Psalm 23

Earlier today, I was speaking with a friend of mine and we started to talk about psalm 23 and we both shared our perspective on what this psalm really meant to us.

  Psalm 23 is a psalm that I was taught as a child and one that I also taught my children at an early age. I have quoted portions of this psalm on numerous occasions, but over the last 7 1/2 months this psalm has become so very real to me and here is why. As some of you may know from previous blogs, I unexpectedly lost my 28 year old son on April 22^nd 2012. In this very difficult time, I made the decision to keep going with my ministry Mothers Praying Until Something Happens (MPUSH) as a way of God getting the glory through this tragedy and showing the devil, that he had lost his bet. Psalm 23 is one of the many scriptures that have kept me going when everything else in me is trying to tell me to give up.

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. It dawned on me that in order for me not to be in lack and enjoy the things that the remainder of Psalm 23 talked about I had to be willing to be lead or be shepherded. So I quickly decided not to travel the many paths that looked or felt good for me. Some paths that looked so incredible attractive like disappointment, anger, resentment and depression, instead I decided follow the path of Shepherd Lord. By so doing I was able to find green pastures instead of lingering in the wasteland. I found that instead of a raging sea I was in still waters, no ripples, waves or currents, I started to feel safe, secure and loved. Before I knew it my soul began to feel the effects of being restored, (Re-establish) as the incredible pain that I was feeling started to become more tolerable. Each time I felt like getting out of line, He instead kept leading me in paths of right living because of what His name represents. So I came to the conclusion that, I will not be afraid of the valley of death- because, my Shepherd will be with me as I know He was with my son. I have a new perspective knowing His rod and staff is always there to comfort me. I now fully understand what it means to have a table carefully prepared for me with bountiful provisions for both my body and soul right where my enemies are standing waiting to see me fail. I can actually feel the oil running down my face as He anoints my head with oil, so my cup is now overflowing, instead of emptiness. I also realized that with this Shepherd goodness and mercy will be following me around as long as I live. My decision became easy, I think I prefer being led, and I will without a doubt just camp in His house for all times.

If you are going through a difficult period at the moment, I am encouraging you to add psalm 23 to the other scriptures that you are reading. You will be amazed at the sense of peace, comfort and reassurance it will bring.

 

In His Service

 

Vilma