank you for seeking them out and bringing them out of danger. You are the restorer of ________ soul. I choose to trust in you. Amen
Blue book (Lectionary) Reading: Ezekial 34:11-16
©You Restore My Soul, Words and Music by Bryn Rice
©Jesus and the Lamb-by Helen Glover
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