THE “AUTOPILOT” CHRISTIAN/BELIEVER

When the word “autopilot” is mentioned, the first thought is the device in an aircraft that takes control of the aircraft when the pilot stops controlling the aircraft manually. So, an “autopilot” Christian/Believer is one who feels or thinks that his/her Christian walk or life has nothing to do with him/her, but a special "something" within.

This kind of Christian/Believer takes no responsibility for his/her Christian life. All he/she believes is the famous statement: “IF GOD HAS SAID I WILL BE ‘A’, I WILL DEFINITELY BE AN ‘A’ NO MATTER WHAT I DO.” For this kind of Christian/Believer, all he/she does is to continue living life as he/she pleases with the hope that he/she will eventually enter into the promise of God. This kind of Christian/Believer is a great fan of Carrie Underwood’s ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’. I can promise you that he/she enjoys the chorus more than the verses. If you have not heard the song I am talking about, please follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU.

Anyway, the above believer was me before I decided to go to Bible School in October 2017. And before Bible School, I had already been a Christian for thirteen (13) years. Yes! I mean thirteen (13) good years, not three (3) years. If my years as a Christian could be translated to years in school in Ghana, I should have been preparing for my Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) in Junior High School. Indirectly, I should have been knowledgeable about the basics of mathematics, English, integrated science, social studies, etc.

If I had translated that understanding to my spiritual life then, I should have had knowledge of the “principles of the doctrine of Christ” as the writer of Hebrews puts it, even before going to Bible School. Yet, for thirteen (13) good years, all I did was to put my Christian life on AUTOPILOT.
Do not misunderstand me. Though I was on "AUTOPILOT", I was always at church for any and every service. I evangelized more than I'm doing today. I worked at church more than I'm doing today. I could repeat the messages of my pastor like a CD on replay. The only problem was that: I DID NOT KNOW GOD FOR MYSELF. The God I kept telling others about was the God my pastor knew and preached about.

Hebrews 6:1-2 King James Version (KJV)
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

According to the writer of Hebrews, Repentance, Faith, Baptisms, Laying on of Hands, Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment are the basic lessons every believer must understand in his/her baby stage. These are the ingredients he/she finds in the milk he/she must suck when he/she becomes a Christian. If he/she does not know them, he/she is a baby no matter the position he/she holds in Church. The Apostles followed Jesus Christ for three (3) years learning all these secrets. Yet, for 13 years I had nothing to show.

1 Peter 2:2 King James Version (KJV)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

I had heard 1st Peter chapter two verse two several times when I gave my life to Christ at Winners Chapel. This is a Word-based church. But, because my Christian life was on “AUTOPILOT”, I didn’t see the need to study the Bible. Why? I thought the "thing" within me was responsible for my spiritual growth without my effort. I did not feel the need to be RESPONSIBLE for my spiritual growth. And I could misquote several scriptures to back this lazy Christian life. The famous one being: “IT IS NOT BY MY STRENGTH BUT BY HIS SPIRIT SAITH THE LORD.”

If this describes you, I have some scriptures for you to study. Please do not read-only, I want you to study them. They are different scriptures from different writers. Find the Greek meanings, note the similarities, and let me know what you will find.


Luke 13:24 King James Version (KJV)
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Philippians 2:12 King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Timothy 6:12 King James Version (KJV)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7 King James Version (KJV)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Jude 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

QUESTIONS:
1. Do you believe in the concept of “AUTOPILOT" CHRISTIAN/BELIEVER?
2. Do you believe a CHRISTIAN/BELIEVER should do nothing after accepting Jesus Christ?
3. Do you believe a CHRISTIAN/BELIEVER should live as he/she pleases after accepting Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Personal Saviour?

We would love to read and share your thoughts and opinions. Please try to back your opinions with scriptures to help a brother/sister in the faith add to knowledge. Send us an email trotrodevotion@gmail.com or send us a WhatsApp message or voice note to (+233)(0)557-445-225.

Remain a blessing as you remain in Christ.

(...to be continued)

BIBLE SCHOOLS ARE NOT “EVIL”!

