Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation. 

Today, Sharon Gomez encourages us to be led by the Shepherd, who is gentle, strong and full of love and wisdom.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams” (Psalm 23:1-2 NLT).

It took me some time to realize that things in my life will never truly settle down. I would say things like, “Things will slow down after my youngest gets out of high school,” “Things will get better once this week is over,” and even “It will be easier when the puppy gets older.”

As we know, life isn’t that simple and our circumstances constantly ebb and flow. Maybe that’s why we refer to specific periods of our lives as seasons, cyclical yet never the same.

Psalm 23 is a popular reminder that everything we need to sustain us lies in the Lord’s guidance. I love the beauty in the metaphor behind this verse—the role of the shepherd and the nature of the sheep.

As adorable as they are, sheep are not the most intelligent creatures, and they need a skilled leader to protect and sustain them. The shepherd protects them and leads them to places that will help them flourish. They rely on the shepherd, and they know his voice when they are called.

The good shepherd leads his sheep to lush green meadows, perfect for food and rest. He guides them along peaceful streams so they will not attempt to drink from rough waters that could lead to their demise.

The image created by the Psalm is one of gentle strength, love, and wisdom. This is how God tends to us. During our stressful seasons or in our busy everyday lives, our Lord guides us. Sometimes we follow Him, and sometimes we go to the meadows and streams of our choosing, thinking we know the best ways to refresh ourselves.

Allow the vision of the shepherd guiding his sheep to bring you comfort. We don’t need to struggle and stress our way through life. Instead, we can rest knowing that our provider is always there, gently guiding and sustaining us.

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com