Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV)1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.4 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.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
The Good Shepherd
When you truly understand God’s goodness as revealed in Psalm 23, it will strengthen your faith. You will be able to say:
1. God will meet all my needs; there’s no reason to worry.
2. God will help me rest and find peace.
3. God will refresh and replenish me when I am drained.
4. God will guide me to make right decisions.
5. God will be with me on my dark and fearful days.
6. God will protect me and keep me safe.
7. God will support me, even if I am surrounded by conflict.
8. God will give me his favor.
9. God will fill me with more blessing than I can imagine.
10. God will secure my future and take me to heaven one day.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
John 10:11-13 MSG “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.
Hebrews 13:18-21 MSG Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we’re doing or why, but it’s hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon. May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole, Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead, Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes. (emphasis mine)
Under the Shepherd’s protection we can say, even when we’re in the valley, “I’m here;
1. By God’s appointment.
2. In His keeping.
3. Under His training.
4. For His time.”
The Good Shepherd
When you truly understand God’s goodness as revealed in Psalm 23, it will strengthen your faith. You will be able to say:
1. God will meet all my needs; there’s no reason to worry.
2. God will help me rest and find peace.
3. God will refresh and replenish me when I am drained.
4. God will guide me to make right decisions.
5. God will be with me on my dark and fearful days.
6. God will protect me and keep me safe.
7. God will support me, even if I am surrounded by conflict.
8. God will give me his favor.
9. God will fill me with more blessing than I can imagine.
10. God will secure my future and take me to heaven one day.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
John 10:11-13 MSG “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.
Hebrews 13:18-21 MSG Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we’re doing or why, but it’s hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon. May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole, Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead, Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes. (emphasis mine)
Under the Shepherd’s protection we can say, even when we’re in the valley, “I’m here;
1. By God’s appointment.
2. In His keeping.
3. Under His training.
4. For His time.”
The Lord Is My Shepherd" Prayer - A Prayer From Psalm 23
By Debbie McDaniel
This well-known Psalm is so rich with peace and blessing for all our days. Yet often we can become so “familiar” with popular verses and chapters of God’s word, that they can almost lose the important message that He is wanting to instill within our hearts. Praying God’s words back to Him, and meditating on them verse by verse, can help us to remember his goodness, and be strengthened by his truths.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." v.1 - He leads us, He guides us, He's always with us, and we can be assured and feel safe under His protective care.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul..." v.2-3 - He knows where true rest and blessings are found, and leads us there, He restores, He refreshes, He brings peace and goodness.
"He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." v. 3 - He leads us to walk in His ways, He draws us to stay close to Him and follow Him.
"Even 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." v. 4 - Though life is uncertain and we may suffer with illness, loss, or pain, our God of comfort, our Lord who holds all power over death and disease walks with us. Always. He is the only One who can take us by the hand through life's darkest moments of suffering, bringing freedom and healing from the pain of this life, straight into glory and the hope of heaven that He has reserved for us. We never have to fear, in life or in death, for He is with us, our constant strength and Shepherd.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows." v. 5 - We have a place at His table, He makes room for us, He wants us to stay close to Him. Through history, hosts were expected to protect their guests at all costs. God's protection is real, in the midst of the traps and attacks of enemy forces, we can find security and refuge in His great care. It doesn't mean that we won't ever face huge battles, but that He covers us with His Spirit of anointing and power, to live out our days with His strength and blessing.
"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." v. 6 - That word for "follow" means "to chase, to pursue." We can be assured, He chases us today, and all our days, with His goodness and love. And even at the end of all our days here on this earth, He still has more in store, and it's greater than we could ever imagine.
Dear God,
Thank You That You Are Our Good Shepherd And We Can Trust You With Our Lives. Thank You For Your Leadership And Sovereignty. Thank You For Your Guidance And Care In All Our Days. Thank You That You Restore Our Souls, Give Us Peace, And Bring Us Hope In All Of Our Tomorrows. Thank You For Your Protection And Strength That Surrounds Us Like A Shield. Thank You That We Never Have To Fear. Thank You For Your Goodness And Love That Follows After Us, Chases Us, Even When Were Unaware. Thank You Lord, That You Trustworthy And Able, That You Are Our Refuge And Hope.
In You Alone Is Rest And Peace. We Praise You For The Assurance That We Will Dwell With You Forever.
By Debbie McDaniel
This well-known Psalm is so rich with peace and blessing for all our days. Yet often we can become so “familiar” with popular verses and chapters of God’s word, that they can almost lose the important message that He is wanting to instill within our hearts. Praying God’s words back to Him, and meditating on them verse by verse, can help us to remember his goodness, and be strengthened by his truths.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." v.1 - He leads us, He guides us, He's always with us, and we can be assured and feel safe under His protective care.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul..." v.2-3 - He knows where true rest and blessings are found, and leads us there, He restores, He refreshes, He brings peace and goodness.
"He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." v. 3 - He leads us to walk in His ways, He draws us to stay close to Him and follow Him.
"Even 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." v. 4 - Though life is uncertain and we may suffer with illness, loss, or pain, our God of comfort, our Lord who holds all power over death and disease walks with us. Always. He is the only One who can take us by the hand through life's darkest moments of suffering, bringing freedom and healing from the pain of this life, straight into glory and the hope of heaven that He has reserved for us. We never have to fear, in life or in death, for He is with us, our constant strength and Shepherd.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows." v. 5 - We have a place at His table, He makes room for us, He wants us to stay close to Him. Through history, hosts were expected to protect their guests at all costs. God's protection is real, in the midst of the traps and attacks of enemy forces, we can find security and refuge in His great care. It doesn't mean that we won't ever face huge battles, but that He covers us with His Spirit of anointing and power, to live out our days with His strength and blessing.
"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." v. 6 - That word for "follow" means "to chase, to pursue." We can be assured, He chases us today, and all our days, with His goodness and love. And even at the end of all our days here on this earth, He still has more in store, and it's greater than we could ever imagine.
Dear God,
Thank You That You Are Our Good Shepherd And We Can Trust You With Our Lives. Thank You For Your Leadership And Sovereignty. Thank You For Your Guidance And Care In All Our Days. Thank You That You Restore Our Souls, Give Us Peace, And Bring Us Hope In All Of Our Tomorrows. Thank You For Your Protection And Strength That Surrounds Us Like A Shield. Thank You That We Never Have To Fear. Thank You For Your Goodness And Love That Follows After Us, Chases Us, Even When Were Unaware. Thank You Lord, That You Trustworthy And Able, That You Are Our Refuge And Hope.
In You Alone Is Rest And Peace. We Praise You For The Assurance That We Will Dwell With You Forever.
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