“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Amen!

My brothers and sisters in Chris, we must be confident of this, that, “God will never cause pain without allowing something new to be born.”  Whatever you are going through now may seem hard, but after what seems like your labor pains, will come joy. God will never begin what he did not intent to finish and whatever he started in your life and mine, we must trust him to bring it to completion. There is nothing too hard for our God!

How many of you believe that this morning, that the Lord will provide? Many have awakened this morning and instead of being joyful, they are filled with despair. It may seem like last year just rolled into this year, and the struggle is all too real. My brothers and sisters in Christ, whatever your struggle is this morning, try to find some good in the midst of it all, and believe in your heart that the Lord will provide. You may not have all the things you want, but I can assure you, that, you have all that you need to see you through. You may feel like you are all alone, but God’s promise is real, he will never leave us nor forsake us, know that when we are down to nothing, God is up to something. Hold on! Don’t give up! “The birds without barn, yet, they too are fed, from them let us learn to trust for our bread, His saints what is fitting shall never be denied, so long as it’s written, the Lord will provide.”

All of us should begin each day with this request to God on our lips. When Benjamin M. Ramsey sat down to write this song, I could imagine, that, he was in a place where he realized how much he needed God’s guidance, and was committed to following his way; and as we embrace the lyrics of this wonderful hymn, may we too come to realize, how much, we daily need God’s guidance, and make a commitment to following His way the rest of our lives, no matter what. “When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way! When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way! In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, in failure or success, teach me Thy way! When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way! When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way! Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil, and pain; make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way. Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way! Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way! Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me Thy way! Teach me Thy way O Lord, teach me Thy way. Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way! Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight; lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way!”

“Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he teaches sinners in the way; the humble he guides in justice and the humble he teaches his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your sake O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Remember O Lord, your tender mercies and your loving-kindness, for they are from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to your mercy, remember me, for your goodness sake O Lord. Lead me O Lord, in your righteousness!”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, that’s the kind of God we serve, a God whose works are wonderful, a God who is sure in all his ways. He causes good to fall on the just and the unjust, he satisfies us with good things, things we are so not deserving of. Does this not command our praise of him? “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise Him, in the Heights! Praise Him, all His angels! Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon! Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord! For His name alone is exalted. Praise the Lord! Let everything that hath breath, praise the name of the Lord!”

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving, sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth. Who makes grass to grow on the mountains, he gives to the beast its food and to the young ravens that cry. He does not delight in the strength of the horse, he takes no pleasure in the legs of a man; the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his mercy. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates, he has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest wheat. Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praise to our God, for it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.”

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways, gracious in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him, he will also hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but the wicked he will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless his holy name forever and ever.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, as we walk with God, we must strive to maintain good works to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. But, in so doing, we will face obstacles, we will be attacked by those who are unbelieving, who will try to engage us is idle babble and foolish disputes, but, Scripture warns us, that, we should avoid such foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned and whose aim is to cause you and I to be like-minded. Be on your guard! For our heavenly Father saved us, through the washing and regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, that, having being justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Stay focused!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not act like the defiled and unbelieving, but rather, “Let us speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine, and in all things, let us show ourselves to be a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us, that, by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for himself, his own special people, zealous for good works.”