Day Seven– CWC First Fruits Devotional

Day Seven

Follow The Leader…

Psalm 23:2-4 KJV

[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The 23rd Psalm has to be one of the most quotes and recognizable scriptures in the Bible. Perhaps it’s because of the comforting sentiment that the Lord Shepherds us, takes care of us and leads us? As a matter of fact, two times in this short text, the Word declares; “He leadeth me.”

Something very interesting happens in verse four of this text. Right after we’ve established twice in verses one and two that God is leading us, we turn the corner in verse four and we find ourselves walking through the valley of the shadow of death.    

Certainly after experiencing the Lord in the green pastures and still waters and being restored by God’s loving embrace, it feels like a tragedy to walk through the valley of death. I mean what kind of God would tease me with still waters, green pastures and restoration just to allow me to end up in a valley. Quite honestly, nobody wants to go through a valley. The valley experience is no doubt a horrible experience. It’s in the valley when we start looking at ourselves and searching for reasons that caused us to end up here. Well you don’t have to look any further than verse three where it says: “He leadeth me.” 

You were following God this whole time and He led you to the “valley of the shadow of death”. Here’s the lesson in that. He didn’t drop you off in the valley. He didn’t send you alone in the valley. He didn’t say that the valley was a permanent stop. But rather, He says you will walk through the valley which implies that our valley experience has an expiration date. But there is no need to worry because no matter how long your valley experience may last; you can say just like David did in this text: “Thou art with me”. And further more, there is no need to be afraid of the valley of the “shadow” of death. Why? Because shadows are not real.  

 Some of us are scared of our own shadows. Shadows of past failures and shadows of past disappointments. 

  God’s word for you is Shadows aren’t real but I Am. Follow me and ignore the shadows. Focus on me, not the shadows for my rod and my staff will always comfort you.

 Let’s pray….

    Lord we come to You in complete adoration and praise for being greater than anything else that exists in the universe. Thank You for giving us the boldness and confidence to walk through the terrifying places. Where others are running away, we are walking through hold on to our trust in You every step of the way. We love You Father.

Amen.