Praying for our children

We are thankful to all of you, who since the beginning of the month of September have joined us in our dedicated prayers for children all over the world. Thank you so much. You wouldn’t know the extent your prayers have gone and the lives touched and most especially the lives of children you may never see. Our confidence is in knowing we have a God who loves and cares for children and he listens whenever pray to him. We are left with six more days of praying specially for children. I passionately appeal that you join us in this prayer so our good Lord will have mercy and bless the Children. Your will voice definitely make a difference. Remember to share the prayers so we have more and more people praying for them.

Remember Children are a precious gift from God. As adults, we have the privilege and responsibility to care for them, support and help them live the full and abundant life God desires for them. Sadly, love and security are not the reality for hundreds of millions of children who suffer from sexual exploitation, labour in hazardous conditions, or struggle to survive on the streets.

In some places, war and fighting have separated children from their families, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and harm. Children today, are forced to join armed rebel groups. A lot of them are forced to be suicide bombers and pickpockets. Famine and hunger have forced families to make desperate choices by killing their children to put them out of their misery, slaughtering children for food, and putting some of them to work or girls into child marriage. And despite being outlawed in many countries, girls are still undergoing female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM). In other places, children are trafficked for sex, sent to work in dangerous factories, or locked into domestic servitude. Children in some places are exposed to gang violence creating a culture of violence and restiveness that draws youth into harmful activities.

Abuse, neglect, exploitation, child labour, bodily harm and female genital mutilation and cutting, child marriage, and other forms of harm against children — even murder and child sacrifice — are among the greatest evils in the world.

Join us as we pray for our children. Join us on Facebook and Instagram @frbekomson. Parents take time to be friends with your children. Pray for them. Talk to them. Have them speak with you so you can see through them what they are experiencing but out of fear and shame can’t speak of it to anyone.

Join us.

Join the prayer for our children.

Your power is in your confession.

Your confession is in your mouth.

Your task today is to write a special note to your child telling him/ her how much s/he means to you, how deeply you love and care for her (him) and how blessed you are to have her (him) as your child.

#wepraytothelord

#godblessourchildren

Prayer Room

Dearly beloved, 
Greetings and a very happy Children’s day to you. 
God promises us in His Word that He hears every word that we pray to Him (Ps 116:1). Like a good parent, He is waiting, ready, and willing to listen to our worries, concerns, and needs. Whether we are seeking forgiveness, strength, healing, protection, provision, or the fruit of the womb, whatever it is we ask for, prayer provides the channel to communicate with God and receive supernatural strength and power. 
Let us pray with you. Join us tomorrow on the Potters Touch as we lead you to the Prayer Room. 
Please feel free to send your prayer request here or Facebook.com/frbekomson. You can use @frbekomson for our twitter or Instagram. 
You could send your sms request to 

+234903 935 9575 or +234902 031 5344
“In order to get back on our feet, we must first get down on our knees.” We would be waiting for you down on our knees.
Love and blessing

Lessons from the Ascension of Jesus

After Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, he didn’t go about in hiding. He rather showed himself to his disciples at different times and places to confirm he had truly risen from the dead. Scripture has recorded several proofs of his existence. Let us see a few; Acts 1:3. “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God”. Let us also remember here that in Matthew 28:9-10, Jesus appeared to the women near the tomb he was buried. To His disciples in Luke 24:36-43, and to more than 500 others as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:6. In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God.

The ascension took place forty days after his resurrection on Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem. Christ’s Ascension was the culmination of God’s divine plan for Christ Jesus, his return to his Father with “Mission Accomplished.”  Ascension is the grand finale of all his words and works done for us and for our salvation.  It was a culmination, but not the conclusion.  As Jesus is now with God in glory, he is now with us in Spirit: “Lo, I am with you always.” The feast of the Ascension celebrates one aspect of the Resurrection, namely Jesus’ exaltation. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus’ ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.

 

The Scripture presents the fact that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers. As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, he was hidden by the cloud and at that instance two angels appeared and promised Christ’s return “in just the same way that you have watched Him go” ( Acts 1:11).

