Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 28
Thursday


QUIET TIME
WITH GOD

READ:
Psalm 23
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He makes me to lie
down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the
still waters.
__Psalm 23:2
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The word connected captures our contemporary experience of life. Many people rarely go anywhere without a cell phone, iPod, laptop, or pager. We have become accessible 24 hours a day. Some psychologists see this craving to stay connected as an addiction. yet a growing number of people are deliberately limiting their use of technology. Being a "tech-no" is their way of preserving times of quiet, while limiting the flow of information into their lives.

Many followers of Christ find that a daily time of Bible reading and prayer is essential in their walk of faith. This "quiet time" is a disconnection from external distractions in order to connect with God. The "green pastures" and "still waters:" of Psalm 23:2 are more than an idyllic country scene. they speak of our communion with God whereby He restores our souls and leads us in His paths (v.3).

All of us can make time to meet with God, but do we? In Robert Foster's booklet "7 Minutes with God," he suggests a way to begin: Start with a brief prayer for guidance, then read the Bible for a few minutes, and close with a short time of prayer that includes adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication for others. It's vital to take time today to connect with the Lord, who is our life. __David McCasland
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``````````````````We need to set aside the time``````````````````
`````````````````To read God's Word and pray,```````````````````
`````````````````And listen for the Spirit's voice```````````````````
`````````````````To guide us in His way. __Sper``````````````````
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Time spent with God is time well spent.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 23*******************

1 The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down
in green pastures; He leads
me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He
leads me in the paths of
righteousness for His
name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear
no evil; for You are with
me; Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table
before me in the presence
of my enemies; You anoint
my head with oil; my cup
runs over. 6 Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life; and
I will dwell in the house of
the LORD forever.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

David was not the first to use the shepherd-sheep metaphor.
Hundreds of years before, Jacob testified that God "has been my
shepherd all my life" (Gen. 48:15 NIV). Psalm 23, although the most
famous, is not the only psalm that has the shepherd-sheep metaphor.
Many other psalms speak of God as a shepherd leading His people
(28:9; 78:52-53; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3). The prophets too speak
of God as shepherd (Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:12,31). Hundreds of years
later, Jesus declared Himself to be the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-
14). He is also the Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) and the Chief
Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). And John envisions the Lamb of God as the
shepherd leading the sheep to "living fountains of waters" (Rev.
7:17). __SIM KAY TEE