And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isa 58:11

In the days of the exodus, when the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, Jehovah God led the way. He did not delegate their time of wandering to an angel, but He Himself led His people. It is hard to imagine how God would be so faithful to a people who murmured, complained, and criticized all along the way throughout their pilgrimage to the Promised Land. Yet in this scripture passage we find God’s Personal commitment to His people and His faithfulness to His word. God made an unconditional promise to the children of Israel prior to leading them out of bondage from Egypt. He promised “I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage” (Ex 6:8). Throughout their pilgrimage, God made His Presence known to the children of Israel. He was faithful to them day and night. They saw His cloud by day and His fiery pillar in the night. Though they challenged God’s patience and rebelled against His word, God faithfully led His people into the Promised Land. My friend, God has not left you in your Christian pilgrimage to find your own way, and to face life’s battles alone. He gives us hope and assurance of His presence with the promise that “the Lord shall guide thee.” To the child of God, He has promised “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” And His presence and His promises are without end. He “continually” guides His children without fail. Today, the child of God may not see a cloud by day or fiery pillar by night to remind them of God’s presence, but He now abides within every believer by faith, and we have the blessed assurance that “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt 28:20). My friend, trust the promises of God’s word and look to Him for His faithfulness. He will never forsake you. He is “continually” faithful to the end. He is worthy of all praise. Father, thank you for the promises of Your word and Your continued faithfulness. I praise You in the worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips. Ps 63:4-5

I prayed you had a blessed day of worship as you gathered with your local church on this past Lord’s Day. I pray that your week is continually filled with moments of worship and praise. That can be difficult for us if we are prone to grumbling, complaining, and a need for more satisfaction. It seems that in the hectic pace of society and its busyness, that few people find contentment. Contentment is not a lack of awareness or simple laziness, but an open acceptance to God’s provisions. Contentment is more than just looking at the bright side and adding up the positives, it is being open to all things in life and accepting the whole of things as from the hand of God to say with the Apostle “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil 4:11). The scripture passage encourages us to always be content, whether with plenty or in lack. Whether we profit or suffer loss. The psalmist purposed within himself not to allow anything to disturb or distract him from the inner peace and worship of knowing God’s presence. He purposed to conquer the spirit of murmuring, complaining, and criticizing that is so common to the natural man and give himself to “bless Thee…lift up my hands…be satisfied…and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.” My friend, contentment is not something to be found, but learned. It begins with a daily walk with God to “bless Thee while I live.” Whatever things comes your way and whatever your hands are applied to “lift up” to the Holy Name of Jesus. The moments of your day will soon overcome you with awareness of God’s blessings, God’s provisions, and God’s presence that your soul is “satisfied” and your “mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.” My friend, the greatest gain for one’s life is “godliness with contentment” (1 Tim 6:6). Father, thank You that You supply all my need according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Open the eyes of my heart that I may learn to live for Your glory and praise, with contentment in my soul. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

There are an abundance of self-help guides and videos available to those who seek direction and support to accomplish an important task or make an important decision. The internet provides immediate access to information and illustrations for most any task or project, from start to finish. There is a wealth of information at one’s fingertips, just for the asking. Yet, seeking guidance and direction from God doesn’t seem so simple. In fact, it can be frustrating, confusing, and uncertain that we are hearing the voice of God. The scripture passage teaches us that we can “hear” the voice of God speak to us and “follow” His voice as sheep follow their shepherd. Little lambs learn the voice of their shepherd from older sheep who know the shepherd and who have grown to recognize the shepherd’s voice. In time, the lambs will grow to hear, recognize, and follow the shepherd’s voice. A lamb left to itself will wonder and stray from the flock, and soon fall prey to wild beast. They soon find themselves living in fear of all sorts of howling voices, confused and afraid, hunger and thirsting, cold and no comfort of a resting place. They are without their shepherd. The good shepherd who knows his sheep and cares for them, will not leave them astray, but will seek them out and bring them back to the sheepfold. God shepherds His flock and cares for His children through His Church. The Church is the body Christ, a community for the children of God, as the sheep are to the shepherd. The Church is lead by its Head to hear God and recognize His voice. Christ is the Good Shepherd and the Head of the Church. He leads us “in the way everlasting” (Ps 139:24) and “in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Ps 23:3). My friend, God has given us His greatest gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, and blessed us with the His greatest blessing, the Church, that His children may hear Him and follow Him. Father, thank You for the love, care, and goodness that You show Your children. Thank You for the rest that is to all who are in Christ Jesus. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.