THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME

Today’s Text: Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re going to take a look at the last part of Psalm 23:4. A shepherd uses his rod to protect his sheep from wolves and other enemies. He uses his staff to support himself when leading His sheep. For sheep, knowing that their shepherd is there, and fully able to protect them from danger, and to guide them along, sometimes dangerous, paths is a huge comfort to them. They have no need to fear. It’s the same with the Lord. We should be comforted in knowing that our great God is present and fully able to protect and guide us no matter who or what the enemy. We can hide ourselves safely in the Lord. Our hearts will be left with songs of deliverance. Our God is fully able and prepared to deliver us from all harm.

Today’s Testimony: Let me share the behind the scenes of Today’s T’s.
Some friends of mine had drifted a bit from the Lord, and I heard two people talking and the one said, “If only someone would send them a Scripture text or something every day.” A while before, I had been sending a friend a Scripture text and my thoughts on the text every single day, including weekends, for a total (there was a pause for a while in between) of six months, so I thought, “I could do that.”
The Lord then started unwrapping exactly what he wanted me to do – “I want you to send a text and call it Today’s Text, just as you did for your friend. Then I want you to send the thoughts on that text that I give you, and call it Today’s Thoughts….” I can’t remember exactly how it all unfolded, but you all know what the end result was. The Lord led with what to include, and what to call this ministry.
Being me, I was standing in awe and so excited. I started working on one the very next morning. I didn’t allow myself enough time to really think it through: “Lindy, are you crazy?!!! You are planning to send all that, every day. Isn’t that a little bit daunting?!” I don’t know, it was the same with Praise Corner – the Lord often has to choose people who are crazy enough to do what He asks without evaluating the sacrifice, and ignorant enough not to know that the task “cannot be done” (according to human standards).
Only one person that I spoke to has said, “It’s not easy.” It definitely isn’t, but there’s no way I’m turning back. I know that the Lord has called me to do a work for Him, and I’m going to do it for as long as I am able. I knew that my Shepherd would be with me through it all. I knew that He is fully able to protect me when Satan tries to discourage me; I knew that my God is fully able to guide me along the path that He has chosen for me, and therefore I followed His leading. And for the same reason, I hide myself in Him, and press forward. His rod and His staff they comfort me.

Today’s Task: Hide in the Lord from all your troubles. Remember that He is fully able to protect and guide you. Do not fear when troubles come, know that your powerful Shepherd is right there with you. Trust in His care.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You are fully able and willing to protect us from all danger, and to guide us in all paths, no matter how rocky. Lord help us to trust in You and hide ourselves in You as our Refuge. I thank You that You are such a good Shepherd. Lord help us to praise You for Your protection, guidance, care and deliverance. We love You Lord. Amen.

FOR THOU ART WITH ME

Today’s Text: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Psalm 46:7)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re focusing on the forth part of Psalm 23:4. God is ruler over everything. He owns everything. He has hosts of angels that He can send to help us in times of need. He is also the same God who was with Daniel in the lions’ den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. That same God, the God of hosts of angels and people, is the God who can be with us right now. He can be a place of safety to each one of us no matter what evil and trials we may face in life – we just need to make Him Lord in our lives.

