Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.      He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even 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.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.      He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even 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. “…he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3 How does God restore our souls? He does it when we allow Him to make 3 changes in our lives.

Let God remove your _____ guilt “…he restores my soul.” 1. Let God remove your _____ guilt How does God restore our souls? “…he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3 2. Let God remove your _____ grief 3. Let God remove your _______ grudges He does it when we allow Him to make 3 changes in our lives.

Let God remove your _____ guilt Psalm 38:4,6 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden to heavy to bear. 1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 2. Let God remove your _____ grief 3. Let God remove your _______ grudges 6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

2 Problems With Guilt: 1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 1. We all have __________________. reasons to feel guilty 2. We cannot ______________. get away from it Proverbs 20:27 “The Lord gave us a mind and a conscience. We cannot hide from ourselves.”

Different ways people deal with guilt: 1. You can ____________________. pretend it does not exist 2. You can _____________. minimize guilt 3. You can _____________________ _____________. compromise by lowering your standards 4. You can ___________________. rationalize your guilt 5. You can ________________. blame other people 6. Most of us _______________. beat ourselves up

Romans 3:23-24 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

How do we receive forgiveness from God? ______ Trust Colossians 2:13-14 “He has forgiven all your sins. He has utterly wiped out the evidence of broken commandments which always hung over our hearts, and completely annulled it by nailing it to the cross.”

How do we receive forgiveness from God? ______ Trust God not only ________ but He also _______. Colossians 2:13-14 “He has forgiven all your sins. He has utterly wiped out the evidence of broken commandments which always hung over our hearts, and completely annulled it by nailing it to the cross.” forgives forgets

How to Handle Grief In Our Lives: 1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 2. Let God relieve your _____ grief How to Handle Grief In Our Lives:

Psalm 51:1-12

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.   For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.   Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you

speak and justified when you judge.   Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.   Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.   Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.  

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.   Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.   Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.   Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

How to Handle Grief In Our Lives: 1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 2. Let God relieve your _____ grief 1. Accept what cannot be _______. changed How to Handle Grief In Our Lives: 2 Samuel 12:22-23 “Then David got up from the ground….He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept….But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back to life?”

How to Handle Grief In Our Lives: 1. Accept what cannot be _______. changed 2. ____ it down and ____ it up! Play pray

2 Samuel 12:20 “Yes the child is dead. Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped.” Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Psalm 37:4-5 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will do this.”

How to Handle Grief In Our Lives: 1. Accept what cannot be _______. changed 2. ____ it down and ____ it up! Play pray 3. Focus on what is ____ and not on what is ____! left lost

2 Samuel 12:24 “Then David comforted His wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.” Isaiah 61:3 “To all who mourn…I will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness.”

1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 2. Let God relieve your _____ grief 3. Let God replace your _______ grudges Job 5:2 “To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.”

1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 2. Let God relieve your _____ grief 3. Let God replace your _______ grudges Job 18:4 “You’re only hurting yourself with anger.”

What Can I Do With Grudges? 1. Let God remove your _____ guilt 2. Let God relieve your _____ grief 3. Let God replace your _______ grudges What Can I Do With Grudges? Leave _______ to God! revenge

Romans 12:19-20 19 “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.” 20 “On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals upon his head.”

How Does a Shepherd Restore a Cast-Down Sheep? 1. He will massage the legs _____________________. 2. _____________________. He will talk reassuringly 3. ____________________________ __________. He will turn the sheep over and lift him up 4. ____________________. He will let the sheep go

Are You Downcast? “…he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3