He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11 NIV
Close to His Heart
The website Destination Canada says this “A long straight road disappears into the horizon ahead of you. Vast fields of vivid yellow canola flowers stretch as far as the eye can see on either side. And above you, endless blue skies are dotted with an ever-changing map of fluffy white clouds. The Prairies are nicknamed the ‘Land of Living Skies’ and have a reputation for being rural, flat and a little bit unexciting. But there’s more to the heart of Canada than meets the eye.
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The things we hold closest to our heart are those that are most dear to us. That is where we keep things like our spouse, our family members, our home, the things we are most passionate about. Many other things in our lives come and go, but the things closest to our hearts remain. The Bible tells us that God holds things close to His heart as well. The prophet says this in Isaiah 40:11: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” In a pastoral society, describing God like a shepherd makes sense. Everyone understood the care that a shepherd takes for his sheep and particularly for the youngest and most vulnerable. This is how much God loves us, Isaiah says. In this picture, we are the sheep, and our Shepherd Lord holds us close to His heart. The most vulnerable He holds particularly close. Whatever you are going through, know that your Creator loves you dearly.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley