What do I do now I've joined your flock?

Hello lamb.

Hello Shepherd. You said, "follow me".

Yes lamb, you need to work hard at it.

Why?

Lamb, you are in a new flock and its ways are different to what you are used to.

How do I learn, Shepherd?

You study, lamb.

What shall I study?

Study all of my Words.

Where do I find them?

You can search the bible, scriptures, the accepted word of God.

What about you?

You can always ask me. In any case, you should study with me, so that I can show you things you never knew.

OK Shepherd. So I can read your word and try to understand it.

You will need others to help you, lamb. Find a good mama-sheep or under-shepherd to help you. You need to learn to pray and to thank me...

Why do I need to learn to thank you?

Lamb - what have I done for you?

Well, you came to be a sheep with us, and you were killed and came back to save us - me, I mean -

Yes lamb. And one day you will come and be with me for ever.

Waow.... And now?

Now you can learn to know God. That is your goal.

One goal?

Yes lamb.

So how?

Fill your mind with things that are good and true and right and honourable. Get rid of the rest. You may find you lose friends.

From my old flock? That will be sad.

Yes lamb, but I will send you to them again. You can pray for them to know God too, and be my ambassador.

Waow, that sounds awesome.

Don't be afraid, lamb - they won't understand you at first. But stay close to me and be very kind to them. And to any others I bring along to you.

Yes, Shepherd.

Study well, lamb. My servants Joshua, David and Daniel all filled their heads with my words, my thoughts - and were incredibly successful - it is a golden path. Your country's best laws are founded on my Word.

O Shepherd, that is exciting.
About thanksgiving?

Yes lamb? You need to praise Me, to lift yourself up to Me, especially when you are down.
When you are with me in thanksgiving it changes you and I am especially close then; it is when I can teach you. Then, and when you are learning from my Words...

The bible?

Yes lamb. Even the littlest word can teach you. Just ask Me. With your voice. Regularly. Daily.

Like eating grass!

Why yes, little and often and you need it every day...

Thank you Shepherd. I will study.

Lamb...

Yes, Shepherd?

Tell others what you learn.

OK.

PRAYER

Dear Shepherd,

I have joined your flock. I want to follow you, like you said.
That means I have to fill my head with new things,
to learn your way.

And I want to know God, so teach me, Shepherd.

Thank you so much for letting me join your flock
and that you have shown me the way to it
through your other sheep.
You are the gateway.
I need you now more than ever,
and you said I will be with you for ever.

Help me find ways to study
and teach me every time I read your word and speak with you.
Keep me working hard at this.
Send the right sheep and lambs my way to help me learn.

Thank you.

BIBLE verses

Mark 1 verse 7
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people.

Romans 8 verse 29
He predestined those He foreknew to be conformed (moulded in)to the image of His Son

Romans 12 verse 2
Do not be moulded by the pattern of the world around you, but
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Philippians 4 verse 8
Whatsoever is true, noble, right, pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

We are to encourage one another - so find like-minded and established groups to meet with..
1st Thessalonians 4 verse 16-18
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Joshua's instructions, in Joshua 1 verse 7-8
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. [Note that we are no longer under law, but under Grace, the free gift of righteousness before God, in Christ. The point is that we know God's mind.]
Keep this book of the law always on your lips (speak it, quote it, learn it); meditate on it (mutter it, think deeply about it) day and night....
then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua actually took a million or so refugees into a new land, Israel, and took possession.
They are still there today. Joshua had Moses's laws that were recently given to these Israeli refugees, and also the testimonies of God, the amazing stories of the miracles He did to get them out of Egypt where they were in slavery and shape those slaves into a conquering army. Joshua was their leader.

David is the most famous ever King, reigning in Israel, a thousand years before Christ.
Jesus said: "seek first His (God's) Kingdom and his righteousness..." Matthew 6 verse 33
David said in Psalm 33 verse 5
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.
In Psalm 5 verse 8 David shows how he asked the Lord for righteousness
Lead me Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies - make Your Way straight before me. [let it be the way I am going.]
David learned through suffering...
but his Psalms and songs to God, many of which prophesied things about Jesus's life, showed how close to God he stayed through all his trials and his Kingship.

These are David's last words, in 2nd Samuel 23 verse 2-4
The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, his word was on my tongue
The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me:
'When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
he is like the light of morning at sunrise, on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.'
[God often talks in pictures, and using nature...]
David goes on to say (verse 5)
If my house were not right with God,
surely He would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
arranged and secured in every part;
surely He would not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire...

In another place David says (Psalm 34 verse 7)
Delight in the Lord and He will grant the desires of your heart
[ask for pure, godly desires and to be aligned to His good, wise, perfect will for YOU.]

It is important to pray with others. While God has forgiven us, in Jesus, there is room for repentance, always, as we turn away from our old ways, habits, family traditions, failures, addictions, bad thinking, and that of our family...

James 5 verse 16
Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The affective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
verses 13-15
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

God talks about repentance coming before healing, not only for us but for our country...
2 Chronicles 7 verse 14 God says:
If my people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways
then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins
and heal their land.

Thanksgiving
1st Thessalonians 5 verse 18
Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus
1st Peter 2 verse 9
…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

Notes

Bible readings may be a little different in the version you are reading - explore other versions -
He is the Shepherd and guardian of our souls (1st Peter 2 verse 25), He will lead us right.

ShepherdLamb 20210101
to be continued….

Tags: how-to-follow