THE 23rd PSALM 2

I SHALL NOT WANT FOR REST

Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

There is an old saying that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I always answer that I don't want it then because I really don't like mowing what I already have.

In this verse we see a picture of the sheep lying in in a green meadow. They are surrounded by the green grass that is their main source of food. I feel very peaceful when I picture this.

They are beside the peaceful still waters and the shepherd is watching over them with a watchful eye. It kind of reminds me of the children's prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my should to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." That kind of gives you the feeling of lying in green pastures beside the still waters doesn't it?

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE 23rd PSALM 1

Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

David could speak from his own experience about how a shepherd cared for his sheep. It was the shepherds job to see that the sheep were protected, fed, watered and otherwise cared for. David used this comparison to give an illustration of God's care for us.

He provides all that we need. He feeds us. He nourishes us and He protects us from those who would prey upon us.

Over the past years I could not tell you how many times I have read this verse and studied it. I am not even sure how many times I have preached from it or used it at funerals. There is great comfort here but I have seen something that I did not once see there.

In the verse it says "I shall not want." So many people today never learn to be satisfied. They continuously want something thinking that if they were to get that something then they would finally find happiness. I can honestly say that God has always supplied my needs. I have never hungered or thirsted or been destitute in any way. The times that I have found myself miserable were the times that I failed to be thankful for the things I already have.

If I really want to let God lead me as my Shepherd then I need to grasp the concept of thankfulness and remember "I shall not want."

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

COMPLAINING

A man sat down to supper with his family, saying grace,
thanking God for the food, for the hands which prepared it, and
for the source of all life. But during the meal he complained
about the freshness of the bread, the bitterness of the coffee
and the sharpness of the cheese. His young daughter questioned
him, "Dad, do you think God heard the grace today?"
He answered confidently, "Of course."
Then she asked, "And do you think God heard what you said
about the coffee, the cheese, and the bread?" Not so
confidently, he answered, "Why, yes, I believe so."
The little girl concluded, "Then which do you think God
believed, Dad?"
The man was suddenly aware that his mealtime prayer had become
a rote, thoughtless habit rather than an attentive and honest
conversation with God. By not concentrating on that important
conversation, he had left the door open to let hypocrisy sneak
in.
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REFLECT

In a tenement district in New York City, a boy in ragged clothes was seen with a small piece of broken mirror in his hand. Holding it high in the air he moved it slowly back and forth, watching the narrow slit of a window above him as he did so.

"What are you doing?" a man suddenly demanded as he shook the youngster roughly by the shoulder. "Like most boys in this neighborhood, you're probably up to some mischief, aren't you?"
The boy looked up into the stern face of his accuser and said, "See that window up there? Well, I have a little brother who has a room on that floor. He's a cripple. The only sunlight he ever sees is what I shine up to him with my mirror!"

Do we reflect the light of the Son so that someone in darkness may see?

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LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO

Psalms 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

I once was enslaved to sin by my enemy Satan. Sin had a hold on me and was gradually destroying all my peace and joy. I didn't feel that I had any hope until I realized that Jesus wanted me for his own. Not for a slave but for a friend. To love like family. He was willing to pay whatever it costs to purchase me from the bondage of my enemy.

He died in my place and when I believed on Him, I was redeemed. I was bought back. Satan no longer has a title on me. I belong to Jesus. I am redeemed. I want to say so! I often say so quietly but maybe I should not be so timid. Maybe I should say so to everyone I come in contact with. Maybe I should say so on the streets and in the stores. Maybe I should shout it from the rooftops because after all it is the greatest thing that has ever been done for me.

Let the redeemed say So!

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

BLINDED BY THE DARK

2 Corinthians 4:3-5 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

DARKNESS IN THE WORLD

Many times I have heard people talk of meeting a car and the bright lights of the car blinding them. That happens because the eyes have adjusted to the darkness and can't adjust to the light quickly enough.
Darkness is only an absence of light. For some time we have been aware of the darkness in the world. By that I mean entire regions who know nothing about Jesus. You can look at their living conditions and at their morality and know that it is truly darkness.

I am concerned that people's eyes are getting used to the darkness right here in the United States. It seems that everyone is supposed to be tolerant of everything but Christianity and high moral standards. Things that used to be shocking have gone from being tolerated to being embraced and now they are being forced on those who do not agree with them.

We have the Light. We have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The only way we are ever going to drive away the darkness is to let our lights shine. One day Jesus is going to come back and they will be so used to the darkness that they will be blinded by His light and won't even be able to see Him.



Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

OVERCOMING THE WORLD 3

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMEth the world: and this is the victory that OVERCOMEth the world, even our faith. (5) Who is he that OVERCOMEth the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

When we get saved we are said to be born again. We are born again by having Jesus come into our heart and change our lives from carnal to spiritual beings.

It takes faith to trust your soul to Jesus Christ for eternity. It takes faith to realize that there is nothing you can do but accept the gift of salvation that He paid for and offers to you as a gift.

It takes faith to believe that there is nothing in you worthy of eternal life but Jesus loves you enough to offer it to you as a gift.

The wonderful thing about that faith is that it to is a gift of God. It takes faith in a Great God to know that He wants you as one of His own.

That is the faith that gives us victory over the world. Jesus is the Son of God.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.


If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know. Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.