 

The focus of this feast is the Heavenly reign of Christ, and the Lord’s being” seated at God’s right hand”. It is there, at the “right hand of God,” that he continues to make intercession for all of us with the Father.  Thus, the Paschal Mystery — Jesus’ passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit – is a single, unbroken Reality, which is to be understood by Faith. By His Ascension, Jesus, the risen Christ, True God and True Man, is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit in glory forever.

 

Lessons:

1)It signalled the end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father.

2)It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished.

3) It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration ( Matthew 17:1-9)

4) It symbolized His exaltation by the Father (Eph 1:20-23). The One with whom the Father is well pleased  (Matthew 17:5) was received up in honor and given a name above all names (Philippians 2:9).

5) It allowed Him to prepare a place for us  (John 14:2)

6) It teaches us we have a High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).

7) It teaches us to hold unto our faith (Hebrews 4:14)

8) It encourages us to approach God for he is merciful and will not cast us off. (Hebrews 4:16)

9) It reminds us of the mission of Jesus to preach the gospel to all nations (Acts 1:8, Matt 28:19-21, Mark 16:15).
10) It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (Acts 1:11, Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7).

11) It reminds us this earth is not our home. Someday, we shall leave  this world to the place prepared for us by Jesus Christ.

12) It challenges our way of life with the intention of making us better Christians. The ascension reminds us of the need to let go of the baggage of sin to enable us also ascend to be with our Lord.

 

May the Ascension of Christ give us birth is us the grace and strength to ascend everything that comes to pull  and keep us down. We pray for the strength to walk away from the spirit of drunkenness, the life of debauchery, the life of envy and gossip, the life of mismanagement of public fund, etc. Amen.

May the Lord bless you, and keep you
May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Thou anoints my head with oil

This is another surprising line.  Anointing the head with oil was a practice common in biblical days. Anointing was used to honour and dignify a person. It was also used for healing and a sign that the one anointed is protected by the laws of the state. So when David writes he anoints my head, David means he has been honoured by God. He was anointed to be King. He was also anointed and thereby protected. But in the case of the sheep, it is anointed to protect it some snakes and other small animals that will attack it while grazing. So the anointing used on the sheep was to serve as a repellant. God protected you. David said the anointing took him to the position of authority which gave him more than he needed leading us to the next statement.

My cup runs over.  This phrase means that I am given even more than I need or can use.  The words form a very powerful image of a cup of elixir that overflows as there is so much of it.  It means I am truly abundant, abundantly loved and cared for beyond even my needs or wants. 

Because I am anointed, I am promoted and promotion comes with goodness and mercy which shall follow me, all the days of my life.  This can be interpreted many ways.  What is meant by goodness and mercy shall follow me?  To me it means that goodness and mercy shall go with me wherever I go, and whatever I do, even if I am in unfamiliar areas or places, even if I get lost, or seek a job, or go for an interview, or I am in labour. Goodness shall follow me. I shall fine favour. People I do. Or even know shall be good and kind to me. Just like people are kind to the king, so too will they be kind to you. It is a statement of faith. An expression of future protection by God. 

The use of the word mercy is interesting.  It implies that at times I will sin, or I will not think, act or speak correctly.  So this prayer does not say we will be perfect.  Quite the opposite.  However, it means that if we allow the Lord to be our shepherd, and guide, we will be treated mercifully or leniently.  Our past will be forgiven, and their importance diminished.

 

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Here one re-affirms where one wants to live and have one’s being or consciousness.  This line is an affirmation that one chooses to dwell in a particular state of consciousness forever – the “house of the Lord”.  

The house of the Lord here is not physical, but it rather enjoying the presence of the Lord, and keeping one’s attention focused on the Lord and living His rules. Submitting one’s will to the will of God. The words “to dwell” also means to “to abide”, to embrace, to follow, to be one with.  

 

As we conclude the series the shepherd and his sheep, i strongly encourage us to pray this Ps often. When we truly embrace the concept of God as our shepherd and guide, we can be sure we will be protected and helped in ways we cannot imagine.

May the Lord bless you, and keep you

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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I shall fear no evil

The catchphrase “I shall fear no evil”, is personal. You can’t say “they will fear no evil”, or the group will fear no evil. You can’t speak for others. This is a personal conviction born out of a relationship that has led to friendship and connection with God. You cannot say I will fear no evil, unless you know and have faith in God. 

You have to know God for yourself. No one can know God for you. In knowing God you will know the power of his saving arm, and that with God you can go without worrying (Matt 6:25-34).

The question now is what is going to keep me from fearing no evil? The presence of the Lord; because God is with me. In the shadows when life roars at me, God is there with me. When you are faced with making a life changing decision, God is with you. Warn all your enemies and let them know who you have with you. This is what the sheep has to say; I know I don’t have any strength, neither do I have speed or skills, but don’t let my weakness fool you for when I am weak He is strong (2 Corinth 12:10). So, if you are going to fight me then be ready to fight my shepherd and companion. Be ready to fight God because God is with me and if God be for you, who can stand against you (Romans 8:28-31). The enemy can’t win. Sickness cannot win. Confusion cannot win. The enemy cannot win. 

The beautiful thing about me being the sheep is that, he gets to be the shepherd and as David starts talking about the shepherd, he says thy rod and staff will comfort me. The rod and the staff refer to a single instrument. It has 4 major applications to the shepherd. In addition to being a symbol of his authority over the sheep, the crook part of the staff is used to gently seize the sheep that tend to run away by its legs or neck and add them back to the flock. Secondly, it was used to examine the sheep. The shepherd uses the rod to pull the sheep’s wool away from its skin to check for rashes, wounds, or defects.

Thirdly, he uses the rod to count the sheep. In the terminology of the Old Testament this was referred to as passing “under the rod”: Here the shepherd holds his rod over the sheep and counts each and every sheep that enter by the gate. What happens if he finds out that one of them are missing? He places others at the hands of a faithful servant and takes off searching for the lost one. I don’t know who may be reading this now, but if you feel you are lost just stay calm. The shepherd is coming in search of you. You may be lost to sin; lies, alcohol, addiction to drugs, sex and prostitution, stealing and armed robbery, it doesn’t matter what you think you have done. The shepherd is coming in search of you (Matt 18:12). (If you are in need of someone to talk to and pray with you, I am here. This is our prayer line – +234903 935 9575 and +234902 031 5344). You don’t have to go through it all by yourself. Let me pray with you. 

Fourthly, the shepherd is not passive but active. The shepherd can fight. The reason for the rod and staff is so that when the Lion, Bear, or Wolves come against you, he can fight them off or fight them to their death. Your shepherd is a fighter. He is a warrior. Your shepherd can fight so good that when the enemy comes in like a flood he will build up a standard against him (Is 59:19)

Your shepherd can fight so good that you don’t need to engage the enemy in battle. When you think He is not there and you try to fight on your own, He says ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chron 20:15). When you think He is not fighting the way you know how, He says “be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). When you think you are all alone he says stand still and see the salvation of the Lord (Ex 14:13). 

Say this with me “God can fight”. God can fight cancer. He can fight depression. He can fight HIV. He can fight hypertension. Is there anything too hard for God? You know the answer to that. To all those who come to attack me, this is a note of warning. When you see me pray, take to your heels because prayer is the fighting position of the sheep. Prayer is sending signal to the shepherd the wolf is coming. There is no way you can win. If I call the shepherd he will answer me. Scripture says “whosoever calls on the name of the Lord, shall be saved” (Rom 10:13). 

If you call on the name of Jesus, then read what he will do. He will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. I am going to bless you in the presence of those who said you will not be blessed. I am going to heal you in the presence of those who said you will not be healed. I am going to forgive you in the presence of those who said you will not be forgiven. I will honour you before those who said you shall fine no honour. The more they fight you, the more God blesses you. I love my enemies more than my friends because I couldn’t feast until someone hated me. Stand in front of a mirror and say this. “Let them hate you. Their hatred is your blessing for the lord will prepare a table before me in the presence of my haters”. God is wonderful. God is good. Great God you are. Let the haters come. 

Bless me today Lord and let my enemies watch in shame. Amen. 

And may the Lord bless you, and keep you. 

