My Shepherd..

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired*

*Intercessory Prayer and Testimony*

*By Sister Leah Adepeju*
*Tuesday 12th March 2019*

*Topic :* My Shepherd

*Text:* The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord .

PSALM 23:1‭-‬6 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.23.1-6.AMP

The topic says my shepherd. And the passage is a very familiar one and that is Psalms 23.
To start with, who is a shepherd?

A shepherd is someone in charge of the care, growth, nursing, protecting, providing, safety  and we'll being of sheep. A shepherd doesn't just take their duty as something that is light, it is a matter of life or death for the sheep.
From the scripture here we can see how the Psalmist makes this declaration of who God is. The Lord is *My Shepherd.* He is the one that feeds, guides and shields me, I shall not  want.
So when we are talking about *My Shepherd* we are refering to the almighty Creator here.

But to start with you must know Him so well to relate to Him as a sheep.

Going into more details of what a shepherd does for the sheep on day to day basis, the shepherd makes sure that the sheep has all they need to feed on. The shepherd of this world at times walks around with a gun to protect the sheep from getting hurt. The shepherd helps to deliver the baby when they are born. The shepherd makes sure their sheep has vaccination when needed. Then the shepherd makes sure the sheep has shelter, and a secured one at that.
🐑 Sheep get sheared, that is, the fur on their skin gets removed using specialist clipper. The shepherd does that at specific times of the year. It is mostly done when it's warm or when it's spring so the body temperature of the sheep without the fur can cope. The fur takes around 6 weeks to grow so the shepherd will make sure it is not done around winter when the sheep is susceptible to danger in any way.
So the duty of the shepherd is so vast.

Let us go back to the text in the Bible. The Psalmist says "My Shepherd makes me lie in green pastures" that is a fertile ground.
He leads me besides the still water, that is taken away all troubled waters.
He refreshes my soul (life); the shepherd doesn't just leave the soul to wander in dry grounds.
My shepherd leads me in the path of righteousness.
Although the path may seem unclear but when the shepherd leads not only does He lead He is the light that makes the path clear - Psalms 119:105 says your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.

Then further down the Psalmist says even though I walk through the sunless path - the valley of the shadow of death - I will fear no evil for you are with me. So my confidence is so high when My Shepherd is in charge.
Your rod (to protect) and your staff (to guide), they comfort my soul.
So my shepherd protects and guides me.
Then right in the presence of my enemy He prepares a table, not just an ordinary one but the one that runs with abundance that is supernatural.
Then anoints my head that my cup runs over so my abundance overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life  and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

So My Shepherd is the Lord almighty.
My shepherd is the great Creator.
My shepherd is the healer.
My shepherd is my provider.

But who is your shepherd? Do you know who your shepherd is?
Do you know that a sheep can get lost if it is not accounted for in the place of security.
The shepherd of this world can give up after lots of trial but Jesus is My shepherd and He never gives up, even if the sheep has been lost He looks for the sheep.
Because with my Shepherd one of His main concerns is my soul living in Righteousness and to dwell in His presence forever.

Once again who's your shepherd?

My shepherd is the King of kings.
He is irreplaceable.
The shepherd of the world can get sick but my shepherd can never get sick.

Looking at when a sheep is sheared it may seem like a period of nakedness for the sheep but it is a time for new growth because the fur absorbs so much heat in the hot weather.
At times we feel like we are stripped naked in life and we kind of wonder, Where is My Shepherd?
We are like, the cold weather is coming it's going to rain soon, what am I going to use as covering? but My shepherd is never caught unawares or by surprise.
He has plans before, during and after any situation that makes me feel naked because He is My shepherd.
My shepherd knows my need which is why I can never want.
My shepherd knows my health need which is why I dwell in His house all the days of my life.
The Bible let us understand that our body is the temple of the Lord. So I am already dwelling in the temple of my Shepherd.
My shepherd likes unity, when you see shepherd herding his flock they are all in group because the shepherd is accountable for the lives of the sheep individually and as a group.
My shepherd is the judge in the court room.
My shepherd is the surgeon in the theatre.
My shepherd is my advocate.
My shepherd is the one that gave me my voice and utterance.
My shepherd! my shepherd!! my shepherd!!!

The word "my" is a word that denotes ownership. To make God your shepherd you must have a notable relationship with Him. It is not just a saying from the tip of your tongue, it is something that comes from within.
But except you have given your life to Him and make Him the Lord and Saviour of your life, that Psalm 23 will just be another recitation without no personal meaning.

Today I want us all to begin to have the personified thought of who our Shepherd is - Jesus is my shepherd.

For as many who are yet to have that true relationship with Jesus today is another opportunity.
He is the one who can be there for you and I even when all hope is gone.
When no one wants to identify with you the great Shepherd will.

So I want us to invite Him into our hearts if we are yet to.

Say, Lord eternal, today I have heard your word. I confess all my sins and renounce them. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Take control of my life henceforth and be my Shepherd in Jesus name.
My shepherd will never leave me nor forsake me.

Let us pray.

Lord I thank you for your word this day. Ancient of days have your way in my life. Father help me to understand the role of you being my Shepherd in Jesus name.
Lord eternal henceforth give me the mindset to focus more on you in Jesus name. Father never let me run ahead of you in life in Jesus name.
Father you are my shepherd, in any way I am threatened with basic life needs, shelter, health, e.t.c step in and deliver me in Jesus name.
*Ask your shepherd what you want Him to do henceforth in your life and be willing to yield to Him.*

Thank you Lord for answered prayers.
In Jesus name.

*Amen.*