Today’s Testimony: I’ve mentioned before that Satan hates this ministry. Today I’m going to start by sharing some of the complications, and how the Lord was still with me to give me strength and help. God will not let this ministry die – it is making a difference in too many lives.
Let me start with the strangest complication. At the moment I type Today’s T’s on one laptop, and then take it on a flash-stick to the other laptop and send it from there. One morning I put my flash-stick into the first laptop and was given the option to scan it for viruses. I decided that I would and then once the scan was complete I decided that I would clear some items off my flash-stick. For some or other reason the flash-stick was no longer registered as being in the lop-top. I then had to take it out and reinsert it.
The most frustrating hiccup is when I’m updating Today’s T’s blog and I get chucked out of Blogger. One day after updating the archive page, before clicking to publish the page, I decided I’d close the place where I got the links from. I’d normally leave it open until I was totally finished. That day, when I clicked “publish page” I got chucked out of Blogger and had to reopen the place where I got the links. That was the first and only time I’ve been chucked out while updating the archive page. That’s also the first and only time I’ve closed the place where I get my links before I was done.
Adding the new posts is where I have the most trouble. I have to change quite a bit before I can publish the post – colour, word size, format etc. But so often when I’m finally finished and click “publish post” I get chucked out of Blogger. I then have to start from scratch.
For some of the more complicated problems I have to contact my technical manager ; but no matter what the hiccup, God always intervenes. He gives me the patience daily to deal with all the necessaries and complications.
Yesterday I couldn’t think what text and testimony to share. I had quite a few texts pasted on stand-by, and then I had quite a few thoughts typed out. Then the Lord intervened as he did with my assignment (Day 15). He said, “Use this text”… “Say this”… “Delete that”… “Move that here”. God helps me every day to know what He wants me to share. Satan wants to destroy this ministry, but God is with me every moment intervening. Whenever I need help, I know I can run to Him. Whenever Satan tries to discourage me, I know I can take refuge in My Shepherd and He will give me strength to press on. No matter what evil comes my way, I know that my God is with me.

Today’s Task: Take refuge in the Good Shepherd no matter what evil comes your way. He cares about His sheep. He knows what you are going through and He is right there to be a strength and a comfort to you. His peace is available – accept it.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You are very present when we are in trouble. I thank You for the strength, comfort and peace that You give when we need it. Lord I pray that You will give us the patience we need to endure every trial. Help us to run to You as our refuge from the storms of life. I thank You that You are always with us and care for us so much. Amen.

I WILL FEAR NO EVIL

Today’s Text: The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psalm 118:6)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re looking at the third part of Psalm 23:4. No one wants to be hurt or killed, but our greatest concern should be that we are saved. We may have everything that we need in this life, but if we do not have the Lord, what does all the rest of it really matter. Knowing God is the most important thing in life. Man can hurt us and even kill us, but no matter what happens to us in this life, nothing and no one can take away our Lord from us. They may take away our Bibles and even forbid us to worship our God, but no one can truly take Him away, or destroy the relationship that we have with Him. God is the only constant in our lives. All else is uncertain – even life itself. That’s why it is so important to know the Lord. Then we will have no need to fear no matter what happens to us. And through all our pain and heartache, God will be with us. Don’t ever forsake your God, He loves you so much.

Today’s Testimony: One day in my youth class we were discussing persecution. My youth leader said, “If they threatened to pluck your toe-nails off one by one until you forsook your God, what would you do?”
I know that Satan is already persecuting so many of God’s people, but I also know that persecution will heighten and all God’s true followers will be affected and have to choose between God’s truth and Satan’s error which is portrayed as God’s truth. That’s why Jesus Himself was persecuted – the priests thought that they were doing a good work for God, but they were really working for Satan.
Persecution is always horrific, and the torture is never desired, but the question to ask when facing persecution is not, “Can I bear the torture?” but, “Am I willing to forsake my God?” And the answer to that should be a definite, “No!”
When I presented the week-of-prayer that I mentioned a while ago, I sang one of my songs to close each evening. I’d like to share the words to the one I sang on the last evening. I want to stand for my God at all costs. What have I truly gained if I spare this earthly life for a few days, but lose out on spending eternity with my loving Shepherd?!

