Welcome to part three of our “Separated Together” devotional adventure.
During this time of staying away from each other, I'd like to continue to offer some help for us as we connect with the Lord. Thank you for participating in this devotional, I hope you're finding this a blessing and when all this covid-19 is over, my prayer is that our faith will be stronger, our fears will be weaker, and we'll have grown spiritually together.
I hope you're safe, resisting the temptation to project all the negative “what might happens” you’re seeing on the daily news.
God is still on His throne, and should worse things come, He will prepare you for them in that moment.
Don’t borrow trouble, and don’t let fear or worry take root in your mind today.
Remember: Fear weakens your immune system. But, “a cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22.
God gave us The Shepherd’s Psalm for moments like this.
Read this out loud, and let it soak into the place in your soul where hope abides:
Scripture for today
A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23:1-6
Verse 2 says, “He leads me beside still waters.”
In the original language, that’s quieted waters. A shepherd knows that a wildly rushing stream is dangerous for sheep. They can get caught in its current and swept under by the weight of their wet fleece.
So before letting His sheep near that kind of water, the Shepherd builds a “quiet place,” a small dam or backwater where the sheep can drink in safety.
God has built a quieted backwater for you today. Do you know where it is?
It might be in your home somewhere. Or near a tree in your yard. Fresh air and sunshine are good for warding off and killing germs.
Maybe it’s right here, right now, in this very moment.
Listen for the Shepherd’s voice just now.
Listen.
He’s whispering, “I love you. I’m here with you,” and more assuring words.
Now, stretch this moment to envelope you the rest of the day. Today, you will walk with your Shepherd beside quieted waters. You will drink of His goodness.
Greater is He that is in you than he that has come to steal, kill, and infect!
He is with you! And my prayers are with you too.
Prayer for today
Father, thank you for being my Shepherd today.
I am listening for Your voice. I purpose to walk with a quieted spirit throughout the day.
I will not fear, for you are with me.
And, as we walk together today Lord, if there is someone who needs my help or my prayers, or my words of faith and hope, would you bring them to my mind now, so that I can encourage them, as You have encouraged me?
In Jesus’ name, Amen.