MGD: God Our Shepherd and Guide

0:00Shalom and God bless you beloved for connecting with us today for a morning glory devotion here at Habitat's Chapel International Kumasi. We are glad that you are able to join us for today's episode. This is Pastor Jeffrey Amwasa and I'll be facilitating today's episode. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for this opportunity to look into your perfect world. We pray that you shall teach us something new. Stay faith in our hearts that we may go out there and do your word in Jesus name. Amen. Beloved, let's take our confession together from Joshua chapter

1:08one, the verse eight. This book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth, but I shall meditate in it day and night that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then I will make my way prosperous and then I will have good success. Amen. Beloved, the topic for today is God our shepherd and guide God our shepherd and guide. Now take our scripture reading from Psalm 23 the verse one to six. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yeah, though I walk through the value of the shadow of death,

2:10how fear no evil for you are with me or rod and your stuff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You are knocked my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. God our shepherd and guide. I first memorized Psalm 23 as a little boy in junior high school. It was a very first chapter of the Bible I memorized. I did this not because I understood it much at the time, but because it was a compulsory recital at every morning assembly before classes began. However, over the years in my personal Christian experience,

3:13this sound has grown into more than my childhood recitation. It is a living reality for me as I believe. And I personally believe that the words in this song must be the portion of all believers. Psalm 23 is a reminder that God is the true shepherd of our souls and our lives. David himself a shepherd paints a vivid picture of a loving, caring and ever-feetful God. He probably wrote the sound before becoming king. He tells a story and journey when he was all alone with God, of how God protected and provided for him during the lonely wilderness days. Clearly, David knew and understood what it meant to watch over sheep, to shield them from lions and bears, to tend for them and to lead them into pastures and still waters. In the same way,

4:15he testifies that God had shepherded his life with tender care. The first sentence in the song is so powerful. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. This is not a small statement. It is a bold affirmation of how David trusted God. Those of us who belong to Christ can claim the same truth. We can trust him because God's presence in our lives is enough. His nearness is our assurance that no true need will ever go on met. Because of his presence, he leads, restores and refreshes our souls in ways no earthly activity can achieve. In a world filled with noise, uncertainty, the Lord's presence never fails. Beloved lives journey is also full of low moments, dark seasons, fearful experiences

5:16and unexpected dangers. The song does not deny these realities. David acknowledges the existence of shadows, threats and even death itself. Yet he declares in the song that God's presence offers mighty protection. This is the heart of encouragement for every believer. We are never alone. God, the shepherd, walks beside us with the power to protect and arms to uphold us. His presence transforms the valley of fear into a pathway filled with confidence. Moreover, some 23 reminds us that God is not only a shepherd who defends but also a father who provides abundantly. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. He unknowns our heads with oil. This is a sign of blessings, fever, healing and the overflow. Our cup overflow is because his

6:19goodness and kindness are limitless. Even when life feels birin or dry, his provision is sure. And his blessing cannot be stopped by any adversary. This song also points us towards the future truth of unwavering hope. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. As believers, we are sure that God's love is not a seasonal. As mercy will trail our steps, his favour will accompany our journey and his promise of eternal fellowship will carry us into his presence forever. Beloved, some 23 is more than a comforting passage to recite. It is a declaration of our inheritance. God as our shepherd, he guides, helps, protects and provides without fear.

7:22He walks into every unknown situation with us and his faithfulness will never waver. For the one who trusts in him, there is no situation too dark. No need too great and no future too uncertain. His presence is a gift that keeps on given. So let everyone leave a hold on to this truth with unwavering faith. The Lord is our shepherd. Now and always, work boldly, live joyfully and rest securely under his care in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for the gift of your presence that protects,

8:28provides and assures us that it is well with us in all situations in Jesus' name. Let us walk in this confidence with you. Amen. Beloved God bless you for connecting and being a part of today's episode. We know that you have been blessed. Want to encourage you to stay connected and come back for more blessed episodes of our morning glory devotion in Jesus' name. Shalom and have a blessed fasting season. Amen.