I Will Stand

They’ll come with fire and sword
And take away God’s word
But still I will stand
They will threaten me with death
But I will take my last breath
Knowing that I’m safe within God’s hand

I will stand, no matter what the cost
I will stand, for I refuse to be lost
When hardships come
Though I may be the only one
I will stand; Lord I’ll stand, for You

When things get rough
We may be tempted to give up
But still we must stand
Though we think we’re on our own
We will never stand alone
For God will be holding our hands

I will stand, no matter what the cost
I will stand for I refuse to be lost
When hardships come
Though I may be the only one
I will stand; Lord I’ll stand, for You

I will stand; Lord we’ll stand, for You

Today’s Task: Remember that the Lord is your Shepherd and that you do not have to fear. No matter what Satan uses to attack you, he can never take away your God. When Satan attacks – cling to your God, He will give you the strength you need. Do not fear evil, it will only last a little while longer – our Saviour is coming back. Make sure that He is your God – that’s all that matters. I invite you to take hold of the Lord’s strength and endure persecution – your reward will be an everlasting life of peace with your Shepherd.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that no one can take You or Salvation away from us. I thank You that You will be with us in every trial, and that You will give us strength to endure. Lord help us to realize how valuable it is to know You, and that nothing else is more important. I thank You that we do not need to fear. Help us to trust in You. Amen.

OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Today’s Text: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. (2Corinthians 4:8, 9)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re focusing on the second part of Psalm 23:4. Yesterday we spoke about the average valleys of life; today we’re going to speak about the more serious ones. For some of us we cannot always say the words found in today’s text – when we’re troubled on every side, we get distressed; when we are perplexed, we sink into despair; when we are persecuted, we feel forsaken; when we are cast down, we have no hope to live for. But God wants us to be able to cling to Him so tightly that we can always say the words in this text – no matter how dark the valley. He is always there for us to turn to. We can place our hope in Him, and He will carry us through the valley.

Today’s Testimony: If you’ve always been totally satisfied in life and never ever wanted to get out of a certain situation, you’re probably one in a few, if not the only. At some stage in life, we all wish we could get out. Some people turn to the temporary and fake relief of alcohol and cigarettes and all the other “distress-masks” that Satan offers. Even worse, some people take their lives because they see no hope to live. If you face times like these, please find your source of relief in The Good Shepherd.
Today I’d like to share two pieces from a book that I found encouraging when I was sick of life. They are both found in the book “Prophets and Kings” by the author E. White. The context in which these sections are found is the story of Elijah when he ran away from Queen Jezebel in fear for his life. He then wished he could die. The story is found in 1Kings 19. Here are the two excerpts:

Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement – days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God's providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being. (Prophets and Kings pg. 162)

For the disheartened there is a sure remedy – faith, prayer, work. (Prophets and Kings pg. 164)

Have you ever felt like that? Just think, God cares so much about us that He sends His angels to try and save us from destroying ourselves. He wants us to find the peace that only He can offer.
When we do feel down and out, the best thing we can do is have faith, pray, and keep working. By working we turn our minds away from our sorrows and often they will shrink into insignificance. Working for the Lord is the best form of work to draw us back to His peace.
These two passages gave me strength when I was despairing of life; I hope they give you peace and strength to press on too. The Good Shepherd is there for you – He cares about you.

Today’s Task: Cling to your Saviour. No matter what dark and life-threatening valleys you may face, know that God is there and that He truly does care. Ask Him for His strength and peace. If you ever battle with stress and despair – place your faith in God, pray and find a work to do for Him. He longs to lift you out of despair. Take hold of His hand.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You do not leave us to destroy ourselves – You do all that You can to save us from ourselves. I thank You that You are with us in every trial. Please give us strength and peace to endure. Help us to know that You are very present in every valley. Lord help us to have faith and to take all our anxieties to You. Lord please give us a work to do for You no matter how simple it may be. I thank You for Your great love. Amen.

YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY

Today’s Text: 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.
(Psalm 23:4)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’ll take a look at just the first part of this text. Life is full of highs and lows. Not all lows are life-threatening, so today we’re going to simply focus on the standard valleys of life. God is with us in every valley. No matter what troubles we may face in life, our Shepherd is there for us. He cares about His sheep. We do not need to fear while in the valley because our almighty God is with us. And yet we all so often tend to fear and stress and get depressed when we face turmoil. God doesn’t want us to. He wants us to run to Him straight away. He can give us peace no matter how dark the valley may be. Turn to Him today.

