October Devotional – Surrendering to the Shepherd
1 October 2006
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Psalm 23:2.
Well, it is true, I did go flying down the stairs and end up lying on the carpet, but it wasn’t green – but the ambulance man was wearing green if that counts! And I wonder if pride does come before a fall, as I had recently returned from a very successful time performing The Celtic Heart at the Edinburgh Fringe. Well, if I got too big for my boots, I was certainly brought back down to earth with a bang, a thud…and an ouch!
Thank goodness for my readers. A recent email reminded me to ‘Surrender to the Shepherd’. This was not exactly what I wanted to hear (in fact I swiftly deleted it!). However, there is much truth in this, because despite the pain, frustration and discomfort, I know that God will transform this time and use it for his greater purposes. So I must indeed surrender to the Shepherd, who knows what is best for me and allow him into lead me into a place of peace and rest.
If you’re having a tough time at the moment, you might like to join me in the following prayer which I’ve adapted from Psalm 23 – or you could even have a go at adapting it for yourself.
Prayer:
The Lord is my Shepherd
so he’ll meet all my needs.
He makes me stop and take a rest
and helps me to learn how to enjoy stillness and tranquillity.
He refreshes and restores my whole being….
Yes it’s tough at the moment,
but you are with me Lord,
surrounding me with your love and protection.
So I don’t need to worry….
You will even take care of the people who’ve hurt me….
And Lord, despite my current circumstances
I will learn how to trust you,
and surrender to this special gift of quality time
in your presence.
