Psalm 23:3 - Balance

Verse 3:  "He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

If we are to make a spiritual diagnosis of ourselves, we would surely see that we are filled with sin and in desperate need of a cure (repentance and forgiveness).  Do we really know who God is in our life and do we understand that He is the initiator of our faith?

I.  He Restores My Soul - restores means to repair, to renovate, to return to a former condition.

In the Letter Paul wrote to the Galatians (5:17), he shares of the comparison of living by the flesh and living by the Spirit.  Tony Evans writes that the "flesh goes after sin" and the "Spirit goes after righteousness."  If there is no conflict in your soul when you sin, then you aren't saved.  Unrest.  No peace.  You are in conflict with God.  You are living according to the flesh.  No righteousness.  Galatians 5:17 says it like this...."do not do as you please".  God has sent His Son Jesus to "SAVE" us and to REPAIR our relationship with Him if we believe and trust in Jesus.  Sin and fleshly living has broken this relationship.  Disobedience and rebellion,

The use of the time out in football is great!  It's when something is not right.  The coaches use it to get things organized when it looks like the team is not ready.  When the players need to refocus on the play.  The referee's even use time outs to reflect on a call.  They gather together on the field and discuss what the call was and if it was appropriate for the penalty.  To restore our soul, sometime we need a time out.  To really see where we are in life, and realize that we aren't doing the right play and we are out of sorts with some things in our life.  So. the shepherd is calling a time out so that we can return to the condition we are - the saved, called out ones that should be living by the Spirit.

II.  Will You Follow?  He guides me in the paths of righteousness....

Buddha has said that you should find your path in life.  Religion leads down the path of following a system of beliefs.  It is a relationship with Christ, the Good Shepherd, that gives you purpose for the problem we have with sin.  The solution is forgiveness for our sin through repentance.  Turning away from sin and choosing the path of righteousness.  But if He guides us, will you follow?  It's the right way to go!  Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.  No one comes to the Father but through Me."          

We are never truly satisfied, because we chase things other than God.  We follow other things down the wrong path.  We wander and we drift.  If Jesus has truly led you down this path of righteousness, there is no going back to serving you.  It's about serving Him and following Him.  Trust in Him, Live by the Spirit, filled with His righteousness, and be transformed to newness to life in Christ.  Old things will fall away.  It's for HIS Name's Sake!  There is where you find true BALANCE.
God Bless - Sleepy Disciple