Today’s Testimony: Today I’m going to share a few portions from my prayer diary. One of the reasons I started keeping a prayer diary in the first place was because my life was in turmoil and I needed strength, guidance and peace. I started using a prayer diary in October 2007. The sections I’m going to share come from the first few pages of my first prayer diary. I’m not going to write everything that I said, but I’ll share just enough to say that God is still very present when we go through our valleys. If we turn to Him for peace, He will grant it. We just need to accept it.
(First day) “Lord, You and only You know what is happening in my life. You see the pain, questions, concern, fear, and yet, at the same time, You see the praise as You heal, answer, provide and comfort. I love You Lord!”
(Two days later) “Lord, I thank You for comforting and strengthening me today through my tears. … Please Lord, stay here, I need You. I’m not doing very well, but I’ve never felt so close to You before. Through all this pain You are refining me. Don’t stop Lord, don’t stop!”
(The following day) “My life still feels like it’s in turmoil. But I realize that it is necessary for my refining process. Lord, I thank You for the amazing peace You continually give me. Today, as yesterday, I went through periods of tears and fears, but You always comforted and helped me through. You are so good!”
(The next day) “Today I just missed tears. I came close to tears, but You dried them before they fell. Thank You Lord!”
I took my tears and fears to my Shepherd and He intervened. He truly does love each one of His sheep.

Today’s Task: I invite you to take all your tears, fears, stress and anxiety to The Good Shepherd. He loves you. Talk to Him about your valley. Allow Him to walk beside you and guide you through it. Take hold of His strength and peace. God is always there for you!

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You are with us in every valley if we invite You to be. We need Your peace and strength at all times, but especially in the valleys of life. Lord please give us Your peace right now. So many of us are struggling right now. I thank You that You care about us so much, You don’t want to see us stressed, anxious and depressed. I thank You that You will intervene. Help us to know and remember that You are very present when our lives are in turmoil. Lord please grant us Your peace. Amen.

FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE

Today’s Text: For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
(1Samuel 12:22)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re going to take a look at the last part of Psalm 23:3. The Lord will lead us in His way and not forsake us for His name’s sake. So many people see Christians as hypocrites because they claim to be living for God, but they are no different from the world. God leads us in the paths of righteousness because He knows that the life He wants us to live is better for us, but He also leads us in His way to protect His name. If God forsook His people, what kind of God would the world see Him to be?! He calls us to be true followers of His. He leads us in His way, and does not forsake us, for our own benefit and to bring honour to His name. I want to be a true follower of Christ and bring honour and glory to my Shepherd. Don’t you?

Today’s Testimony: Imagine if people could just look at you and know that you are a true Christian – before they’ve seen you do anything or heard you say anything. It is possible. I’ve had that experience many times. God has a high standard for His sheep because He loves us and wants what is best for us. If we truly live up to that standard the world will be able to know that we are followers of Christ at first glance. A life that is lived in Christ cannot but bring honour and glory to His name.
When I was about sixteen, my family and I were studying a few of God’s requirements for His people. One thing that we came across was His high standard of dress. Do we really dress for Christ and for Him alone? If Christ had to stand infront of us, would any of us feel uncomfortable with the way we are dressed? I didn’t dress totally for Christ at that stage.
We discussed that we should not wear any clothes that attracts attention to our bodies. One thing that needed to change was the tight pants I was used to wearing. The reason was because, like I said, they attract attention. My thoughts were, “But that’s why we wear pants!” Isn’t that so true – the reason we shouldn’t do something is so often the same reason why we do it in the first place. We love attention! We want to look good! We want to fit in! But what does God require?
It was not easy to change my wardrobe, but I then started wearing long skirts instead of pants. I do sometimes still wear pants, but I wear a long top over. I do look different from most of the girls I know, and it definitely wasn’t easy to make that change, but God had lead, and I had to follow.
On one occasion while in Cape Town we went to the same plant-nursery two days in a row. On the second day, the gentleman guarding the cars asked if my sisters and I were Christians. My step-mom told him that we were, and he said, “I can see by the long skirts they’re wearing.” That is only one of many similar stories. We can stand out for Christ in something as simple as our dress. And yet I also know that it is one of the hardest things for us to change. I didn’t write this testimony to tell you how to dress, I simply wanted to share how easy it is to be a witness for God – no words; no actions. But I do encourage you to take your dress-code to the Lord for checking. Ask Him if He is happy with the way you dress. Ask Him if He would have you change anything for His name’s sake. I want to follow Him wherever He leads, at all costs. Do you?

