Breathe deeply and relax

Tuesday 23 March 2021

Breathe deeply and relax

Your staff and your staff reassure me. Psalm 23.4

The staff, a stick with a curved top, was sometimes used by the shepherd to control or punish the sheep. But that's not the way God works with us. God doesn’t wait from heaven with a big stick to slap people on the head who don’t obey him !

Paul told Timothy that the scripture was given to us to correct us. There were times the Word was preached to me, and it corrected me greatly.

The shepherd's crook was most often used for the protection of the sheep. In other words, the crook was a defense. The psalmist said : "I am reassured, Lord, for in your arms I am safe. You are my protector."

"God does not wait from heaven with a big stick to slap people who do not obey Him on the head !"

What about the stick ? The staff was the symbol of the authority of the shepherd to care for the flock. It was also used as a cane to support the shepherd. The Shepherd's staff and his staff serve to support you, protect you and provide you with comfort.

The Hebrew word for comfort, well-being, consolation, in Psalm 23 is nacham, one of the meanings of which is breath, breath. The psalmist said : "Oh God, you protect me. You provide for my needs. Then I can breathe deeply and relax."

A practice for today

Breathe deeply at this time, knowing that God is protecting you, guiding you, supporting you, sustaining you, defending you, and providing for your needs.

Keith Butler

Source (The Thought of the Day)