"Take this cup from me..." Cup was a metaphor for God's wrath... we might struggle with that concept... that God gets angry. It doesn't fit our nice, good teacher, image of Jesus in our Western Culture. But if we stop and think about it... we really need and want a God of wrath.

Luke 22 - 9 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Luke 22 - 9 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

What happened between the "green pastures" and the "still waters"? Life is lived often between these two places... For David, this would probably have been the desert. Desert is a common biblical theme where we are challenged to relate to God through faith... not our feelings.

God sometimes leads us to the desert... to make us thirsty.

How's your soul? We live in a loud... fast... and distracted world! Sometimes we use distractions to avoid dealing with the deep soul work that needs to be done in our lives?

What happened between the "green pastures" and the "still waters"? Life is lived often between these two places... For David, this would probably have been the desert. Desert is a common biblical theme where we are challenged to relate to God through faith... not our feelings.

God sometimes leads us to the desert... to make us thirsty.

How's your soul? We live in a loud... fast... and distracted world! Sometimes we use distractions to avoid dealing with the deep soul work that needs to be done in our lives?

He leads... The invitation of the Good Shepherd is to be led... That's not as simple as it seems! In fact, it can be risky, dangerous and even unpredictable at times! But... if we trust the good shepherd, and surrender to him, it will be good.

He leads... The invitation of the Good Shepherd is to be led... That's not as simple as it seems! In fact, it can be risky, dangerous and even unpredictable at times! But... if we trust the good shepherd, and surrender to him, it will be good.

Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In the original language, the concept is that the Shepherd causes us to lie down and lean against Him.

Only sheep that are full... unafraid... and trust the Shepherd can lie down.

This is a picture Where there is both delight and plenty.

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.”
Hebrews 4:1 NIV

“For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.”
Hebrews 4:2 NIV