When I was a little, one of the first passages of scripture I learned was Psalms 23. Yes, it is a short chapter having only six verses, but what power and promise this chapter contains!
- 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 the death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
- Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
If we reflect on the promises given in these verses, my how our attitudes would change! David is telling us that God is a provider in all things! Green pastures mean that we will be hydrated and filled with God’s best. Have you ever seen grass in a drought? Not so appealing, is it? However, David tells of God’s abundance, peace, and restoration that only He can provide. David further reminds us that yes, we will go through some dark times, but the dark times will not take us out! We may not have a rod or a staff in our hands at the moment, but we do have the Word of God! Furthermore, the rod and the staff in David’s hand was a reminder to him of what God did in the past. Sometimes, we have to rehearse our victories from the past, so that we get that needed boost for what we are facing today.
The best part is this: when we come through our tests, our enemies will be present for not only our victory, but they will also witness our spiritual promotion! How good is God?? If you’re rattled by your current situation, stand tall and remember Psalms 23. If the enemy appears to be closing in, look for your table…
Never give up!
Becky Brown