As I sat on the lanai (in Florida, it is a screened-in porch) with my Papa, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, this song came to my heart. It is called “Shepherd of My Soul” from Hosanna Integrity music.

 

The Lanai

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SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL

 

Shepherd of my soul, I give You full control

Wherever You may lead, I will follow

I have made the choice to listen for Your voice

Wherever You may lead, I will go.

 

 

Be it in a quiet pasture or by a gentle stream

The Shepherd of my soul is by my side

Should I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep

The Shepherd of my soul will be my guide.

 

 

You’re the Shepherd of my soul I give You full control

Wherever You may lead, I will follow

I have made the choice to listen for Your voice

Wherever You may lead, I will go.

 

Marty Nystrom, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

 

This song is so special because through life’s challenges and in my weaknesses, I have learned to give my Lord Jesus FULL CONTROL of my life. My prayers often end in, “But, not my will, Your will be done.” He has proven to me over and over again that He loves me deeply, He is faithful, and all His words to me are true! I have not always liked His plans, but His plans for me are always PERFECT. I have also learned when I turn to my Lord in my weaknesses, that’s when JESUS IS MY… whatever I need Him to be, within me and through me.

 

How many of us hate feeling weak and vulnerable? It is natural to try to protect ourselves from people, danger, failure, fears, pain, loss, and all circumstances where we feel powerless. The truth is, we all like being in control. But were we created to be in control, or is the Lord the only one who is really in control? The flesh has taught us strategies and skills to help us manage life without the Lord. Think of all the self-help and even Christian books that give us steps or scriptures to recite to get Jesus to do or answer our prayers as if He is our genie to meet our demands. Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, knows how to use circumstances in our lives to teach us to depend on Him as our Source for Life. Here are some things I have discovered on my journey when I felt lost, weak, vulnerable, and hurting… THE LORD IS MY (whatever I needed Him to be during my moment of need). I tell Him, Lord I feel, or Lord I think, I turn to You to BE…whatever I am needing at the moment.

 

Intimacy with the Lord is a beautiful relationship with the Lord, it is not about following rules or performing charitable deeds, those may flow from the relationship. It is not grasped with the mind alone but is the revealing and unfolding of Christ within us as we walk through life’s challenges in dependence on Him. Over the years, I learned to memorize and quote scriptures. On one occasion, to impress the Lord, I quoted a verse of scripture to the Lord as He corrected me about something. His response was, “Tresca, the humble I will teach my ways.” After that rebuke from the Lord, I learned He is not interested in how much I know but how willing I am to allow Him to BE… THE LORD IS MY. And that is what He is after in all our lives. We are created to be dependent on Him. He said apart from Him, we can do nothing, no matter how noble it may appear. In the Book of Psalm, our brother David shared his intimate encounters with our Lord; the Lord responded that David was “A Man After God’s Own Heart.” David discovered THE LORD IS MY in his life. He found this divine intimacy with his Lord through times of failure, fear, disobedience, weakness, and vulnerability. There are several verses in the Psalm where David shared how he discovered THE LORD IS MY in his life. Let’s look at a few from the Amplified version of the Bible.

 

Psalm 18:2 – The Lord IS MY rock, MY fortress, and the one who rescues me. MY God, MY rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge, MY shield, and the horn of MY salvation, MY high tower—MY stronghold.

 

Psalm 23:1 – The Lord IS MY Shepherd; I shall not want for anything (He is all I need).

 

Psalm 27:1 -The Lord IS MY light and MY salvation—Whom shall, I fear?  The Lord is the refuge and fortress of MY life—Whom shall I dread?

 

Psalm 28:7 – The Lord IS MY strength and MY [impenetrable] shield.

 

 Psalm 34:18 – The Lord IS near to the heartbroken, And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).

 

Psalm 94:22 – But the Lord IS MY high tower and defense, and MY God the rock of MY refuge.

 

Psalm 118:6 – The Lord IS on MY side; I will not fear. What can [mere] man do to me?

 

These scriptures reveal the wonders of how the Lord made Himself real to His beloved David amid family dissensions, sin, failures, attacks against his life, loss of his kingdom, disobedience to God, and the list goes on and on. Still, David discovered THE LORD IS MY despite his behavior.

 

Not only David but our brother Paul discovered who THE LORD IS during the challenges he faced when imprisoned, persecuted, stoned, sick, and dealing with a physical weakness; he prayed and asked the Lord to deliver him. Paul wrote:

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harassed me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; ⁹ but He has said to me, 

“My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] WEAKNESS.” 

Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. ¹⁰ So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, incredibly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

 

 

Our Father and Lord created us to live in weakness and vulnerability so that the very life and power of God can live through us. Ephesians 6:10 says, “Be strong IN THE LORD and the POWER OF HIS MIGHT,” never in our own strength. I have learned to embrace my weaknesses. Like a little child, I am dependent on my Papa and Lord Jesus in ALL things.

 

Over the years, I have discovered THE LORD IS MY and am still learning as I live from our Lord’s grace and life! Your turn, please finish the phrase THE LORD IS MY _____________ Amen.

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Enjoy Christ, Enjoy Life!