2 TIMOTHY 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

If you have decided to read this, you are either a product of a bible school or you are contemplating on attending one. Or, you may have heard one or more people speak against Bible Schools that you are regretting you attended one. Or, you are no longer interested in attending one as you planned to. If you find yourself in any of the above categories, I truly understand you. Before going to the Bible School, I also had to fight the many “School of Thoughts” about Bible School. After Bible School, the only thing I regret most is not going to Bible School earlier. I will never regret any second of the 18months (approximately five hundred and forty-eight days) spent at the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Centre.

For those who are a product of the numerous Bible Schools around the world and maybe regretting taking such a step, you should never have been there in the first place. Your situation can be compared to a young man or woman who attended medical school only because his/her father’s heart desire was for him/her to be a medical doctor and not an actor as he/she desires. You are only regretting you attended Bible School because you did not go there with divine inspiration or agenda; you either went because your Pastor asked you to or it was the only option you had to get a reputable certificate after failing High School or some other reason you only are aware of. 

Who told you that Bible School is useless? Who told you that Bible Schools cannot make you anybody – both physically and spiritually? Who told you that you have wasted your years in Bible school? Who told you? If it was a preacher, make sure he/she doesn’t have a Bible School before you take his/her word for it. All the preachers who one way or the other talk “against” attending Bible School or Bible Schools, in general, have Bible Schools. A few are products of Bible Schools, and the most who claim not to be “products of Bible Schools” are one way or the other spiritually connected to a product of a Bible School as Spiritual Sons/Daughters or mentees. In short, one way or the other, every preacher is directly or indirectly a product of a Bible School.

If you doubt, I dare you to take one preacher you have heard speak “against” Bible School and try to find his/her spiritual father or mentor. You will surely trace him/her to a Bible School product he/she is tirelessly trying to imitate. In Ghana, almost every preacher wants to have the Spiritual Father of the land, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, as a Spiritual Father/Mentor. Archbishop Nick is a product of Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s Bible School. Archbishop Benson Idahosa is also a product of Gordon Lindsay’s Bible School. I am mentioning these two big names because every man or woman of God in Ghana, Nigeria and around the globe one way or the other looks up to them. What we keep forgetting is this: Whoever they were or are - spiritually - can minutely/largely be traced to one or more secrets learned from Bible School.

THE MAJOR QUESTION: If all preachers are a product of a Bible School - directly or indirectly, why then do they speak “against” Bible School? 

Before I touch on that, let me ask you some questions. Like me, do you still think that you could have been taught certain things in high school or tertiary school yet your tutors failed to because they were either using an obsolete curriculum or were just not fit to? Or, do you mostly think that the curriculum used in High Schools and Tertiary institutions are so outdated that they are in no way helping build students for the market they are being trained for? Or, do you mostly think of building a school better equipped than the last schools you attended? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then you are thinking like the many preachers speaking “against” Bible School.

There is no man or woman of God against Bible School. This is true because those we claim to speak “against” Bible School either have Bible Schools in their ministries or are thinking of starting one any time soon. Like you, many preachers think, feel and most often know that most of the Bible Schools are producing machines instead of Spirit-filled/led preachers. Like you, many preachers are not satisfied with the way some products from Bible Schools are turning out. Like you, many preachers feel the need for a reformation and as such feel the need to attack the problem. Preachers speak “against” Bible School not because they are against them; they most often preach against some of the procedures being used to run the system, not the general idea. (…to be continued)

“To be against the idea of “Bible School” is to be against the teaching and learning of the Bible, the very WORD of God, the Word of Truth, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. FYI, our churches are a type of Bible School.” 

NB: Please, this is in no way a “shade” or “jab” against our spiritual heads or fathers, this is to encourage the young man/woman who has a strong desire to attend Bible School but is contemplating because of the somewhat “bad” image painted by most preachers during preaching. Feel free to follow the series as I share my journey in Bible School.

CORNELIUS, YOU STILL NEED JESUS!

Years ago in the city of Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius. Cornelius was a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Unit/Regiment. He was a religious man. He and all the others who lived in his house were worshipers of God. He gave much of his money to the poor and always prayed to God.

One day about three o'clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God came to him as real as his next-door neighbor would and said, "Cornelius." Staring at the angel and feeling afraid, Cornelius said, "What do you want, sir?" The angel said to him, "God has heard your prayers and has seen your gifts to the poor. He remembers you and all you have done. Send some men now to the city of Joppa to get a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying with someone also named Simon, a leatherworker who has a house beside the sea." Then the angel left. Cornelius immediately called two of his servants and a soldier. The soldier was a religious man, one of his close helpers. Cornelius explained everything to these three men and sent them to Joppa at once.

