“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.”

Normally the 23rd Psalm is understood as a list of things that God offers us. However another way to read it is to take note of the very nature of God’s existence. When we read Psalm 23 this way, we see that God is our faithful protector and provider, the One who can be trusted completely.

We should not be afraid of anything because it is in the very nature of God to keep a close eye on us. Isn’t that Good News?! The LORD takes care of us, making sure that we are blessed wherever we stand now, yes, but he also makes sure that the future that he is leading us into has blessings in store for us as well.

Heavenly Father,

I thank you for watching over me before I was even born. I trust that because you have been faithful that you will continue to remain true to your nature. Show me which paths are the righteous ones – where blessings await me, so that I can be sure not to stray toward unnecessary trouble. But even if I find myself in a scary place, I will remain confident that you will protect and provide for me, not according to my deeds but only by your grace. Thank you for being my Good Shepherd, the One I can always rely on. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Who is God to you?

Author: Rev. Andrew C. L. Archer, Pastor
welcome@stmarycme.com