A young man read Psalm 23 at an event, impressing the crowd with his eloquence and earning a standing ovation. An elderly man followed, reading with a shaky voice, yet his words moved people to tears. A boy asked his dad about the contrast, and he replied, “The young man knows the Psalm; the old man knows the Shepherd.”
Friend, do you know the shepherd, or do you only know the Psalm (Psalm 23:1-6)? Talking about God is not the same as knowing God. Working for God is not the same as walking with God. If you must go far in life, you must prioritize your knowledge of God above all else (Philippians 3:10).
In the world, they tell people to fake it until they make it (2 Peter 2:17). But in the kingdom, we don’t fake it to make it. We allow God to make us so that we can become what He has ordained us to become. If you boycott divine process, the gaps would show later in life (Hosea 7:8-9).
Knowing God is non-negotiable. You need to pursue the knowledge of God above riches, wisdom, or might (Jeremiah 9:23-24). A man who knows God will always have an edge over those who pursue mundane things. Don’t get all and lose God. Rather, get God and gain all (Matthew 16:26).
Knowing the shepherd is the foundation for enjoying the leading and provision of the shepherd (John 10:14, 27). Don’t wait until the juncture of marriage or other critical junctures before seeking to know God. Prioritize intimacy with God now (Matthew 6:33).
The first assignment of a shepherd in the life of the sheep is not feeding. It is leading. It is the sheep that is led that is fed (Psalm 23:1). Perhaps the reason you are faced with lack is because you have missed God’s leading. Where the shepherd leads, He guides, preserves, and provides (Philippians 4:19).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria