Day 20—Thursday, March 12

Psalm 95:6-7

“Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for He is our God

and we are the people of His pasture,

the flock under His care.”

This passage begins by encouraging us to “bow down in worship” and to “kneel before the Lord.” But the psalm also clearly states the reason we worship God: because we are “the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” We praise God because He looks after us, like a shepherd looks after his sheep. But what does it mean for God to look after us that way? Does it mean that we always get what we want or that nothing goes wrong in our lives?

Unfortunately, no. For me, it means that whatever happens in my life, God will be there to guide me through. Just as a shepherd provides for his sheep, God will provide me with what I need during the good times, the bad times, and everything in between. When I am joyful, He rejoices with me. When I am sad, He gives me comfort. When I am troubled, He calms my heart and clears my thinking. When I am overwhelmed, He gives me rest and reassurance. Whatever my need, God is there to provide for me.

So, we do not worship God because everything in our life is going well, or because there is no pain in the world, or because we received all the things we ever desired. We worship God because He walks with us as we experience all of the highs and lows of our human existence. Since we are “the flock under His care”, we can be confident that we are never alone. God will always provide for us, as “the people of His pasture.”

When I think about God’s provision, I love the image of a pasture. I imagine rolling green hills with bright sunshine and blue skies. I imagine clear streams and blooming flowers. I imagine a beautiful place full of fresh air and birdsong. In a place such as this, I could feel happy and free, without carrying the many worries of the world. As people of God, we have access to God’s “pasture” whenever we need it – not a real life pasture, but one for our hearts and souls. Whatever we need, we can turn to God and He will give us a place for our hearts and souls to receive His provision. What a blessing that is!!

O God, we thank You for Your presence and provision,

Through all of life’s ups and downs.

Amen.

-Victoria Skinner