RESTING IN THE PROMISE OF HIS LOVE - by Joel Pollard

I am forever grateful for all of the promises in God’s Word, especially Psalm 23. Verse 2 in the The Passion Translation reads like this: “He offers a resting place for me in luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.” The Greek word here for the love of God is ‘agape’ from the word, ago, meaning to lead like a shepherd guides his sheep and ‘pao’, meaning to rest, i.e. “he leads me besides still waters.” It is by the waters of reflection that our souls remember who we are. God’s rest is established upon his image and likeness which is redeemed in us, thus to encounter agape is to remember who we are.      Down in verse 5, ‘he prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies’. I believe in this season that the Holy Spirit is showing us where he has prepared a table in so many seasons of our lives when we have felt surrounded on all sides. He is redeeming the time and restoring wholeness to those moments, showing the victory that we had in the midst of countless circumstances and the victory we continue to have in Jesus from our union with him.      Regardless of how things seem, feel or appear, I want to encourage us to keep moving forward on the journey of letting our hearts lead us to the place that keeps setting us free and restoring us back to our inherent identity—the image and likeness of God, which is Love Himself.      I want to leave you with this powerful promise that the Apostle Paul encourages, exhorts and proclaims in Ephesians 3:18-19 TPT: “Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!” With Love, Joel