The Shepherd's Promise #9: Power To Work Through

You Prepare A Table For Me
In The Presence Of My Enemies.
 
 
 
As I think about this promise, I feel the need to ask some questions: "Do I actually have an enemy?  Do I have enemies?  Are there actually people out there who do not wish me well?  Are there indeed people who would do whatever they need to be sure that they win (or get their way), even if they need to hurt me so they can have what they want?  How would you answer these questions for yourself?"
 
Life in this school of hard knocks has taught me that that-if it is your ultimate goal to do the right thing or best thing- you might just step very soundly on the toes of those who do not seek any more than the substandard and or mediocre. And, if you add to this that such folks have the motivation that comes from the darkness and being  self centered, you can almost count on having someone in your life who will do whatever they can to make your life miserable. They will lie about you.  They will develop false scenarios and express them as being true.  Doing the right thing will get you confronted by "an enemy."  It will cause a confrontation with someone who is not out to accomplish the same goals.
 
 
In such situations, I have learned it is best to humble yourself in prayer before the LORD, my Christ Follower friends.  It requires you truly let Him take over the circumstances and take over the you that is you.  It takes being humble in your approach to the enemy.  It takes letting the Good Shepherd develop-- in you-- the character that is  like His own. (See Galatians 5:22-23) It takes the courage to give up fighting so as to sit at the table and be the Minister of Reconciliation for which He is calling you... not judgmentally, not with a condemning attitude but with a forgiving compassionate spirit. God will take care of all the judging that needs to be done.  You simply let Him take care of the table He has provided you and let Him guide you.
 
 
As you surrender to The Good Shepherd and walk according to what I just shared, you will find the Good Shepherd is your refuge.  He is your strength.  He is your present help in your hour of need.  You will find, if He brought you to the table, He will bring you to a place where you need to be... as painful as it may be.
 
One thing is for certain.  You are not alone at this table of fellowship with your enemy/enemies. You might be able to win them over.  If not... well... God has the final say.
 
 
SoJourner

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stepping Stones For Victorious Christ Centered Living #20 Shake A Little Salt

Image
  The Challenge of Having An Unsavory Life. We live in a world where a whole lot of people are suffering:  Many struggle spiritually. Others,  because of their spiritual issue, have emotional struggles. Still others have relationships that are strained. Financial issues also may be added into the mix; additionally, physical challenges,  or health challenges, are a part of this. Mix a little high pace, and rarely slowing down in life, and you can see something is really going on impacting life in a negative way. In other words  all of these, plus any number of other things experienced in the 21st century, contribute to people experiencing unsavory lives. Jesus Speaking to You and M e Jesus has something to say about this. And He wants each of us to help out by, first beginning to embrace our identity. He wants us "become" so we match our identity, and if we don't, we really miss out and mess up.  Check out what He says, as He expressly tells us who we are. A...
Read more

Looking Back To Have A Future: Overcoming Storms

Image
Stepping Stones For Victorious Christ Centered Living #1 Therefore, anyone who hears the words of mine-- and puts them into practice -- is like a wise man who built his house on a rock: The rain came down, the streams rose, the winds blew, and beat against the house; yet, it did not fall, because it had its foundation on THE ROCK! BUT Everyone who hears these words of mine, and does NOT put them into practice, is like a foolish man who built his house on sand: The rain came down, the streams rose, the winds blew, and beat against the house. And IT FELL WITH A GREAT CRASH! Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27 S T O R M S Storms seem to come into everyone's life. Some experience more, and others experience less; however, the winds of adversity do, indeed, come. Some even howl like a Category-5  hurricane that beats relentlessly on the shores of people's lives. Dear Christ Follower, some of you know precisely what I am saying. And I am here to tell you Jesus provides us with Stepping Stones fo...
Read more

2024 Let God Help Make Your Life Beautiful

Image
Ready or Not Here It Comes Leap year is upon us. Yep! We get to have one extra day on the calendar of 2024. And as the new year opens up before our very eyes, whatever we bring into this year -- good, bad, happy or sad -- will be a part of the fabric of this new year. For some of us this will be challenging. Why? Because some are really struggling with what is going on in our culture. Many are having to grapple with spiritual, emotional, relational, financial and/or physical struggles. And just because people are saying "HAPPY NEW YEAR" these challenges are still very real. So, how are we to get ready for this if the new year, in focus, appears anything but happy? But Remember -- God I have learned that when life meets us head on, it is important to think of all these challenges, but remember God:  As Christ Followers, you and I are not in this journey alone, and as the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:11a teaches, "God makes ALL things beautiful in it's time." ...
Read more