Prior to Cornelius' men arriving at Simon's house to fetch Peter, Peter had had a weird vision where God was rebuking him for calling animals his culture/tribe describe as impure, impure. He did not understand this because that is what this same God described them to be some years ago to his ancestors.

The men Cornelius sent had finally found Simon's house. They were standing at the door. They asked, "Is Simon Peter staying here?" While Peter was still thinking about the vision, God said to him, "Listen, three men are looking for you. Get up and go downstairs. Go with these men without wondering if it's all right because I sent them."
So Peter went downstairs and said to them, "I think I'm the man you are looking for." Peter asked the men to come in and stay for the night. The next day Peter got ready and went away with the three men to the city of Caesarea with some of his close friends from Joppa with him.

Back at Caesarea, Cornelius was waiting for them and had already gathered his relatives and close friends at his house. When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him by falling down at his feet and worshiping him. Peter said to Cornelius, "Stand up! I am only a man like you." Then Peter went inside with Cornelius and saw a large group of people gathered there. Seeing the crowd he understood the vision he had had at Joppa. To that Peter said to the people, "You understand that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not consider anyone unfit or say they are impure. That is why I didn't argue when your men asked me to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me."

Cornelius immediately narrated the vision to Peter as he had narrated to his two servants and soldier and concluded by saying, "NOW WE ARE ALL HERE BEFORE GOD TO HEAR EVERYTHING THE LORD HAS COMMANDED YOU TO TELL US".

Peter began to speak: "I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others. He accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from.
God has spoken to the people of Israel. He sent them the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all people.
You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the HOLY SPIRIT and POWER. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him. We saw all that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem.
But he was killed. They put him on a cross made of wood. But on the third day after his death, God raised him to life and let him be seen openly. He was not seen by everyone, but only by us, the ones God had already chosen to be witnesses. We ate and drank with him after he was raised from death.
Jesus told us to go and speak to the people. He told us to tell them that He is the one God chose to be the judge of all who are living and all who have died. EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS WILL HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN THROUGH HIS NAME."

Immediately Cornelius and the people gathered understood an important truth that you must also consider. They realized that despite their belief in God, their prayers, their generosity, their good reputation in society, their morality, and their devotion to their husband/wife and children, they still needed the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be saved from their sins and be made holy and righteous before God.

My good friend reading this, you may be like Cornelius. You are religious. You are generous with your gifts to charity. You pray five times or ten times a day. Your servants/workers are always happy to have you as a boss. You have been baptized and have joined a church. You are a deacon, an elder, an usher, an instrumentalist, a sound engineer for a church, a chorister, or a pastor's security guard/aid. You take the Lord's Supper. You have no bad habits. You love your wife and children. You are a devoted husband and father. You tithe often. You help churches, orphanages, etc with building projects, boreholes, and a lot more. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED AND CONFESSED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU ARE STILL A SINNER AND STILL NEED TO BE SAVED LIKE CORNELIUS. You cannot buy, you cannot win, you cannot merit, you cannot achieve God's salvation by any system or by any amount of religion or good works because SALVATION IS FREE.

If you are ready to have a close walk with the Savior Jesus Christ and be set free from any demonic bondage, please say the prayer below out loud.

SALVATION PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and dying for me on the cross. Your precious blood washes me clean of every sin. You are my Lord and my Savior, now and forever. I believe that You rose from the dead and that You are alive today. Because of Your finished work, I am now a beloved child of God and heaven is my home.
Thank You for giving me eternal life, and filling my heart with Your peace and joy. Amen.



If you are ready to better understand the step you have just taken by saying the above prayer, please contact TROTRO DEVOTION through WhatsApp on 0557445225 or e-mail trotrodevotion@gmail.com.

IS THE NEXT GENERATION READY?

Exodus 1:6 (TLB)
In due season Joseph and each of his brothers died, ending that generation.

