Daily Devotional
Face to Face with God
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”
Psalm 23:4
February 3, 2020
Ponder This
In the much-loved, familiar 23rd Psalm, David starts out only talking about the Lord: “The Lord is my Shepherd…He makes me to lie down…He leads me…He restores my soul.” But then in verse 4, there’s a change. Now David is in the valley. Now he’s no longer talking about the Lord. It switches here, and now David is speaking to Him: “You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” David is one-on-one with God in conversation.
Nothing will bring you face to face with God more than the dark valleys of life. But when you get in the dark valleys, you're going to find out what Jesus meant when He says to you, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” (Hebrews 13:5) and, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Practice This
Is the Lord your Shepherd? Here’s how to find out. Ask yourself: “Is the Shepherd my Lord?” You see, the only way you can say “The Lord is my Shepherd” is to be able to say, “The Shepherd is my Lord.” Not everyone can recite Psalm 23 and claim it for their own. It belongs to those who’ve found a personal relationship with the Lord—a personal, permanent, protected relationship that will endure for all eternity.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
