“But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” Proverbs 1:33.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
He who listens to Me, I mean really listens and receives My Word implanted in their heart not just in their mind but in their heart, shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil. How can you live so free of dread, fear, worry, and lack? One reason: Me, yes, God. I am the LORD your God.
The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation. Psalm 18:46
But why are you so free? Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. I have washed you in His blood and freed your from sin, shame, fear, guilt, and doubt, every evil work in you I have cast out. For I so loved the world that I gave My only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. You can do all things in Him who strengthens you.
The place in which you walk with Me is so secure, so filled with peace. When you live in Me nothing can move you out of My love, joy, and peace because evil cannot enter you when you are in Me. I think in love, talk in love, and walk in love and anything other than pure love is foreign to Me and cannot enter Me, let alone find a place in Me. And it should be like that too for you who are living in Me.
When I tell you to live in Me, do you know what that means? It means to put your roots deep down in Me and pull up all you need for everything. But it is even more than that, it is living in such a close relationship with Me, that is, knowing who I am to you so well, that nothing can shake your inward calm because you know that once you have called Me in, I will always do what is just and right, that which is perfect.
“The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4.
As for God, His way is perfect, the Word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? Psalm 18:30-31.
Rest in Me and you are cared for. I have given you a great good Shepherd who laid down His life for you. He nourishes and cares for His body, the Church. Ephesians 5:29-30.
You should be living Psalm 23. Do you know what that Psalm says? It is a blueprint for your life.
Psalm 23 opens, “The LORD is my Shepherd.” In Hebrew the words are Yahweh Ro’i (יהוה רעי). Literally one who feeds and pastures the sheep. Remember, Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep.
So first consider what that means to you. If you have no idea what a shepherd does it may not mean much. So who is the author, leader, developer, and finisher of your faith? Jesus. So let Him teach you about a shepherd, and more importantly, about Himself as the good Shepherd. For I, the God of shalom, brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus your Lord. And in Him, I equip you in every good thing to do My will, working in you that which is pleasing in My sight through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:20-21.
So what does Jesus teach you about the Shepherd? Go to John 10 to begin. Well, first you find that the Shepherd calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3. Jesus leads you out of slavery to freedom, just like when I led the Israelites out of the slavery of Egypt by redeeming them by the blood of the lamb. By His blood He has redeemed you and frees you from the slavery of sin and death. He leads you out of condemnation and shame, out of darkness, out of prison, out of sickness, out of the curse to the BLESSING. He leads you out of Babylon to Eden.
And when He puts forth all His own (I know who are Mine) He goes ahead of them. He leads you. Keep your eyes on Jesus, do not get distracted and wander from the path upon which He is leading you. But even if you should, He will seek you out in the valley of the shadow of death and protect you from all harm by His rod and His staff that comfort you. He will stick with you like the good Shepherd does with wandering sheep and rescue you. He goes after the lost and brings them joyfully home, riding on His shoulders, and on His shoulders dominion rests. And We celebrate at your return to My flock, to whom I have given the Kingdom.
And how does He lead you? He is the Word. He leads by My Word in your heart. My Word is a light to your path and a lamp to your feet. Listen for My voice in My Word. And He, the great good Shepherd, has not left you as sheep without a shepherd. He is in you and with you. How? By the Holy Spirit. He gave you another Paraclete—one at your side. A Shepherd that walks with you, leads you, and guides you to all truth. A Shepherd that reminds you of all Jesus’ said and teaches you all things. And your great good Shepherd Jesus pours out My Spirit on you from My throne. You are never without direction if you want it. Jesus died to give you that.
And His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. A Shepherd does not beat the sheep, He feeds them, tends them, protects them, leads them, and sees to all their needs. But He leads them and calls them by His voice, by name. And they recognize their shepherd’s voice. Do you?
That is your first responsibility, to learn the Shepherd’s voice so you do not miss the goodness to which He is leading you. Study My Word until it speaks to you. Bind My Words continually on your heart, write them on the tablet of your heart by speaking them as your read them. Tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light. Proverbs 6:21-23.
Call to Me and I will answer you. Draw close to Me and I will draw close to you. And I will call your name, you are Mine. Remember, the Shepherd calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3. Mary Magdalene in the presence of the resurrected Jesus did not know Him until He called her name and immediately, she recognized His voice. John 20:16.
And Jesus goes on to tell you that when the shepherd puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:4-5.
How can you know it is a stranger’s voice? It will be contrary to My Word. Examine everything carefully. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22. Do not believe anything someone says, no matter how many degrees from educational institutions they have, if it does not agree with My Word. But to know it does not agree, you have to know My Word. Read it, hear it, love it, enjoy it, eat it, rejoice in all the promises that are yours in Jesus, your great good Shepherd. Be like Mary, “Let it be done unto me according to YOUR WORD.” Not another’s word. Not evil reports of sickness, death, failure, court actions, evil intent, condemnation, shame, blame, bitterness, disasters, financial problems and the like but My good report of victory in Christ Jesus! He has paid you and Me for all those things and now He can lead you to green pastures, healing waters of peace, and right into the Holy of Holies to receive mercy and grace for what you need right when you need it.
A shepherd finds the lost, binds up the wounds incurred in the journey, feeds the sheep, protects the sheep, shields them from all harm and evil, and gives them rest and restoration. Jesus is the good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep and came to give you abundant life. He came to lead you out of darkness to light, out of despair to joy, and out of lack to prosperity.
With Him as your Shepherd, you can boldly declare that you shall not want for any good thing. You shall not want for protection, for direction, for refuge, for restoration, for joy, for peace, for provision, for strength, for wisdom, for knowledge, for guidance, for the fruit of the Spirit, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for living waters, for the anointing—in other words, your good Shepherd gives you total care. He carries the lambs in His bosom. And He lays down His life for you.
And best of all: Jesus told you, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30.
For thus says Adonai Yahavah (Lord LORD), “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his flock in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:11-12, 26.
I love you. I Myself will look after and feed My sheep. My Son and I are ONE.