Lord, Move Me Closer - Amy Sapp
Psalm 23:1-3
“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.”
I’ve always admired shepherds... you know, those patient, calm people with a staff and a soft voice who lead sheep so sweetly… and then I remember I can’t even lead my dog to his bed without snacks and promises!
But then I realized... we’re all sheep, aren’t we? We wander, we get distracted by shiny things, and sometimes we end up in the briars of life yelling for help. Yet our Shepherd never leaves. Tonight’s prayer is simple: ‘Lord, please move me closer.’
- The Shepherd’s Voice – Learning to Listen
John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
The closer we are to the Shepherd, the clearer His voice becomes.
Ever tried talking to your husband from two rooms away? "CHAD! Did you hear me?" and he says, "Huh?" But if I walk right up next to him, he hears me clear as day. As long as he has his selective hearing device turned all the way up. LOL!
Distance causes distortion... same with God.
God doesn’t shout over the noise, He simply whispers. That means He wants closeness, NOT chaos.
Challenge for you:
Ask the Lord daily, "Am I close enough to hear You?"
~ The Shepherd’s Path – Learning to Follow
Psalm 23:3
“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Sheep aren’t known for their sense of direction. They can see about 15 yards ahead. Fifteen yards! That’s about as far as I can see when I take my contacts out!
The Shepherd leads because He sees what we can’t. Sometimes the path doesn’t look green or good... but He knows where the still waters are.
Maybe your path right now is rocky, steep, or full of shadows. But friend, if the Shepherd led you there, it’s still the right path. STAY ON THAT PATH!
When you can’t trace His hand, you can trust His heart.
~ The Shepherd’s Presence – Learning to Rest
Psalm 23:2
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”
Ever tried making a toddler lie down for nap time? They fight it like you’re torturing them. Sometimes we’re that way with God. He’s saying, "Rest" and we’re saying, "I’m too busy doing good things!”
Sometimes, we can get too busy, can't we? I am very sure, you are thinking of about 5 things that need to be done, right now!
The Shepherd sometimes makes us lie down.. not to punish us, but to restore us. You don’t grow stronger by running constantly.. you grow stronger by resting in Him.
"Rest is not idleness; it’s intimacy.”
~ The Shepherd’s Prayer – Move Me Closer
If David could pray, "The Lord is my Shepherd," then surely we can whisper, "Shepherd, move me closer." Not because He moved...but because we did.
Move closer through His Word.
Move closer through worship, not worry.
Move closer through trust, not tantrums.
Move closer through obedience, not opinions.
What’s one step you can take this week to move closer? Turning off a distraction? Starting the day in prayer before your phone? Saying YES when He calls you to serve?
Ladies, the Shepherd doesn’t just want to guide you.. He wants to be near you. He calls you by name, He carries you when you’re weak, and He delights when you walk close.
Lord, when my heart wanders, move me closer. When fear fills my mind, move me closer. When the world gets loud, move me closer.. until all I see and hear is You.
Psalm 73:28
“But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God…”
And if you see me wandering off like a little lost sheep, just remind me... "Amy Sapp, move closer!”