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Valley of the shadow of death

The phrase ‘valley of the shadow of death’ portrays death as a deep shadow or as deep darkness. This image of death compliments the metaphor of the shepherd because the shepherd at times has to lead his flock to feeding grounds across ravines with sharp cliffs. Apart from the risk of a slippery foot, chances are high these ravines are inhabited by wild animals who would want to devour the sheep. Yet the sheep that follow in the path of the shepherd do not need to worry about cliffs or predators because the shepherd shall fight them off. (1 Sam 17:34-36)

All sheep go through valleys. Suffering is a universal human experience. Yes some people suffer more than others, but in truth, we all go through times of trial and suffering. We all experience loss and sickness. We all experience marriage and relationship difficulties. A lot of us go through times we have to beg to feed and pay fees. One truth we all must embrace is that suffering is a part of our existence. No matter who you are, or what you have, you will have a fair share of suffering. You will go through the valley. (1Pet 4:12-16, 2Thess 1:4-5). But going through the valley is not half as important as the one who leads us through the Valley because he is leading us to the other side. The profound question is “Who is your shepherd? Can he lead you through valley? Where is he leading you to?”

You see, if you don’t have “the good shepherd”, or you have a sluggish and unreliable shepherd, whose only concerned is himself, then the second he approaches the valley, he will abandon the sheep to save his own skin. And without the presence of a good shepherd, suffering only victimizes but with the shepherd, suffering glorifies (Romans 8:18) He knows what to do to help you understand, everything you go through grows you. With a good shepherd, you will realize that the valley is but a path to the top. 

The valley of the shadow is also a place of truth. You may be wondering how. The valley of the shadow is the place where the truth of who and what we are is laid bare. You see, it is easy to be a Christian when everything in life is going on well. It is easy to be comfortable as a fair weather Christian. But in the valley, comforts are removed, protection seemingly gone, nothing is sure. When we go through the valley, often it is only that little mustard seed faith that seems to be left within us. 

The beauty of being a child of God, and having Jesus as our Good Shepherd is that he will remain with us all through the journey watching over us, protecting us, making sure that in the end of the journey we arrive with him to a higher ground. 

I am in the valley of the shadow of death, but I am not dead means God will make you stand out. God will bring you up and take you higher. Even when people fail, you will succeed because in the midst of the shadow of death, you are alive and walking. Being in the valley of the shadow of death, means all around you is death. You wouldn’t know you are in the valley of the shadow of death if you are dead. Yes, but it is just a shadow. Have you thought about what a shadow is? A shadow is a dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface by a body intercepting light. So when you see death around you, it will not touch you because it is a shadow and the presence of the shepherd makes it a shadow. The accident did not kill you because it was a shadow. Why was it a shadow? Because the shepherd intercepted it. The sickness did not kill you because it was a shadow. It was a shadow because the shepherd intercepted it. The affliction did not kill you because it was a shadow. It was a shadow because the shepherd intercepted it. It did not kill me. Yes! It did not kill me. 

I see death but I am not dead. “A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes…” (Ps 91:7). 

The scripture already tells us what to do; it says “Walk through it”. It is not the time to faint. So don’t faint. Don’t cry. Don’t scream. Don’t look for who to run to. The shepherd is with you. Follow his lead and you will walk through it. 

You are the generation chosen to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 

Thank you Lord for not counting me among the dead. Thank you for being my defense against the shadow. 

You may be going through a valley experience right now, but it is not the time to give up. You will come out of it. You will smile again. You will be happy again. Follow the lead and it will be well with you again. 

Kindly recite this prayer with me; Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Amen  

And may the Lord bless you, and keep you. 

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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He leads me in the paths of righteousness

Has it occurred to you righteousness is a path? Righteousness is a street. It leads somewhere special. Righteousness is a direction only the shepherd can point you toward. He leads me in the path of righteousness, he leads me in the course of “conduct” and “action”. If we follow his lead, then we can stay-on in the path of righteousness. A Shepherd knows exactly where the best feeding grounds are and leads his sheep to those places. 

In this verse David tells the same about God because God directed him down paths of uprightness during his kingship and enabled him to win great battles in his commission to possess the lands promised the Israelites. He guides us in paths of righteousness for his own glory and reputation, (Matthew 5:15). As selfish as this may sound, our interpretation should be done within the context of shepherding.

What honour would David have earned if he allowed the flock to go in search of food on their own and thereby walk into their death. Likewise how can we win the lost for God if they are not convinced of his goodness expressed towards his own children? I pray for you dearly beloved; may your life be a testimony of God’s goodness. May you be a reference point for God’s blessing. Amen. In guiding us God shows the world that he is one hundred percent dependable and faithful.