Today’s Task: Ask the Lord if there is anything in your life that He would have you change in order to bring honour and glory to His name. Ask Him to lead you in paths of righteousness, and then follow Him for His name’s sake. Ask Him for the strength to live for Him at all costs. Trust His standards, He knows what is truly best for us.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that we can bring honour and glory to Your name simply by walking in Your paths of righteousness. There are so many things in our lives that we need to change, but You will not forsake us and leave us to struggle on our own. I thank You that You will help us to live totally for You. Help us to follow You always for Your name’s sake. Amen.

HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Today’s Text: Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. (Psalm 5:8)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re focusing on the second part of Psalm 23:3.A shepherd uses his staff to keep his sheep together and on the right road. These days they also use dogs to herd the sheep. Our heavenly Shepherd wants to keep us in His chosen path; He wants to keep us on the road toward Heaven. Sometimes we’re tempted to stray from God’s way because we feel that “fair’s fair”. We want to retaliate, and get our enemies back; or we don’t want to do what others ask us to do because we feel it is unfair. God doesn’t call us to decide when to act righteously, He leads us in that path all the time. We need to do what’s right in His eyes at all times, and simply leave Him to intervene if the situation is unfair. It’s definitely not easy, but God knows that. He will give us strength. Trust Him, and follow Him.

Today’s Testimony: One morning I went into the kitchen for breakfast and my step-dad asked me to grind up some seeds for his breakfast. We were both wanting to eat and I needed to grind up my own seeds too. In all fairness, according to the human heart, we should each have to grind our own seeds. But the Lord requires us to be obedient, and so I, not exactly very joyfully, but silently, ground up my step-dad’s seeds.
While I was busy the Lord and I had a talk about it. I knew that He wanted me to grind up those seeds whether it was fair or not, so we started talking about what He would have done. Jesus would have done every task that His earthly parents set before Him with joy. He would have been more than willing to be of service to them. The thought of the task being unfair never would have crossed His mind. And I said, “Lord, I can’t imagine myself doing this joyfully.”
The best option the following day, in human terms, would have been to make myself scarce and not be around when my step-dad was preparing his breakfast. But according to God’s way, that was not an option. I ground up my step-dad’s seeds the following morning, but I can’t remember what went through my mind.
The third day was when the real change took place. I went into the kitchen and quickly ground up my step-dad’s seeds before he got into the kitchen to ask. I did it as quickly as possible so I could surprise him when he asked. When he did come and ask me to grind up his seeds I could joyfully tell him that they were already ground up and waiting.
That was the last day that he asked me to grind his seeds. After that he ground them himself. In my opinion, the Lord simply wanted to teach me how to walk in His way of righteousness. Once I’d past the “test” I no longer needed to grind my step-dad’s seeds. The Lord often chooses other methods of training for me, and that’s because He wants me to live in Him and for Him. He wants each of us to follow Him as He leads us in His paths of righteousness. Will you follow Him?

Today’s Task: Forget what the world says is fair and unfair. Follow the Lord’s way no matter what, at all costs. Allow Him to lead you in paths of righteousness. Follow your Shepherd joyfully. God’s way is the best way. He blesses His faithful sheep.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You are a faithful Shepherd. Help us to be faithful sheep. I thank You that You do not leave us to stray in the paths of unrighteousness, but lead us in the paths of righteousness. Lord help us to follow You – always. I thank You that You care about Your sheep so much. Amen.