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HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES Psalm 23:2a.

The Lord is my Shepherd…. He makes me to lie down in green pastures.

Thanks be to our God who has brought us to the third month of the year 2023, the year of “Double Portion.” Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. He protects and provides for our daily living. To Him alone be the glory.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures,” paints a picture of safety, sufficiency, and satisfaction for the sheep. It is known that a hungry sheep will not lie down. David says, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” It is difficult to get sheep to lie down or rest unless they are free from fear. When sheep are lying down in green pastures, it means they are secured. People will not rest if they are concerned about different issues in their lives. God does not want us to be living in constant fear. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

It is also important to know that green pastures are not available all year round. But David says he makes me to lie down in green pastures. The shepherd looks for pasture that will satisfy the sheep, no matter the location. As children of God, we should depend on and trust God in good times and in bad times. Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:11-12 (NKJV), “Not that I speak in regard of need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Apostle Paul learned the secret to being content, learning from different experiences of his life. He learned to live above his circumstances by going through good and difficult situations. We should depend on God, just like the sheep depends on the Shepherd for pastures.

Shepherd meets the needs of the sheep. Jesus is the one who cares for us. A flock that is restless, discontented, always agitated, and disturbed, never does well. It is the presence of the shepherd that quiets down the sheep and stops their fighting. Spending time in God’s presence by studying God’s Word and praying will calm you down too.

Green pastures speak of sustenance. God may literally make us lie down in order to get us to slow down while we draw strength from Him. Our green pasture could be a hospital bed sometimes. Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we should remember that we have a Shepherd who does not sleep nor slumber. He is Jehovah Shalom, the Prince of Peace.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NKJV) -And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. Paul was not self-confident, but God’s-confident. God-confidence will give you the courage you need to face any difficulty in life. God’s confidence will help you to be devoted to the Lord and His will for your life. God’s confidence promotes Apostle Paul’s self-confidence to do what the Lord wanted him to do. The Good Shepherd will promote you in course of your service in Him. Apostle Paul knew that his abilities came from the Lord and anything that was accomplished through him was as a result of our Lord who keeps walking and working in his life. He was a living letter of what the Lord had engraved on his heart. The Lord will empower you too for His services, as your Chief Shepherd. Praise the Lord.

Welcome to March 2023, May the presence of the Good Shepherd continue to guide you to your green pastures in Jesus’ name.

Yours in the Lord,
Pastor Lillian Haastrup.