In the letter to the Romans, we see a strong relationship between what David says and what Paul tells the Romans. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). 

So the shepherd is not just leading, but he is leading us somewhere. He is leading the sheep to the kingdom of God but through righteousness. To have access to His kingdom, we must be righteous, and since on our own, we could not achieve righteousness, Jesus had to do it for us. He had to die in our place so we live in his righteousness. How well have we made use of this glorious opportunity? 

In the beatitudes, we see our Lord Jesus teaching and as it concerns our study, he says “blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. In other words, blessed are the righteous because poor in spirit talks and addresses our relationship with God. It is the opposite of arrogant self–confidence which dominates and rides over other people and treats God as irrelevant. Poor in spirit is the personal acknowledgment of our spiritual bankruptcy and indebtedness before God. It is the tax collector in Luke 18:13 standing in the temple before God and beating on his breast saying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner”. It is an honest confession that we are sinful and utterly without the moral virtues that we need to commend us to God hence the shepherd leads us in the path of righteousness so we can be commended to God and indeed spend eternity with Him. (We will explore this on the last day when we close this series). 

I will refer you to please read Matt 5:6. 

Let us explain further making reference to Matt 5:10 ” blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. So when he leads me in the path of righteousness for his name sake, the shepherd is leading me to his kingdom. 

We are blessed when we make effort to be righteous and are persecuted in the process.

We are blessed when we use our offices for the purpose for which there were established. 

We are blessed when we do the right thing and people condemn us. 

We are blessed when we do not use public funds for personal projects.

We are blessed when we give a listening ear to the less privilege and our blessing is his kingdom. So even when people make fun of you, don’t take your eyes of the prize. 

The goal is spending eternity with God. Don’t ever forget that. 

The Greek word used in the New Testament “righteousness” primarily describes conduct in relation to others, especially with regards to the rights of others in business, in legal matters, and beginning with relationship to God. The good shepherd leading us is building and strengthening our relationship with God and man and possessing heavenly attitude and mindset. It is contrasted with wickedness, the conduct of the one who, out of gross self-centeredness, neither reveres God nor respects man. The Bible describes the righteous person as just or right, holding to God and trusting in Him (Psalm 33:18–22).

It is not possible for man to attain true and perfect righteousness on his own; but the good news is that true righteousness is possible for mankind, but only through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We now understand the second part of our text which says “for his name sake”. Jesus saved us for himself and by himself. It is by no effort on our part that we are saved, but by the blood of Christ. For the sake of Jesus we are saved. For by his blood and resurrection, mankind has been redeemed but we have to walk to get the redemption (Rom 5:10, Eph 2:5). 

We do not have the ability to achieve righteousness of ourselves. But as Christians, we possess the righteousness of Christ, because “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is an amazing truth. 

On the cross, Jesus led humanity through the path of righteousness. Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness so that we can stand before God and He will see not our sin, but the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

This means that we are made righteous in the sight of God; that is, that we are accepted as righteous and treated as righteous by God on account of what the Lord Jesus has done. He was made sin; we are made righteousness. On the cross, Jesus was treated as if He were a sinner, though He was perfectly holy and pure, and we are treated as if we were righteous, though we are defiled and depraved. 

On account of what the Lord Jesus has endured on our behalf, we are treated as if we had entirely fulfilled the Law of God and had never become exposed to its penalty. We have received this precious gift of righteousness from the God of all mercy and grace. To Him be the glory and honour for ever and ever. 

Most of the problems we face in life are the results of not heeding God’s guidance. We can enjoy every little instance of our personal life, marriage, career and ministry if we are sensitive to his leading. He knows what’s best for us and he will help to achieve our goals as long as they are pure and within the perimeter of his will.

As the week grows older, may the God lead you in the path righteousness through Christ our Lord. Amen
And may the Lord bless you, and keep you. 

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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He restores my soul

There are many characteristics that sets sheep apart from other animals. They are dumb, insensitive and incapable of defending themselves. To add to it unlike dogs or other household animals sheep that falls on their back cannot get up unless helped by someone to get back on their feet. You too can’t get back on your feet if God does not help you up. Is 7:9 “if you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all”.  

