Monday, March 17, 2025
Rest for our Souls
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” — Augustine of Hippo
Reflection:
Rest is a gift that God graciously gives, but how often do we resist it? We push forward, striving, worrying, and exhausting ourselves with burdens He never meant for us to carry alone. Yet, our Good Shepherd calls us to lie down, to rest in His presence, and to drink deeply from the still waters of His peace. Just as a shepherd provides green pastures for his sheep, God provides what we need—not just physically, but for our souls. Augustine recognized this deep truth—our hearts will remain restless until we find our rest in Him. Jesus Himself invites us to come to Him when we are weary and heavy laden. Today, will you surrender your burdens and allow Him to restore your soul?
Personal Reflection:
Prayer:
Lord, You are my Shepherd, and I need Your rest. Teach me to trust You enough to stop striving and to lie down in the green pastures You provide. Lead me beside still waters and restore my soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Still Waters of Peace
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." — John 14:27 (ESV)
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
— C.S. Lewis
Reflection:
The world offers many substitutes for peace — comfort, distraction, success — but none truly satisfy. The peace Jesus gives is different. It is not dependent on circumstances but flows from His presence. The still waters of Psalm 23 are not merely a scenic resting place; they represent the deep, abiding peace that only God provides. As C.S. Lewis reminds us, true peace cannot exist apart from God. Have you been seeking peace in things that can never provide it? Today, let the Good Shepherd lead you to the only peace that endures.
Personal Reflection:
Prayer:
Jesus, You are my peace. The world offers temporary relief, but only You can calm my troubled heart. Lead me beside the still waters of Your presence today. Amen.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
The Shepherd Who Leads
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." — Isaiah 40:11 (ESV)
“To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust him in the dark — that is faith.” — Charles Spurgeon
Reflection:
A good shepherd never leaves his sheep to wander aimlessly. He leads them with care, providing what they need at the right time. In the same way, God gently leads us, even when we struggle to see the path ahead. Isaiah 40:11 reminds us that He carries the weak and guides with tenderness. Spurgeon reminds us that faith is trusting God's guidance even when we cannot see where He is leading. Are you willing to follow where your Shepherd leads today, even if the way is uncertain?
Personal Reflection:
Prayer:
Lord, I trust You to lead me. Even when I don’t understand the path ahead, I know You are guiding me with love. Help me follow You with faith. Amen.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Soul Restoration
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."
— 2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV)
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Reflection:
Our souls grow weary under the weight of this world, but our Good Shepherd restores us. The renewal He offers is not just physical or emotional; it is spiritual. As Paul writes, though our outer selves may weaken, God renews us inwardly every day. Bonhoeffer’s words remind us that true restoration comes through surrender to Christ. Are you allowing God to renew you daily, or are you trying to restore yourself by your own strength?
Personal Reflection:
Prayer:
Jesus, restore my soul. Help me to surrender my striving and receive the renewal You alone can give. Amen.
Friday, March 21, 2025
Resting in the Shepherd’s Care
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
"And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat."
— Mark 6:31 (ESV)
“If you are too busy to pray, you are busier than God wants you to be.” — Corrie ten Boom
Reflection:
Jesus recognized the need for rest. In Mark 6:31, He invited His disciples to step away and rest in His presence. Corrie ten Boom’s words remind us that if we are too busy to seek God, we are carrying more than He intends. Are you allowing yourself to rest in the Shepherd’s care today?
Personal Reflection:
Prayer:
Lord, help me to rest in You. Teach me to slow down, listen, and receive Your restoration. Amen.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
The Lord Renews My Strength
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul."
"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling."
— Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)
"God does not demand strength from us. He gives it."
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Reflection:
So often, we resist the very rest and renewal that God offers. In Isaiah 30:15, God promises that salvation and strength are found in returning to Him and resting in Him, yet His people refused. We do the same — rushing ahead, relying on our own strength, and wondering why we are weary. Bonhoeffer reminds us that God is the giver of strength, not the one demanding it from us. What a relief that is! Today, will you return to Him? Will you rest in His presence and allow Him to renew you?
Personal Reflection:
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for striving in my own strength. Help me to trust in Your care, to rest in Your presence, and to receive the renewal You offer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.