RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23:1)
India is one of the world’s great nations, and it’s the largest democracy. One out of every six people on the planet live there. Every time I travel to India, I return with great memories of wonderful people. God touched my heart after the first time I visited the country. I began asking God to open doors to reach the nation with the gospel.
That’s why I was excited to be invited as the keynote speaker at APCORE (Andhra Pradesh Conference on Revival and Evangelism). More than 1,000 pastors and leaders would be attending. I asked God to use me to stir a mighty revival within these leaders.
But the first day of the conference, I became very ill. Before the first session even began, I had to be hospitalized. I passed out as I was being transferred from a car to the emergency room. I awoke around midnight that first night. My physical condition began improving, but spiritually I was broken. I had come all the way to India to minister to these leaders, but I found myself in the hospital, unable to minister to anyone. Doubts filled my heart. I began to question myself and God. Did I make a mistake? I wondered. But an even deeper question filled my heart: God, where are you?
Early the next morning, I explained my situation to the head nurse. Though I was still very ill, I felt I ought to go to the conference and speak. I didn’t want to come all the way to India without attempting to accomplish what I felt God had led me to do. The hospital agreed to allow me to go to the conference on a scaled-back speaking schedule. They took me off the IV, put me in a taxi, and sent me to the first session of the conference. I was so weak, I had to sit down to speak. I had very little strength and was unable to project my voice.
My heart was weary. I began to wonder if I had missed God’s leading. Yet God gave me the strength to speak each day. By the end of the conference, scores of pastors had encountered God. Many were revived in their lives and ministries. I knew God had worked deeply in that meeting, but I must be honest with you. As I returned home, I really doubted God’s leadership. I asked myself, “Had I made a mistake?”
But God continued to burn a promise into my heart and mind. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” (Psalm 23:1). As I meditated on who God is, I realized He is the Great Shepherd and the Good Shepherd. He leads His children. Even when we go through a storm, or things don’t make sense, He’s still the Good Shepherd. He will always lead us to the good place — the safe place. He’ll surely bring us to the green pastures. We may have to cross dangerous terrain, but we can know He will lead us there safely.
Seven years later, I returned to India and again ministered in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This time I went to preach an evangelistic meeting. I met scores of pastors whose lives had been changed at the previous conference. Because of the earlier ministry, I had gained the respect of pastors throughout the state. That resulted in great unity in the churches and laid a foundation for a major unified evangelistic outreach in which thousands of people came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
As I reflected on the time I became so ill, I saw the hand of the Good Shepherd. When I was on the dangerous path of illness, it was difficult to see. Then it was hard to say, “He leads me besides the still waters…” But years later, I could quietly and confidently say, “It was good. God’s leadership was very, very good.”
King David went through many tough times. But when it was all over, he had come to know God in a new way. He’d come to know Him as Jehovah Rohi — God our Shepherd. He said from experience, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” (Psalm 23:1).
Your heart may be filled with doubt. You may wonder why certain things are happening. You love the Lord. Yet it seems you’re on a very dangerous path. Be still. He is Jehovah Rohi. He is God our Shepherd. He will lead you into those green pastures. And He will lead you through the dangerous path. Trust the One who is the Great Shepherd.