Could it be that your are trying to stand on your own? 

Could it be that your foundation is weak?

The sheep is quick to get tired and exhausted from food-oriented movement in search for pasture, which leads to the sheep falling. A good shepherd knows when to allow the sheep rest to regain its strength. Even if you had lost your strength, God definitely knows when to say my son, my daughter it’s time to rest. It is time I restore you. In other words, what you have lost, God can send back to you. Scripture in Joel 2:25 says ” And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you”. 

Believe me when I say this; God is restoring you. God will restore you if only you would let him lead. Remember He is the way. Follow him and you will see no shame. In following the Lord we cannot be lost. 

The fate of a sheep fallen on its back is determined by many factors. The most common are natural causes such as dehydration and starvation as well as carnivores attacks. Therefore a good shepherd frequently scans his flock for any fallen animals and rushes to their aid if he finds any. 

Like the sheep we also have the tendency to fall on our back. Like the sheep, we are also dumb, easily tired, discouraged by life and incapable of defending ourselves against the schemes of Satan especially because of the fallen nature that dominates our behavior. (Psalms 51:5)

At such a time like this, it is important that we repent, run to the Lord and allow him to lead us for it is in leading us that we are restored. It is in journeying with him that we are restored (Luke 5:14; 17:14).

God wants to restore us. He is waiting for us to comeback to Him and like the prodigal son in Luke 15: 11-32, He will restore us; a ring on our finger, scandals on our feet, with a cloak covering us. Isn’t it wonderful knowing that what we have lost can be found in Jesus? Isn’t it beautiful realizing what the world cannot give, we can be given in Jesus?

The reason we are alive and strong today is because God restored us. Yesterday we were down and out, but today we are up and in. Between now and then, restoration took place. And even right now, I pray restoration in our homes and work places. I pray restoration our jobs and businesses. I pray blessing of restoration in our health. May His forgiving us lead us to restoration. 

The sickness did not kill you because He restored you. The accident did not kill you because he restored you. The separation did not kill you because he restored you. Their lies and malice did not kill you because he restored you. 

Join me in praising the God of all restoration because great and wonderful things He has done in your life. You may not have seen it, but by faith restoration is coming your way. 
Kindly say this with me. “He restored me”. 

I would not have made it, but He restored me. 

I failed but he restored me.  

I gave up but ….

I quit but ….

I fainted but….
Thank you Jesus for not giving up on me.  
As the week unfolds, may the God of restoration renew, revive, and reestablish you through Christ our Lord. Amen

And may the Lord bless you, and keep you. 

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

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He leads me beside still waters

The good shepherd leads the sheep beside still waters. He doesn’t push the sheep. He doesn’t drag the sheep. In pushing, that means the sheep has to go first, and in going first, tow things will happen. The sheep will either get lost, or run into an attack it cannot face. But when he leads, that means he has to go first and the sheep follows. It also means he decides where, when and how the movement will be. 

What do I have to fear when I have him lead the way? How can I get lost when I have him lead the way? He didn’t push me neither did he drag me. All he had to do was lead and all I had to do was follow in his steps. 

How well have you followed in the steps of Jesus? Is he the one leading? He is ahead of you and has footprints on the ground. Heb 12:2 admonishes us saying let us look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. If we follow Jesus joy awaits us. 

One would ask. Why does the shepherd have to lead the sheep beside still waters? Well, this is very unique and a distinguishing attribute of a good shepherd. It shows how protective the shepherd is. It shows the love he has for the sheep. 

A good shepherd knows the sheep is dumb, lacking intelligence and good judgement and it’s appetite and craving for water to drink when it is thirsty conquers and overwhelms its sensitivity to the environment and any danger lurking around. So,the good shepherd not just leads the flock beside water. He leads them beside still water. If the current of the water is fast, then in the process of drinking the sheep with all its wool will be dragged by the current of the water and the sheep will drown. So the good shepherd not just finds water but still water. 
The good shepherd finds slow running water. 

This further means there is a need to thank God for what he has given you. God knows your speed and knows what you can handle. He won’t put more on you than you can bear (1 Cor 10:13). 

