Psalm 23
Psalm 23
Do you know Psalm 23 by heart? I recently spent several days with a sweet friend in Florida when I realized I didn’t have it memorized verbatim. Not being able to recall the verses in their intended order had me missing out on the opportunity to use these encouraging verses to rewrite lies that cause me to fear and cast down the internal negative self-talk that tries to get me to question God’s goodness.
This sweet friend and I tend to talk almost exclusively about what God is doing in our families, our communities, our churches, and in the world around us. She is a safe place to lay my heart bare because our history as friends has shown me that I will not be judged. Her friendship encourages my heart, and her wisdom and passion for all things Christ sharpens my faith into the weapon of warfare it is meant to be.
We talked about how Psalm 23 is crucial and applicable to life as a whole. She’s teaching her grandchildren these powerful words because she knows this will equip them to struggle well with life when they are grounded in the truths of Psalm 23.
I know the verse and the message it conveys, but realizing I couldn’t say it verbatim gave me pause. She challenged me to learn it in the KJV. I took her challenge and have memorized the chapter, and I repeat it every day throughout the day. I find that it strengthens my heart when I interject the truths of God into the various areas of my life. It is the only truth that sets me free. When I say freedom, I mean the Word brings peace and revelation. His revelation transforms the lies I have believed with His truth. Oh, the freedom I get to walk in!
Freedom that, no matter what, God is with me and in Him I am in need of nothing. It settles my thought life when I’m reminded that He does all the heavy lifting of being God and I can leave that burden to Him.
The verse that says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil” is real to me. In my darkest days after unexpectedly losing my husband, fear wanted to take over my mind. But God’s presence was so strong and His goodness continually showed up in the smallest ways and in the least unexpected situations. He had already gone ahead of me and prepared the way for my needs to be met. He had created relationships years earlier with people who were able to step in and make a real, immediate difference.
Even now I have days when the fear wants to make me question God’s goodness. Like when the date my husband passed comes around, special holidays, when I pass places we used to go or remember things we used to share, or difficult moments on his birthday which is in February. Actually, his passing and his birthday are only 4 days apart so that stretch of time during February is especially challenging.
I’m the one holding our memories. I’m the one playing them over and over in my mind and my heart. I can’t share them with him, and there will be no more memories made with him. At times it seems cold and unloving of God to do such a thing.
But Psalm 23 provides the much-needed perspective. In the midst of a cruel world, God brings His love. He makes me lie down in a restful place, and He provides refreshment for my soul. Under His watchful eye I need nothing. He’s an attentive Shepherd and stays with me in my pain.
He catches my tears, lifts my head, and binds my wounds with His extravagant love for me. He pours healing oil over my head. In Him I have no lack, and He makes my cup overflow with His presence. My enemies may scorn me or laugh at my affliction, but my Father is extremely generous.
Be it His love, nourishment, rest, refreshment, goodness, kindness, love, joy, peace, etc., He makes it all available to me in front of my enemies. My enemies may never see it that way but I know it on an intimate and personal level with Christ.
Surely His goodness and mercy are following me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord now and forever. Is that not the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard. To live in the house of the Lord forever. And forever starts in the here and now.
Take some time and strengthen your heart and equip your mind for the mental agility this life requires. Don’t just be on the journey, struggling to make your way. Do it with the One who makes the difference because He’s with you always in the good and in the bad. And the beauty of it all is that, in Him, the pain is given purpose. He has the power and the authority to redeem it for good. He never wastes a thing!
I know we’re a week into March, but I want to give you a March challenge. Create a spiritual discipline to memorize Psalm 23 and use it to strengthen your faith each and every day all throughout the day. God’s Word is powerful and never returns void. Make the investment. I know you’ll enjoy the return.
Here’s the KJV version: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=KJV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparedst a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Self-reflection
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.
- Share a Bible verse that you know by heart by writing it out.
- When do you use this verse?
- How does it help you?
- Would you consider this verse to be your life verse?
- What is the importance of God’s Word?
- Do you find God’s Word to be powerful? If so, in what ways?
- What is something that fascinates you about God’s Word?
Take Action
Use God’s Word to take control over the traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His Word.
Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s Word says about His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
Here’s the KJV version: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=KJV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparedst a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Translation:
When you let the Lord shepherd you through life, He will meet every need you have, and He will attend to you like only He is capable of doing. It’s a personal and intimate relationship that I can only scratch the surface when trying to explain even the smallest depth of His love for you. Take the time to experience it for yourself!
