John Gordon Ministries

IN DARK VALLEYS

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For part of every year, a shepherd keeps his flocks in the lowlands where grazing is good. When the weather changes and lush grass grows in the mountains, the shepherd then leads his sheep through ravines and valleys to get to higher places. He knows the destination will be wonderful.

But the journey is a little treacherous. Predators lie in wait in those shadowy valleys. The flock can sense the fear, and they depend completely on the vigilance of their shepherd. He has to be aware of the corners and crevices where wolves and lions lurk in anticipation of prey.

Without him, the valley would become a place of death. With him, it’s just part of the journey to life. David referred to this unfamiliar and dangerous territory as “the darkest valley” (v. 4). He is well acquainted with the dark times we go through when we can hardly make sense of what is going on around us.

The promise implied in this image is that God will take us through whatever crisis we face, no matter how fearful we are or how dangerous it is. We don’t have to be afraid because our shepherd is walking with us every step of the way.

David’s confidence that he will “fear no evil” is a radical statement. He refuses to give in to fear. He simply and boldly trusts God to know about every possible predator, natural disaster, and danger and He will guard against them. The rod of the Shepherd’s power and the staff of His correction will comfort him even in the most extreme circumstances.

When life is uncertain, when dangers threaten, when you are enduring times of transition, refuse to give in to fear. Learn from David’s declaration. Fearless living is a legitimate choice for us because the shepherd is leading us through even the darkest of valleys. But we do have to choose it. When we walk through the dark valleys of life in step with our Shepherd, He will honor His promise to see us through.

“…it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In an ancient Hebrew family, the lowest job was watching the sheep. A shepherd had to stay with them, provide for their needs, protect them, and lead them. David, the youngest son of Jesse, who became king of Israel and wrote Psalm 23, knew a lot about shepherding firsthand.

David knew that sheep are among the densest animals God has made. They are slow, easily frightened, defenseless, and rarely able to find food or water on their own. They need a shepherd to dam up a stream so the sound of its flow doesn’t frighten them, to lead them to new pastures after they’ve eaten grass down to its roots, and to protect them from predators because of their lack of survival skills.

Without a shepherd, danger plus sheep equals death. With a shepherd, sheep can enjoy green pastures, drink from quiet waters, and live in safety. That’s the picture David gives us of the relationship between God and his people.

What an intimate image of compassion and care! This is the kind of relationship God wants with us, and it’s exactly the kind of relationship we need.

Notice that David doesn’t say, “The Lord is the shepherd.” He says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” God is personal—not only is He the high and holy God of majesty but the present, protective God of every detail of our lives. He cares for, understands, nourishes, and loves us. He wants us to depend on Him for everything.

Jesus cast Himself in this role of the “good shepherd” (John 10:11) because He wants us to be confident that He is committed to meeting every physical, emotional, and spiritual need we might have. He cares more than we can imagine. He knows every pain, problem, and fear, and He wants to lead us into safe pastures. Even in our worst crises, we can trust Him with our lives.

REMINDER:
““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!

What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.” Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today’s verse teaches us that when we allow God to transform us into a new person by changing the way we think, it is then that we align our will with the Lord’s will. And His will for us is always good, always pleasing, and always perfect.

When we do allow God to transform us, our desires will become His desires, and He brings excitement and joy.

Remember: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s Pray
Father, we are so sorry for having the wrong way of thinking when it comes to You and Your will for our lives. We repent for focusing on the things that we want rather than focusing on You and Your will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect for us. Remind us, Lord, that what we may think we need in this life might not be what You have for us. For us, what You have is far greater and even more perfect. Help us to be patient, Lord. Help us trust You when we are waiting. Forgive us for wanting something so badly that we lose sight of You.

Help us be excited again about our desires while also aligning our desires with Yours. Give us a fresh set of eyes as You transform us into a new person, allowing us to change the way we think. You are good all the time, and we thank You for being a good Father who “delights in us” Thank You for igniting in us a new excitement again as we align our will with Yours. We love You, Lord, and look forward with excitement as Your perfect will unfolds in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
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“If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

FOCUS SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Exodus 33:12-17

Moses is wrestling with the call of leadership. To be sent alone is dangerous and terrifying. The task ahead feels impossible and he doesn’t know how to accomplish it without the presence of God.

As he boldly asks God to be his teacher in this impossible mission, we are reminded today of how much we need God to teach us. Without the presence of God giving us rest, our lives become a harried to do list, a continual hive of busy activity.

The tenderness of God’s conversation with Moses reminds us that God’s favor is towards us. He knows us by name. We want to learn how to enter into mission from a place of deep and tender relationship, to call out with intimacy and attention to our friends and neighbors. We want to speak of the love of God, the love that meets us in our loneliness, the love that heals every hurt, the love that gives rest to our soul.

“O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭64‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s Pray
Father, like Moses, I am desperate today for Your presence. I don’t want to step into anything without the confidence of knowing that You, loving Father, are with me as I go.
It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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“Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭MSG‬‬

FOCUS SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Romans 12:14-21

Paul’s instruction speaks straight to the heart of conflict - or, more accurately, it speaks straight to our heart.

