DO YOU HAVE A DESIRE FOR STRENGTH, SECURITY, AND PEACE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, 
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they will live 
securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 
And he will be their peace.  
(Micah 5:4-5)

MEDITATION:
Sometimes people miss out on some valuable information 
contained in the Old Testament due to a preconceived idea 
that it is full of words like “Thee, Thou, Begat and Wherefore”.
This makes it sound boring, but it is not!

The Old Testament has many scriptures which point to the Jesus 
revealed in the New Testament who was born to Mary in human form 
(while being the Lord at the same time).
The Bible should always be taken as a whole, since it is God’s Word to mankind.

As an example, when Micah talks about a ‘Ruler from Bethlehem’ 
he explains the magnificence of the Lord as our Shepherd.
When we are shepherded, it means we are guided and cared for by a loving Lord.
Jesus proclaimed He is the “Good Shepherd” which confirms His desire 
for us to enjoy a good life in a close relationship with Him.
His love for us is so strong that He was willing to lay down His life for us.

For those of us who have surrendered to His leadership and guidance,
it means even more as we live out our daily lives on this earth.
Micah promised that as a result of His love, greatness and majesty,
we could have strength, security and peace.

These are three important aspects of life that all of us desire 
but some fail to enjoy due to selfishness and a refusal to surrender control 
of their lives to the Lord and embrace the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When we are ‘filled with the Spirit’, 
we can expect changes to occur in our lives. 
In the Bible, we can see instances where people who were 
filled with the Spirit became bold witnesses for the Lord. 
When we are filled with the Spirit, 
there will be evidence of changes in our lives.

These changes (fruit of the Spirit) include the following:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, 
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things 
there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
These characteristics are indications 
that we have surrendered to the control of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

ACTION:
If you haven’t already, dedicate some time for reading the Old Testament.
While reading it, look for scriptures that point to our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Also, spend some time looking for how people were impacted 
whenever they were filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the promises made to those who
accept and embrace Your Son. Thank You, Jesus for being my 
sacrificial Good Shepherd. In a world gone crazy, Your strength 
sustains me, Your majesty overwhelms me, and in You I find my 
security and peace as I face the future.”

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