Psalm 23: A Shepherd's Love

Good morning Abba, Good morning Jesus, Good morning Holy Spirit,

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.    

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters,   

He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will 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 your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23

This is the day that our Lord has made. With one of my daily readings, I began thinking about Psalm 23 and how do I pray these words to our Lord. This is truly a "song" of love.  A love between our creator, our Lord Jesus, and through the manifestations graciously given by the Holy Spirit.

 "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."

Something once written still resonates within my heart. What do I want as a gift? The fullness of this passage leads me to a place deep within that says: I have no need, I lack nothing, for my Lord provides all of my needs, wants, and desires. How joyfully freeing is this line. It bears fruit within your spirit. My Lord, let me walk free from that which is of this world and fill me to overflowing with your love which is more valuable...

"He makes me lie down in green pastures,"

Comfort and safety, all wrapped up into His daily blessings. A promise that He has all things under His control. As He created and provided in the beginning... how much could He be doing for us if we accepted and was content with all that He has prepared for us? In my hour of torment, through the weight of a burdened heart, when my control can not keep my loved ones safe and joyous... words that speak to His attention over them provides rest in His assurance that I can "lie down" within the most tenderest of care. Thank you, my Lord, for all that you do for me and mine. I know that you are diligent in your watch over us, I accept your gracious goodness in every detail of our lives. I trust that you will see us through to completion and it will be "perfect" according to your goodness.

"He leads me beside quiet waters, 
 He refreshes my soul."

All of my senses begin bubbling with excitement, that type of joy that I once knew as a child. The "sparkling newness" of exploration and anticipation of something un-discovered. My spirit views His canvas before me, my eyes "soak" up the colors and designs from His creative palette, the sounds of life slide in a spiral as if a recording is beginning a symphony within my mind, and the fragrance of the moment reminds me of His love, His goodness, and the graciousness of those I have known. My Lord, how wondrous are your ways.

"He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake."

For His glory... He guides me and mine. We are created for His glory! So many emotions rise up with this truth. An awe as to the truth that He "tends" to me and mine... watching over every detail of our existence. Collecting every tear, battling every evil, healing every suffering, and standing back... waiting on us to ask for His assistance with each of our decisions. Then humility begins "pealing" away the layers of falsehood about my decisions, my actions, the negative seed harvest of my tongue. My spirit "quakes" as I view those selfish moments, in which, I was being "me" without Him. Walking without concern about being His "name sake." With a fear of anguish... my heart, mind, and soul cries out to Him... My Lord, My Father, Holy Spirit... forgive me! And.. with the fullness of His gracious love... this little lamb is once again wrapped with in His embrace. Oh, how amazing His grace is!

 "Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;"

With each step I take... There are those precious moments when I watch my feet approaching His altar. I ponder the steps of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua (Hebrew names of God). Those images of His passionate walk of love along the Via Dolorosa rebirths in me the renewal of my loving acceptance and commitment in giving Him my heart, mind, body, spirit and my soul (my everything) for His will and glory. My choice to trust in Him, in Him alone... releasing me to live my life for Him, with Him, and in Him.

"Your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Waves of comfort, joy, and peace wash over me when I wrap my mind and spirit into these loving words. As I close my eyes, and sense His embrace, the shelter within His words... His wings of protection (Psalm 91). My Lord, here I am... nourish me, strengthen me, manifest your goodness within me... I am yours.

  "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

These words cause me to feel so "unworthy" so aware of my "sinfulness." As my Lord reveals His love for me, I understand the truth of my human-ness and how I truly am not worthy of His blessings. And yet, I feel a child's joy at seeing a celebration with a chair being pulled out and an inviting hand beckoning me to come, sit, and enjoy the goodness planned for me. Finally, I feel the overflow of gratitude that He loves me so much... that even though I have nothing to offer... He welcomes me as His own. Therefore, no weapon formed against me and mine will prosper (Isaiah 54:17) for we are sheltered, consecrated, and sealed as His... His alone. My Lord, thank you! Make tender the hearts of those who come against us... and protect our hearts, minds, and souls in order for anger or resentments to have no power over us (Ephesians 6:10-18).

 "You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows."

Answering His calling, being chosen as one of His flock. These words remind me that I said "Yes, Lord." I freely accepted His gift of His eternal salvation. I was baptized with water and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. My name is written in His book of Life, the Book of the Lamb, now and forever. With a willingness in my heart, for my soul... my spirit repents and seeks forgiveness. It is through Jesus, and Him alone that my salvation is sealed. Through is Grace, I have been given the blessing that I belong to Him. He is my Shepherd... I shall not want!

"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."

 

His Love knows no boundaries... He reaches out for each of us... Will you remember to take His hand?

  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. 

It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Love never ends. 

As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

  For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only Son, 

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, 

Christ died for us.

 Romans 5:8

  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

 For I am sure that neither death nor life,

 nor angels nor rulers,

 nor things present nor things to come,

 nor powers, nor height nor depth,

 nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

 And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,

 who loved me and gave himself for me.

 Galatians 2:20

  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God;

 and so we are.

 The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1

  Owe no one anything,

 except to love each other,

 for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8

  For you were called to freedom, brothers.

 Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,

 but through love serve one another.

 Galatians 5:13

 With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Ephesians 4:2

  Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love,

 love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

1 Peter 1:22

  Beloved, let us love one another,

 for love is from God, 

and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

  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 forever.
 Psalm 23:5-6

 Make your face shine on your servant;  save me in your steadfast love!
Psalm 31:16

 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
Psalm 63:3

 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Proverbs 10:12

  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
 Proverbs 17:17

  Set me as a seal upon your heart,
 as a seal upon your arm,
 for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave.
 Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.
 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.
 If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
Song of Solomon 8:6-7

 With all humility and gentleness,
 with patience,
 bearing with one another in love,
 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3

  Complete my joy by being of the same mind,
 having the same love,
 being in full accord and of one mind.
Philippians 2:2

 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18

  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48

  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:24-25

   And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:28-30

  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”  Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him,  “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
 John 14:21-24

 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
 John 15:9-17

 

 

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