Israel had a comfortable home in Egypt because of Joseph. A man who was so principled and blessed that his presence was the reason God was blessing a particular house/nation.
Israel had quickly forgotten a principle while living comfortably in Egypt. If it took Joseph for Israel to be accepted and to live comfortably in Egypt, then Israel will need Joseph to maintain their comfort in Egypt. They ignored this principle and watched as Joseph, Reuben, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Judah, Benjamin, etc died one after the other.
They watched Joseph die with a mantle that would have maintained their comfort in Egypt.

Sadly, this generation is repeating that mistake. We are enjoying the comfort the spiritual fathers of the land have struggled for, yet we are not fighting for their mantles to maintain the comfort they fought for if they should die.
Next Generation, please, do not wait for the new pharaoh before you start crying for another savior. It will take decades before Moses will be prepared. Let us do whatever we must to get hold of the mantle before our heavily anointed fathers go to our Heavenly Father.
The Spiritual fathers of the land, be in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, etc, will soon leave. Their generation will soon come to an end. Are we ready for the battle ahead?

Is the next generation prepared?
We must not let them leave the surface of the earth with their gifts. We can't let Elisha die with the gift. We must not allow it. Do not allow them to die with their gifts.Be hungry for it.
Let's serve even if they do not appreciate our efforts. Remember, it is a spiritual activity, if the flesh cannot see, the spirit is wide awake.
Always have this in mind: "YOU CAN DRAW AN ANOINTING FROM A PERSON WITHOUT HIM/HER NECESSARILY LAYING HANDS ON YOU". (Grab Bishop Dag's book - CATCH THE ANOINTING).

Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.

#TrotroDevotion
#theCrucifiedLife
#theGenerals

THE DIARY OF THE WORSHIPPER by Isaiah Fosu-Kwakye Jnr.

WHY EVERY BELIEVER/WORSHIP LEADER NEEDS THIS BOOK IN HIS/HER LIBRARY.

Some years ago, a foundation I work with organized a worship concert at Perez Chapel and Pastor Isaiah Fosu-Kwakye Jnr was one of the big names on it. As usual, the time for the program was up and instead of the people taking their seats they were outside chatting. I don’t know if it is a Ghanaian problem or an African thing. I later heard my coordinator saying that Pastor Isaiah was going to start the program. I thought it was a bad idea because of course he is Pastor Isaiah and must wait for the crowd. But it was Pastor Isaiah's decision to start. Mind you, this is the first time I was meeting this wonderful worshipper who I had been hearing about.
If you have been at any worship program where Pastor Isaiah ministered, you would have realized that he mostly likes to speak and sing in tongues before actually singing a song or two at most. Now, I have seen him worship with at most 2 songs for 40minutes. Something most ministers find difficult to do. When he was singing in tongues, the atmosphere just changed and I don’t know why but I decided to look outside. To my surprise, the only people standing outside were our own ticket ladies and other technical members. Everybody in the auditorium had their hands in the air like they were waiting for the upper room experience.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. For the program, I was in charge of video and photography. Since the program had begun, it was only right for me to ensure that the cameras were rolling and each member of the team was in position and doing their work. The two gentlemen on the master camera were recording, and so were the gentlemen working on the reaction shots of the crowd and that of the stage. The only person that was lost in action was the photographer. I would like to say that this gentleman is very professional. When it is time for work, all games must go on standby. So, as a good manager, I decided to go around and look for him. I was hoping to see him doing something that would demand a slap but I got the shock of my life. I found this gentleman a few steps from the stage with the camera off and strapped around his neck. And yes, his hands were up in the air and his eyes closed in worship. As I stood for a few seconds to be sure that I was not dreaming, all I could ask myself was “What is happening?” This gentleman is not a fan of worship so what is he doing. He is not the type to easily do this. So, what is happening? The answer is simple: HE HAD COME INTO CONTACT WITH A WORSHIPPER WHO WAS LEADING A PEOPLE TO THE THRONE ROOM.
Anyway, I still gave him a slap on the head. He could not be enjoying intimacy while we were working. And if you are thinking this is nothing, the same gentleman had to be slapped again by me when our church invited Pastor Isaiah for one of our quarterly worship programs. Again, the fact is: HE HAD COME INTO CONTACT WITH A WORSHIPPER WHO WAS LEADING A PEOPLE TO THE THRONE ROOM.

