DIVINE: Knowing God as Shepherd Video Reflection (Week 13)

"The Lord is my Shepherd." Psalm 23 is probably one of the most famous and loved passages in the Bible. Knowing God as our Shepherd is truly a comfort to our human hearts. As I have reflected on the verses that show how God shepherds us, I have been challenged over and over again to trust God more. (Click here for a PDF printable of all of the God our Shepherd verses Click here for the video and click here for the audio to hear them read to you.) In the video reflection on Knowing God as Our Shepherd I recorded this past weekend, I share the ways God promises to care for us as our Shepherd. 

DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God as our Shepherd VIDEO NOTES

What is God saying about who he is and who we are when he calls himself our Shepherd?

1. God is always present, watching over, and protecting us. (Psalm 121)

2. God provides: rest, strength, guidance, comfort, abundance, honor, blessings, goodness, and unfailing love. (Psalm 23)

3. God is our shelter, refuge, and place of safety. His promises protect us. (Psalm 91:1-4)
4. God is leading us and helping us lead others. (Isaiah 40:11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 116:7)
5. God rescues us when we stray. (1 Peter 2:25; Isaiah 53:6)
6. God speaks to us. God knows us and helps us know him. (John 14:6-7; John 10)
7. God wants our worries and trust. (Matt 6: 25-34; 1 Peter 5:6-7)

8. God will never leave, abandon, forsake, forget about, or give up on us. (Matt 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-6)

9. God will help us do his will. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
10. Trusting God blesses our hearts. (Psalm 28:7-9; Numbers 6:24-26)

For Reflection or Discussion:

1. How often do you remember the promises listed here? Which of the 10 points listed above is the most encouraging to you in this season? Which do you want to hold on to and how can you remind yourself to do that this week?

2.  God wants our worries and trust.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7, we are told to humble ourselves before the Lord by casting our cares on Him because He cares for us. I studied that verse this weekend and the word for "CAST" doesn't imply gently setting something down. It implies throwing something, kind of like what I would do if I picked up a box and there was a big spider on it. I wouldn't likely set it down gently. My reflex reaction would be to get it as far away from me as possible as quickly as possible! I think that is how God wants us to treat our worries. As quickly as possible, God wants us to toss them to Him and let Him carry the weight of them. It's like a life changing game of catch or hot potato, and GOD WILL NEVER DROP THE BALL, even if He doesn't always answer in the way we want. We cast our worries on Him and He will carry them and us. We stay close to Him and obey Him, and He will lead, provide, and watch over us and those we love. 

This CAST/CARE prayer helps me remember that I CAST and He CARES. Fill in the blanks with whatever or whoever is weighing on your heart or mind. Trust those things and loved ones to God your Shepherd's loving hands. I'm NOT saying this is easy. I come back to God with my cares and concerns over and over. But with practice it does get easier, and it's so much better than carrying them on my own.

God, You Care About ____________. I Surrender ___________ to You. God, I Trust You to ...

Carry _____________,  Abide (stay) with me, Respond to my prayer, and Equip me to do Your will. (Heb. 13:20-21)

3.  Since we started this study, I have said knowing God will help us experience God's Presence, Pleasure, Promises, Plan, Perspective, Provision, Purpose, Peace, Protection, Power, Perfection, and Purity.

For you, which of these are most connected to knowing God as your Shepherd? 

Lord God, our faithful Shepherd, as it says in Psalm 28, You are our strength and our shield. Our hearts can trust You and we can celebrate and give you our thanks. Strengthen us, save us, bless us, shepherd us, and carry us this week and forever. Thank You for helping us to know You more. May we be transformed into people who walk by faith more and more. In Your name Jesus, amen.

COMING UP NEXT:

Two Sister Circles are meeting this week. One meets Wednesday (tomorrow) 5/19 at church and the other will meet on Sunday 5/23. (Contact me for more details.) For the next few weeks, I'll just be sharing a few more thoughts on being transformed by knowing God. I'll be reflecting on what we've learned so far but not introducing a new characteristic of God. Sister Circles will meet again the 3rd week of June and then in July we'll be taking a break from the regular weekly posts. Before starting again in August or September, I'll want to get some feedback from everyone to see what you have liked most or least about these studies, so watch for a survey next month.

May you be blessed by our faithful, always present Shepherd this week.

Trusting our Shepherd, 

Melissa

If you've missed any posts from the DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God series, you can find them all here.