Thank you Lord for not giving me what was too fast. It may seem like you can’t handle that problem, but if you would just take a little time to think deeper and pray, you will know it is something you can deal with. It is not something beyond you because God knows your speed. God knows what you can handle. This is why we should pray and work hard and not copying the other person because your speed may not be his speed. You may not be able to handle what he/she is handling. A look at the people of Israel makes this clearer. 

When the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea, Pharaoh and his armies thought they had speed and could advance faster. They thought their chariots will enable them catch up with the Israelites on the other side, but what do we see? we see that no matter how fast the horses and chariots of the Egyptians did go, there still were not fast enough. They still couldn’t handle the speed of the Israelites. They couldn’t because they tried to copy the Israelites. They tried to do what the people of Israel were doing. They tried to get across the Red Sea on dry ground. It is not everything you see people do, that you should do too. The wheels of the best chariots in Egypt, got stuck in the mud so movement became almost impossible. At some point they could neither go forward or backwards. They got stuck in the mud. Hmmm. No matter what you do, don’t get stuck in the mud because that may be the last place you will see. Be yourself and follow your own path. Don’t always want to copy because it is beautiful. It might look so good, but may not be your speed. It might look so good, but may not be your level. It might just look good but may get stuck and grounded in the mud of the Red Sea. 

Thank God for what you have and the level you have attained. He knows what He is doing with you. He won’t give you what you cannot handle. 
Thank you Lord for not giving me what I cannot handle. 

Please Lord don’t give me a job I cannot handle. 

Please Lord don’t give me a husband I can’t handle

Please Lord don’t give me a wife I cannot handle 

Please Lord don’t give me a child I cannot handle 

Pleas Lord don’t give me an illness I cannot handle. 
Let it be my speed. It is slow but it won’t kill me. It is slow, but it works for me. 
As the week unfolds, may God lead you beside still waters. Amen. 
And may the Lord bless you, and keep you. 

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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He makes me to lie down in green pastures.

Over the next two verses, David tells us what the God the shepherd did. Even though I don’t know what the future holds, I know I will find rest in the Lord my Shepherd. So no matter how hard life tries to bully and push me around, I will still find rest because He will make me to lie down. He will make me find Rest. We can get a deeper insight from the story in the Gospel of Mark 4:38 where Jesus was sleeping in the midst of the storm. He was resting. Jesus the good shepherd, knows how to lead you to a place of rest even in the strom. He knows how to lead you to a place of rest so you could gain lost strength. See Mark 6:31 “because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”. 
Notice that our study text says he makes me to lie down.  It does not say he suggests that I lie down.  At times, we are forced to just rest.  This is an aspect of retracing. He knows when you need to rest from the burden and pain and He makes you rest. Sometimes whether we want it or not, we will be faced with circumstances that will make us slow down a bit or shut down for a while. 

Even when I was nervous and couldn’t find sleep, you still made me to lie down. Even when for fear I couldn’t take a nap, you still made me to lie down. Even when I was attacked and lies were said about me, you still made me to lie down. He makes me to lie down. Even when “they” said I will never rest, God still made me rest. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. 
And guess where he made me rest. When God wants to bless you, He will compensate you for all of your troubles and pain.  I rested in green pasture. I rested in abundance. I rested in favour. All around me was peace and happiness. Sheep require plenty of green pasture on which to graze or to eat.  So at one level, this line means that God will provide all of my food and other needs.  It deepens and repeats the idea that I shall not want for anything, and that God will take care of me.
At a deeper level, it means that God provides nourishment for the body, the mind and the soul that is wholesome, healthful, and appetizing for me.  It does not say I must struggle to make ends meet.  It says God will lead me to the green pastures, which means if I align with God then He will ultimately lead. If I walk with the Lord he will lead. If I walk with his grace then I will succeed. You must be willing to follow his lead. In following his lead you will realize there is nothing you and God cannot together handle. 
May you find rest from all your enemies and struggles. May the blessing of Joshua 21:24 and 2 Sam7:1 be yours. Amen
May the Lord bless you, and keep you

May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Thank you for reading. Kindly share. Follow and like my page on facebook.com/frbekomson. On Instagram and Twitter @frbekomson. 

Visit my blog on http://www.frbekomson.com