My Shepherd Goes Before Me

Preface to “My Shepherd Goes Before Me”


Journal Entry, Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Tonight, Pastor Fisher immersed us in John chapter 10 and verse four was where the Holy Spirit did His precious work of expounding the truth of God to my heart. I couldn't get past this verse: "And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice." - John 10:4

What glad news to this timid little lamb that hates venturing out on her own!!! When His will pushes me forth into the sphere of unknowns; into unforeseen grief and bewildering circumstances; He goeth before me - not sometimes, but ALWAYS! His will will never lead me to a place He has not already been - NEVER! The sorrow pierces His heart before it ever pierces mine. The grief touches His heart before it ever reaches mine.

And because He goeth before me, He knows just what I will need to come forth victorious. He carefully lays the groundwork in my life for what the future holds. He can do this because He always goes before me. He's been there and He already knows what I will need. He will never ask me to go ahead of Him. There is no place I can travel in His will where He has not already been.

What comfort this truth brings to my heart, and what confidence this truth inspires!

What a wonderfully loving Shepherd we have! What a sweet refuge our hearts may find in His Word!


© August 2006 by Christine Nicole

My Shepherd Goes Before Me

And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them,
and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. – John 10:4

When my Shepherd leads me,

He always goes before;

He knows far in advance,

What each pathway has in store.



And when I travel in His will,

He is ahead of me;

His loving heart preparing

Blessings that I cannot see.



Other things await me too,

Known to Him alone.

In His unerring wisdom,

He hides them from His own.



Sights too overwhelming,

That could cause me to turn back,

He conceals from my vision,

Lest my faith and courage lack.



For if I saw the mountains

Waiting just around the bend,

My feet would waver to press on,

And reach my journey’s end.



Instead, He bids me follow Him

One footstep at a time;

Walking where His feet have been,

As I upward climb.



Heights that I could never scale,

Without His hand of grace,

Are brought within my feeble reach

As I His footprints trace.



Wherever Jesus leads me,

He has already been;

All my joys and sorrows,

He is partaker in.



He knows what needs will face me,

And prepares me for each one;

Giving strength for each new day,

Till all my work is done.

© September 2, 2006 by Christine Nicole