He Leadeth Me!
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He
makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads
me beside the still waters. He
restores my soul; He leads me in the paths
of righteousness, For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3.
makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads
me beside the still waters. He
restores my soul; He leads me in the paths
of righteousness, For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3.
Just
at the right moment a phrase or a word captures our whole being when we read
God’s Word. Certain words seem surrounded by bright lights and we stop
breathing. Read the words from Psalm 23
again. Notice two times the phrase – He Leads Me. In order to be led, we must be willing to
follow. Which words flash before your
eyes? Which words in this scripture capture
your heart in wonder?
at the right moment a phrase or a word captures our whole being when we read
God’s Word. Certain words seem surrounded by bright lights and we stop
breathing. Read the words from Psalm 23
again. Notice two times the phrase – He Leads Me. In order to be led, we must be willing to
follow. Which words flash before your
eyes? Which words in this scripture capture
your heart in wonder?
Joseph
Gilmore stood to preach his first sermon, and the year is 1862. The Civil War is raging all around. What will his message be, since his text is
Psalm 23? He is twenty-eight years old,
what wisdom can he share that will draw people’s minds from the chaos of
war?
Gilmore stood to preach his first sermon, and the year is 1862. The Civil War is raging all around. What will his message be, since his text is
Psalm 23? He is twenty-eight years old,
what wisdom can he share that will draw people’s minds from the chaos of
war?
Later
that afternoon, Joseph continues to contemplate Psalm 23. He couldn’t get past how God leads us in
every situation we find ourselves. The
words, He Leadeth Me continued to be
his focus.
that afternoon, Joseph continues to contemplate Psalm 23. He couldn’t get past how God leads us in
every situation we find ourselves. The
words, He Leadeth Me continued to be
his focus.
He wrote down the lyrics for, “He
Leadeth Me!” His thoughts and writing
traveled. Unknown to Joseph, his wife
sent the lyrics to a Christian periodical to be published. In another place and time, William Bradbury
read the words and wrote music to the words. Three years later, Joseph Gilmore
entered a church and found them singing a song that seemed familiar…He Leadeth Me! He was astonished. It has been said that a hymn reaches more
people that one man’s sermons.
Leadeth Me!” His thoughts and writing
traveled. Unknown to Joseph, his wife
sent the lyrics to a Christian periodical to be published. In another place and time, William Bradbury
read the words and wrote music to the words. Three years later, Joseph Gilmore
entered a church and found them singing a song that seemed familiar…He Leadeth Me! He was astonished. It has been said that a hymn reaches more
people that one man’s sermons.
It is when we are surrounded by evil
and destruction at every turn in the form of untruths, doubts and cynicism, our
trust in man is destroyed. We turn to the only truth that is faithful and everlasting,
God’s Word. His Word alone gives us hope and joy.
and destruction at every turn in the form of untruths, doubts and cynicism, our
trust in man is destroyed. We turn to the only truth that is faithful and everlasting,
God’s Word. His Word alone gives us hope and joy.
He
leadeth me, oh blessed thought, O words with heav’nly comfort fraught
(filled). Whatever I do, wherever I be,
Still ‘tis God’s love that leadeth me. (Joseph Gilmore).
leadeth me, oh blessed thought, O words with heav’nly comfort fraught
(filled). Whatever I do, wherever I be,
Still ‘tis God’s love that leadeth me. (Joseph Gilmore).
It takes a willing heart and mind to
follow God and see his Son Jesus in all His Glory. God gave us Amazing Grace
through Jesus Christ, His Son. It is
when we think we must blaze our own trail without His Leading, we falter and
fail.
follow God and see his Son Jesus in all His Glory. God gave us Amazing Grace
through Jesus Christ, His Son. It is
when we think we must blaze our own trail without His Leading, we falter and
fail.
In the middle of a crisis, God leads us
and guides us in our walk on the paths of righteousness. Humbleness of spirit, seeking truth, living
in gentleness, kindness and patience fills our hearts with love, joy and peace
from our Lord God.
and guides us in our walk on the paths of righteousness. Humbleness of spirit, seeking truth, living
in gentleness, kindness and patience fills our hearts with love, joy and peace
from our Lord God.
Two other verses of He Leadeth Me follow: Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, Nor
ever murmur, nor repine, Content whatever lot I see, Since ‘tis my God that
leadeth me. – And when my task on earth is done, When by Thy grace the
victory’s won, Even death’s cold wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan
leadeth me.
ever murmur, nor repine, Content whatever lot I see, Since ‘tis my God that
leadeth me. – And when my task on earth is done, When by Thy grace the
victory’s won, Even death’s cold wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan
leadeth me.
Who leads you? What leads you? We are all followers of something or
someone. What thoughts do we wake up
to? What thoughts give us peace at night
to sleep? What thoughts refresh and
encourage our inner spirit to face the day?
These are all indicators of who or what is important in our lives and
who are what we follow.
someone. What thoughts do we wake up
to? What thoughts give us peace at night
to sleep? What thoughts refresh and
encourage our inner spirit to face the day?
These are all indicators of who or what is important in our lives and
who are what we follow.
When I am troubled with thoughts of
fear before bedtime, Mom often told me to think of something beautiful as a
child. Now I read these verses from
Philippians 4:7-9. These words are
beautiful and will last not just for one night, but eternally… and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are
true, whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything
praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and
received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with
you.
fear before bedtime, Mom often told me to think of something beautiful as a
child. Now I read these verses from
Philippians 4:7-9. These words are
beautiful and will last not just for one night, but eternally… and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are
true, whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything
praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and
received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with
you.
The chorus of the hymn, He Leadeth Me, concludes with a
commitment, a vow, to be His and let Him lead me.
commitment, a vow, to be His and let Him lead me.
He
leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own Hand, He leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be, for by His
Hand He leadeth me.
leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own Hand, He leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be, for by His
Hand He leadeth me.
Romans 15:13-14 – Now
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now I myself am confident
concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now I myself am confident
concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Psalm 16:6-8 – The land you have
given me is a pleasant land. What
a wonderful inheritance! I will bless
the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be
shaken, for he is right beside me.
given me is a pleasant land. What
a wonderful inheritance! I will bless
the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be
shaken, for he is right beside me.
Psalm 25:8-10 – 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.
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.
Psalm 23:4 – Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil; For
You are with me;
Your
rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil; For
You are with me;
Your
rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
John 10:2-4 – But he who enters by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice;
and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
And
when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow
him, for they know his voice.
shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice;
and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
And
when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow
him, for they know his voice.
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