If like me, you have been wondering why Pastor Isaiah has that unique stage presence then the book to read is – “THE DIARY OF THE WORSHIPPER (His personal reflections on worship)”.  In this book, Pastor Isaiah shares his thoughts with scriptural references to the following:

• What worship is.
• What the worship altar is.
• Who benefits when we worship.
• Faith and worship
• The importance of meditating on the lyrics of a song during worship.
• The importance of staying on a particular song for a while during worship.
• The importance of a worship leader being in tune with the Lord. 
• The importance of having your own perception of God.
• Learning to ‘sing-say’ instead of ‘sing-sing’.
• Learning to wait in worship.
• Difference between ‘thinking worship’ and ‘telling worship’.
• Difference between a worshipper and a singer.
• The true definition of a gospel song.
• The John 2:1-12 revelation on worship every worship leader must know.
• The importance of worship leaders availing themselves as vessels for God.
• The Worship Leader and the Word of God.

One interesting chapter you should read when you get this book is Chapter 2 (God in Need?). This chapter speaks on a particular notion most Pastors and Gospel Musicians keep saying each time they are about to worship or speak about worship – “God can do all things but, one thing He cannot do for Himself is to praise or worship Himself”. That chapter was a big blow to my face. Get the book and you will thank me later after reading this particular chapter.

I wish to share all that I learned from the book with you, but I would not be encouraging Pastor Isaiah to write volume two. I would encourage you to grab a copy from any leading Christian Bookshop or better still send me an e-mail at trotrodevotion@gmail.com or a WhatsApp on 0557445225 for a cool price if you are in Ghana.

Remain in the blessings of the Lord as you remain in Christ.
Have a blessed week!

THE COLD HANDS OF DEATH

"I walk a path that will definitely lead to my death, but the thought of that particular death makes that path attractive than ever. I will prefer to die living for God, than for a man or myself." 

I used to think about death and shiver and quiver like a fish brought out of water. And each time I asked myself:
Why fear death as a believer if my home is not this place but above?
Why fear death as a believer if my life is in the hands of God, and only He can do as He pleases with it?
Why fear death as a believer if truly the one living in me is far greater than he who moves about the earth like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour?
Why fear death as a believer if the God I serve is truly the giver of life?
Why fear death as a believer if I am a product of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?
Why fear death as a believer?

The truth is this: We fear death because truly our hearts are not on the things above. Unlike Apostle Paul, we are afraid to die because we know deep down within us we still wish to enjoy certain privileges and things of this earth before dying. We have not driven that Mercedes, that Range Rover, that Bugatti, that Chrysler, that Toyota, that Bentley, etc. We have not bought that mansion, we have not traveled to that country, we have not enjoyed this or that. And until we do that, most of us are not ready to think or talk about death.

Some deceive themselves that they are afraid to die because they have not completed their mission. For a few it may be true, but how can you complete a mission you have no idea of? How can you complete a mission you have no interest in? How can you complete a mission you have not enquired about? Again, the answer is this: Our hearts are on things below, not things above. It has nothing to do with your mission on earth Mr. and Mrs. Believer, it has everything to do with the content of your heart.

Colossians 3:2 (KJV)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Others are quick to say that they cannot and must not die now because God is the giver of a long life. That is true. But what is a long life in the sight of God? A long life before God has little to do with the length of days as men see it today. It has everything to do with your kingdom's achievements on earth. It has everything to do with your mission being accomplished successfully on earth. Enoch lived 365years and Methuselah lived 969years, yet Enoch was remembered for his walk with God. We know nothing about Methuselah on the other hand. We mostly believe that John the Baptist and Jesus died prematurely or died too young, but what else must they do in a foreign world after completing their mission when they have a better place awaiting their arrival? Deacon Stephen never feared death and by the end of Acts chapter seven (7) gave himself for the truth he held in his heart and cherished above his life. Apostle Paul was never afraid to die because he knew where he would be and was more than ready to get there quickly.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

It is the same for the many young men and women who gave themselves up for the truth they cherished. But that can't be said of most believers today. Why? We have set our eyes on the things below than on the things above. We will do anything to keep our lives so we can fully enjoy our many lustful desires.

Matthew 10:39 (KJV)
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

I am only thinking aloud. I should end here.
Stay blessed!

PRAYER
Lord, help my unbelief. Help me trust you when there is no hope. Help me trust in your perfect plan for my life always in Jesus' name.

