Following Our Good Shepherd

7/10/24 – 07/16/24

A Successful Warrior

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/12/24

David was able to go into battle with confidence because he began his battle in prayer. When we call upon God’s power instead of fearing our circumstances, we are on the path to victory. The more time we spend in prayer and worship of our Savior, the less we will feel afraid.

The only way to be a successful spiritual warrior is to start as a successful worshiper: “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD” (Psalm 27:6).

When we forget to seek Him on a daily basis, we become easy prey for the enemy. The enemy is always present, ready to trip us up or lure us down the wrong path. This is why Scripture warns us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

We desperately need God’s guidance to lead us in the right direction. Yet, when we neglect our relationship with God, we become insensitive to His voice. We need to remember David’s cry: “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8).

Prayer: Father, help me always to start my day with prayer and worship. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you” (Psalm 88:13).

God is Our Faithful Guide

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/11/24

When we find ourselves in one of life’s darker moments, we often forget that Jesus is the Light of the World. We grope in the dark for something that will shed light on our situation and lead us to hope. Sometimes we trip and fall numerous times before the Truth in our heads makes its way to our lips.

Stuck in a cave while hiding from King Saul, David quickly learned where to turn when groping around in the darkness got him nowhere: He cried out to God. Throughout the book of Psalms, we read David’s heartfelt cries to the Lord.

David yearned for God to reach down and bring him salvation from looming disaster. And time and time again, God answered David’s prayers by delivering him from his enemies.

When trouble struck, David turned to God almost immediately because he realized one important fact: He was helpless without Him. Understanding our depravity is a key step to turning to the Lord in prayer.

When we think we can solve all our problems on our own, we make a huge mistake. Failure to consult the Lord on which direction we should take only leads to more trouble. Plotting and trying to determine our own course leaves us exhausted and confused.

However, when we realize that we, like David, are helpless without God, we quickly turn to Him in prayer. Fumbling around in the dark only results in scars and rough tumbles. There are no light switches in caves, only passageways to the surface—and God is the best guide we could ever have

Prayer: Lord, help me understand that I cannot solve all of life’s problems on my own. I need You more than anything or anyone else. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:20).