Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
In a vision I saw an oasis and there was green grass, still waters, a gentle breeze and a very nice tent. Psalm 23:1-2 came to my mind. The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Jehovah-Rohe, the Lord your Shepherd, is a compound covenant name of God. Psalm 23 reveals the blessedness of God being our Shepherd. I believe the vision represents the place the Lord our Shepherd is leading us to in this time.
Here a few thoughts that stood out to me as I have meditated upon the vision.
1. He makes, or literally, He causes me to lie down. In the natural, our need for sleep causes us to lie down. The phrase lie down in the Hebrew describes something we do over and over. We are made for rest physically, emotionally and spiritually. If we do not find regular rest time in all these areas we will break down. Jesus was a proponent of resting (Mark 6:31-44). I have found that rest protects my heart from being overwhelmed by all the common things of this life and renews my passion for His Presence. So rest is important right now. We want to be rested for where He will lead us next.
2. Green pastures, or literally, chosen pastures. In the natural sheep will overgraze a pasture so the shepherd leads the sheep into other pastures. Our Shepherd chooses the pasture for us. We choose when, how much, and what to eat. We get to choose if we will cooperate or pine and stress away for something He is not doing. Take advantage of what He is doing in this season. Later it will prove to be much wisdom.
3. He leads me beside still waters. He doesn’t drive us, force us, tell us or point us to the water. He takes us to the water. He takes us beside the water, not into it or just within sight of it. And He does not make us drink the water because when we get thirsty we will drink. Still waters are for drinking. Jesus leads us to waters that keep us alive, refreshed and cleansed. In many ways this speaks of the Scripture (Eph. 5:26). I believe the Scriptures are really important right now.
4. The gentle breeze. In 1 Kings 19:13-18, the Lord spoke to Elijah in a gentle blowing. In that short conversation the Lord addressed Elijah’s questions and disappointments and gave him a forward vision for his life. The gentle breeze is the Philippians 1:6 blessing, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” God is faithful to complete in our lives that which He willed before the foundation of the world. God’s breath, the gentle breeze, is deep calling unto deep. Don’t give up and settle for a lesser life than what He has for you.
5. The Tent. The tent was very beautiful, ornate and appeared to be made of a silk like material. It had an aura of intimacy around it. I believe more than ever the Lord is calling each of us into the secret place with with Him. For there will come a time when the Lord will reveal the bride, a corporate people made up of those who have been in the secret place with Him. Personal intimacy leads to corporate placement, connection and expression that the Father has for each of us (Eph. 2:18-22). This is part of the bride making herself ready (Rev. 19:7).
Many Blessings, BW