My Good Shepherd
I can't think of a better time than NOW to saturate yourself in God's Word.
His Word has always been a place of comfort and direction so this is the perfect safe-at-home season for you to remember Psalm 23. Lean into your Good Shepherd’s leadership, anointing, comfort and favor.
Leadership. Anointing. Comfort. Favor.
David, the writer of this well-known Psalm, was a shepherd himself and understood first-hand how a shepherd guides, protects, and provides. He begins this beautiful song by acknowledging that God was HIS shepherd. It’s personal and intimate, and as you rest your soul in this Psalm it will become cherished and firmly planted in your heart.
My Personal Paraphrase
God's Word is personal, so as you read it, put your name in it, use personal pronouns and meditate on it with your immediate situation in mind.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
I have a personal Shepherd who loves and cares for me, and I cherish him. I am lacking nothing because he is watching over me like a true shepherd keeps his sheep.
I have an eye open for his blessings and a heart open to his grace.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He invites me to a place of rest. I let go of my burdens and take him up on his offer of peace. He knows my name and is walking in front of me into every activity of the day.
I have a calm heart. My thoughts are true and based on God's Word. My emotions are peaceful.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
When my strength is drained, he restores and revives my soul. I do not allow fear, bad attitudes, toxic emotions, and scary health issues to detour my route.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
God is close beside me through every dark valley in life, so I will not be afraid. My heart is confident because I see his rod of authority, power, and discipline. My soul is comforted as his staff lovingly draws me closer and halts my wandering.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
My Shepherd is not threatened by anyone or anything. He calmly invites me to sit at a table of abundance, even as enemies surround me. The Holy Spirit saturates my life and all irritations and distractions fade away. His blessings fill me and overflow to others.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Every day of my life my Shepherd will be in front of me and his goodness and unfailing love will be behind me. I am completely surrounded in his care.
It is well with my soul.
Total Life Satisfaction
Dallas Willard, who meditated on this Shepherd Psalm every day writes: When you read Psalm 23 you find that Someone is there waiting for you to greet you and guide you. Yahweh is present, available, and actively involved in the lives of those who know and trust him.
When you combine the first and last sentences of this Psalm you realize that everything in between - all of life - can be lived in satisfaction and fullness.