IS THE LORD TRULY YOUR SHEPHERD?

"If you are in want, then THE LORD is not your Shepherd; something else is." - MD

Unlike most children, I was brought up with two major prayers from the Bible - "The Lord's Prayer" and Psalm 23. The Lord's Prayer was mostly for the morning, but Psalm 23 was for any time of the day, especially at bedtime.
Like some of you, I grew up believing that Psalm 23 was a prayer for protection and provision; until the Holy Spirit gave me insight this year by asking me a simple question during a prayer walk. I would also want to ask you the same question before we begin: "IS THE LORD TRULY YOUR SHEPHERD?"
If your answer is a big 'Yes' and you already think this is one of those useless posts, I will ask you to indulge a little more by reading further. We will begin with four (4) major points.

1) That you have accepted Jesus Christ as your LORD and your Personal Savior does not make HIM (THE LORD) your Shepherd automatically. You must ask Him and be prepared to let Him be.
2) Psalm 23 was not written as a prayer for protection and provision.
3) Psalm 23 was written to show believers the signs and benefits a person who has asked, accepted and allowed THE LORD to be their Shepherd enjoys.
4) The entire Psalm 23 rests on the statement, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD".

Psalm 23:1 (KJV)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

David, a learned and Spirit-filled Prophet and King, understood God more than any other person. He had a personal Prophet and a Seer. As a King, he had access to all the books of the fathers. From the books, he knew God as Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Rapha, Jehovah-Shalom, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, etc. Yet, when David was talking about whom he had made the Shepherd of his life, he chose Jehovah; not Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord that Provides).

At this juncture, if you are confused then you are following. Let's quickly consider an example.

For example, My name is Paul. I am 30 years old. I am a husband, a writer, an editor, a church elder, 6th born of my father, a casual footballer, and a casual rapper.
Now, some people relate with me as an editor, others relate with me as a church elder, and others as a writer. Aside from relating to my wife as her husband, she benefits from every other aspect of my life because of our union.

Now, let's relate the above example to David's statement in Psalm 23 verse 1. Instead of David allowing an aspect/nature of God be his Shepherd, he rather chose to see and accept JEHOVAH for who He is and decide to have HIM (in full) as his Shepherd.

WHO IS JEHOVAH/WHAT DOES "JEHOVAH" MEAN?
Exodus 6:3 (KJV)
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name, JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

According to the Hebrew translation, Jehovah means THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE/THE ETERNAL ONE.
The dictionary describes anyone or anything that is not caused to live by someone or something else as self-existent. That is, the thing or person lives independently.
Also, anyone or anything that is eternal has no beginning or end and exists at all times.
So, what God was saying to Moses when He called Himself Jehovah was that, "I do not need my creation to be God. I cannot be limited by the very time I created. I am God all by Myself"

This is the kind of God David chose to be his Shepherd. A God who will only do what pleases Him knowing best that that is what His Creation needs. So, instead of making Jehovah-Rapha his Shepherd so as to enjoy (only) healing, David rather chose Jehovah in order to benefit from the healing, the peace, the favor, the provision, the protection, etc. And all that was made manifest in King David's life. Unlike David, most of us have made just an aspect of Jehovah as our Shepherd so we find ourselves wanting in other areas of our lives.

Until Jehovah is your Shepherd/Ruler/Teacher/Companion, you will continue to want in other areas of your life. You will not lie down in green pastures. You will not be led beside the still waters. Your soul will not be restored. You will not be led in the path of righteousness for God's namesake. You will be afraid when you walk in the valley of the shadow of death. God's rod and staff will not comfort you. God will not prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies. Your head will not be anointed. Your cup will not run over. Goodness and mercy will not follow you all the days of your life. You will not dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

If THE LORD has been, is and will forever truly be your Shepherd, you should have benefited, should be benefiting and should forever benefit from the good things - peace, restoration, protection, provision, honor, etc - mentioned in Psalm 23.



PRAYER
Lord Jesus, from today I ask and permit you to be the Shepherd of my life. I refuse to have anything to do with the devil and his demons. I will from today do as you wish no matter how difficult it may look or feel. This I promise to do with the Holy Spirit you have given to empower me. Thank you, Lord Jesus.