The Psalms Odyssey | Psalm 23 #2

This is the second part of The Psalms Odyssey – my new series on the book of Psalms. And this post also focused on Palm 23 just like the first.

Enjoy it!

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Jesus is that one who has chosen to leave all other things (of profound importance) to lead me. He became willing to serve me long before I agreed to follow His lead.

I have one who’s description lies in His selfless service to me. And He’s completely okay with that. So selfless that He’d take all day planing for me, without shifting focus whatsoever.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 KJV

We love him, because he first loved us. I John 4:19 KJV

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

His value doesn’t just lie in His selflessness. His selflessness is not coated with stupidity. Not at all

He’s got conspicuous blueprints. For Himself? No, for me. For my needs.

I’m proud of the fact that don’t always get all my wants; and I’ve never had a single need withheld.

I love it when the Bible says ‘want’ because it is quite different from need.

You see, for the sheep, the green pastures is a place of satisfaction. Jesus provides all of my needs. Complete satisfaction – nothing left out. I may not always get what I want, but all that I would ever need has been long provided. It may not get to me when I want, but it does locate me when the time is right.

He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

You can only see your image in a still water. As Jesus’ sheep, I get the privilege of meditating and reflecting rightly.

And I can’t do this without the water. A still one at that. This still water is the living water – The never changing Word of God. Still waters, they say, run deep. This I have found true, I’ve got no rock bottom in view. 🙂 *still diving*

I see my self through God’s word.

This may not sound pleasant, but is completely true; you can’t possibly claim to be a follower of Christ without taking delight in His Word. Why? Our transformation /sanctification, which comes through God’s Word, is a continuum.

When we study and digest the living Word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we experience a change similar to the effect of pressing the Factory Reset button.

I have to include this: The elderly are not left out – this transformation has little or nothing to do with the physical body.

As believers, when we study and digest the living Word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we experience a change similar to the effect of pressing the Factory Reset button – the software takes its initial configuration. Nothing different from the way the manufacturer programmed it during production, with no change, at all, made on the hardware (the physical body).

The word of God helps renew our minds, thus continuously restoring our hearts to be in conformity with God, without much emphasis on the body. This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t take delight in our body. He does. But He shifts His focus to what has the most relevance, our soul. For when the souls is transformed, it reflects on the body.

Yea, 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.

In my walk with the Good and Selfless Shepherd, I have had to tread well dreaded paths. They are so frightening.

But then, thank God for Factory-Reset effect. Fear was never part of us during production.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV

And for the times which I’ve been afraid, I’ve only been blinded by fear – my mind not being sound/stable enough to be aware of The Shepherd’s constant presence, as well as the protection and comfort that comes from His rod and staff.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

And After such an enervating walk through the valley (marked by victory), the Good shepherd prepares for me a banquet, not so far from the valley, where my predators can see me clearly.

In the banquet, the Good Shepherd gives me the credit for the victory in which I played a spectator’s role, welcoming me as a conqueror. He even goes as far as decorating me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

With this wonderful experience, I don’t see myself wavering concerning any of His promises (even the ones too high to comprehend).

In fact, I say, assuredly, all the benefits I could ever get from knowing and following The Good Shepherd are mine. And in effect, I dedicate my whole life to Him alone.

I’d spend the rest of my life living with Him, for Him and in Him.

#MoreGrace

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Do you know the Good Shepherd?

How has He influenced your life?