Friday, January 31, 2014

He Restores My Soul (Psalm 23:3)



Today's scripture: Psalm 23:3

So often I feel weary—to-the-bone weary. My daily pain is sometimes beyond my ability to handle. I have no strength. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day.

I’m in need of restoration. In need of strength.

And so I pray for the strength that comes only from my Shepherd. And He restores me.

Even though I, like Paul, would like the “thorn” of pain and weariness to go away, I believe—just as Paul did—the words of Jesus: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And so I can echo Paul’s words, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Not only does my Shepherd restore my soul, but He helps me to grow more righteous. One definition of righteous is “free from guilt or sin.”

Because of God’s love for me, He sent His Son—part of Himself—to pay the penalty for my sin. And because I’ve been cleansed from that sin, because I’m “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7), in His eyes, I am righteous. I’m free from guilt or sin.

How amazing is that?

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