Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  ² He takes me to lush pastures; He leads me to refreshing water.  ³ He restores my strength.  He leads me down the right paths for the sake of His reputation.  ⁴ Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff reassure me.  ⁵ You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies.  You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.  ⁶ Surely Your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

Today, we have a new opportunity to pursue God’s purposes.   Hold this near your heart – You have value!   You are a treasure in an earthen vessel to God!

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God, the Psalms moved me.  I began with Psalm 23 and saw the LORD in His true nature.   In order to grasp His character, we have to study the Middle Eastern shepherd.

The overwhelming desire of God to provide is unfathomable to the minds of humans.   We say it.   We testify of it, but our thoughts, words, and deeds reveal our lack of reception.

In Him, there is no lack.  That is not because we get everything we want, but because if He is our shepherd, we have perfect peace and trusting contentment.   If we live life through the lens of the flesh, pride, greed, and ego will consume us.  Our focus will be on our wants or perceived needs, not on His supply.   Peace will evaporate, and we will struggle to reconcile what we know with what we have.

The school of life has rough spots.  Our prayers (not founded on His purposes but are out of our desires and perceived needs) go unanswered.   The answer came, but our focus on us blinded us from the better answer.  The promise is that even in the deepest struggles and challenges of life, God is our shepherd. He is there, and where He is, there is peace.  The table in the presence of enemies is not a heavenly reward; it is a life reward. It is empowering to overcome.

Then, Psalm 24:1 reminds us that everything, including us, our lives, and our plans, belongs to God!   Psalm 27:11 is a prayer and a revelation.  The Psalmist asked to be taught God’s ways and… And?   To be lead in a level path.

Why a level path?  Was it for ease?  No!  It was so that he could focus on God, on dealing with the conflict, rather than having to divide his focus to include the uneven struggles of the mountains, hills, and rocks. With a level path where there was surefootedness, he could focus on the fight, not the path.

God never fails the faithful. He answers our prayers.   Remember Paul’s dilemma in 2 Corinthians 12?   The messenger of Satan, the thorn in his flesh?  He prayed 3 times for God to remove it.   He was asking for victory over the problem.   God answered his prayer, just not the way he desired or thought was needed. “My grace is sufficient, and My strength is perfected…” It is when we know that we can’t that we trust Him and learn the inexhaustibility of His provision.

Your prayers are being answered. Look at how and rejoice!    You can see that reality IF He truly becomes your shepherd.