In the daytime, sheep are led into open fields. They eat, rest, wander a little, and stay within earshot of the shepherd. At night, they are gathered back into the fold, where it is safe and familiar. Day after day, night after night, their routine offers security, abundance, and relationship.
The rhythm of a Christian’s life, the person who knows Jesus, should also be one of resting, grazing, and working.
· When I feel threatened by circumstances or just my own fears, I run back to the shepherd and the safety of the fold. My heart may be beating wildly, but when I stay close, I’m not exposed. He gives me a place to breathe again. Real rest isn’t something I earn; it’s something He loves to give.
· When I’m following Him, there is always something to feed my soul. His Word is like a pasture that doesn’t wear out. It must surely resemble the lush green landscapes of New Zealand, the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen. Take a backcountry road, and what you see around every turn is another pasture dotted with sheep. Each view is a postcard. That’s how stunning Scripture is when I come hungry.
· When I’ve been fed, there is work to do. But it’s not the kind of work that uses me up and leaves me empty. The same Shepherd who feeds me is the One who calls me. He doesn’t hand me a heavy assignment and walk away. He walks alongside. He carries what I cannot. “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” becomes something I experience, not just quote. Work inside that kind of relationship is a joy, not a sentence.
When this rhythm is mine, the rest of the Psalm begins to feel very real and possible.When this rhythm is present, the rest of the Psalm begins to feel very real and possible.
Your pastures are good, Jesus. I have rested. I have eaten. I will work joyfully beside You. Amen.
Daughters of promise 