Think of a recent disagreement you’ve been part of. Did you speak positively of the other person, or were you cursing them under your breath? How much did your ego exacerbate the situation? Did you act generously, or did you withdraw from the person?

One of the most effective ways we can share Jesus with others is by approaching them with empathy, humility and integrity.

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for Your unconditional love. Holy Spirit, I invite You to search my heart and bring to mind the ways I haven’t lived up to these instructions given in Romans 12:14-21. As situations come to mind, I say sorry and gratefully receive Your forgiveness. Jesus, without ignoring conflict, or pretending they’ve done nothing wrong, work in my heart so I can find the strength to forgive. Show me how I can surprise this person with generosity and goodness. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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““God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“”Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

FOCUS SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Read John 4:1-30

Are there people we instinctively find ourselves judging, dismissing, or looking down upon, perhaps because of their culture, social status, or education?

Not only is this woman a culturally despised Samaritan, but, with five former husbands and a new lover, she is one with a somewhat ‘colourful’ history. However, Jesus goes out of His way to offer her nothing but dignity.

He doesn’t judge her, instead He asks first for her help in getting a drink, and then he starts discussing theology with her with rather more sophistication than in most of the discussions He has with His own disciples!

Despite his tiredness, Jesus chooses to engage this woman in conversation. He recognises that everything about her life speaks of someone who is thirsting for spiritual reality. She has been looking for God in all the wrong places. Her deepest thirst is for the living water of the Holy Spirit.

A PROMISE
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s Pray
Father, help me to give dignity and value to everyone I meet today, to go out of my way to listen to those I think of as ‘outsiders’, and to see them as You see them. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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A PSALM OF DAVID

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.

You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.” Psalms‬ ‭36‬:‭5‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.

He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord! He gives food to those who fear him; he always remembers his covenant.

He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭111‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On days when you feel powerless— turn to Ephesians 1 and remind yourself of how God sees you. The apostle Paul encourages us to know who we were as co-heirs with Christ. He implores us to see ourselves as God sees us. “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:18)

Note that this image of God flooding our hearts with light, is especially important in those times when we don’t see clearly. Let’s take a look at 3 truths about who God says we are from Ephesians 1.

We are LOVED and CHOSEN by God.

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (Ephesians 1:4)

We are ADOPTED into God’s family.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5)

We are SHOWERED with God’s kindness, wisdom, and understanding.

“He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:8)

With our hearts enlightened to these three truths, we can remember who God says we are, even when life wears us down. We can stand with confidence before the mirror, ready for any challenge, and boldly claim, “I am a child of God!” We are God’s holy people, you and me, His rich and glorious inheritance. Shoulders back and chin up. Remember who God says you are as we pray together.

Let’s pray�Father, thank You for reminding me of my identity as Your child. Thank You for flooding my heart with light so that I can see clearly and understand who You say I am. Sometimes the challenges of life distract me and wear me down. I forget what Your Word says—that I’m adopted into Your family through the sacrifice of Your son, Jesus Christ. Forgive me for facing difficulties from a place of defeat. I am victorious because of You. Help me stand with confidence in my position as Your child. Your word says You loved me and chose me before the creation of the world. Praise You, Lord, for who You are in my life, and thank You for claiming me as Your own.�In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.””
‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Zephaniah 3:17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” | New Living Translation (NLT) |... For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

““I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes God will remove things in our lives that we don’t understand. Perhaps He will remove a friendship, someone who’s pulling us down, causing us to compromise. We don’t like change. We were comfortable. Now we’re going to have to stretch and grow. Don’t fight the pruning of the branch. God knows what He’s doing. He’s not going to leave something on you that will keep you from your purpose. He’ll never ask you to do something and then not give you the ability to do it.

If He’s asking you to walk away from an unhealthy relationship, you know the season is ending for your good. If you resist it, you’re going to miss the greater things God has in store. Let Him remove what He knows is keeping you from the true you He created you to be.

He’s not trying to take something from you; He’s trying to get something better to you. He wants to bring out the true you. The true you is more fruitful, more blessed, and more successful than you can imagine.

A PROMISE
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for knowing what’s best for my life and for tending over me as a gardener. Thank You for times of pruning when You cut back something in my life so I can bear more fruit. I believe that Your purpose is to bring something better into my life. Lord, please help me be more aware of Your presence and Your shears. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
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“It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭GW‬‬

God has put more in you than you can even imagine. You have gifts and talents that nobody else has. You have a responsibility not only to God, not only to your family, but also to yourself to develop what He’s put in you. Whether you’re nine or ninety years old, you should constantly be learning, improving your skills, and getting better at what you do. With the Internet, books, schools, and seminars, there is more knowledge available today than any time in history. Don’t settle where you are and get stuck. Turn off the TV and invest in yourself.

Too often we sit back and think, “God, I’m waiting on You for that big break.” That’s the wrong attitude. The people who get the big breaks are people who are prepared, who develop their skills continuously. You have to be proactive to take these steps to grow. When God sees you doing your part and developing what He’s given you, He’ll do His part and open doors that no man can shut.

Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for the treasure You put inside me—the talents and the potential—and all of the opportunities You provide for my growth. I don’t want to coast through life relying on what I’ve already learned, but I want to do everything I can to develop my gifts and potential. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me…” Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5a NLT
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