I’ve written before about how a certain scripture hits me and I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve learned to roll with it and wait for the lesson. Something changes in how I read it or hear it – you get my point.
My father is a minister so all of my young life I have been to funerals. Some for people I know but a lot for strangers that knew my father. This last Sunday the reading was from the Psalms Chapter 23. I was holding L with Chase next to me. I have heard this scripture about 1 trillion times and of course we all love it but often we only hear it in conjunction with death. Hence, I was somewhat shocked to hear the reading begin. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Tears came to my eyes because it invokes feelings of loss. I relaxed back and embraced the moment. Ok Aim what is the message here? He restores my soul. My cup overflows. Goodness and kindness are all around me. I shall not want. Well actually, I do want. I want L healed and I want Chase to be respectful. I want my friends who are hurting to find peace. This keeps going repeatedly in my head so I am going to let it roll and I need to find the lesson, message, and ability to not want. Realize that I am not in control.
My cup IS overflowing. I AM surrounded by goodness and kindness. He DOES restore my soul. I need to pay attention to what I have vs wants. I hope you enjoy the scripture today and that your cup is overflowing too.
Psalms 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I 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 have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever
I recite this Psalm alot, when I’m trying to get to sleep, and especially when I’m frustrated and overwhelmed. I try to close my eyes and visualize walking along the quiet waters and lying down in the green pastures that they run through. Calming down. Letting him restore my soul.
Even in the changes that this year has brought, the severe downsizing of our material things, the new ideas of not just getting everything we want when we want it, and having to trust him to provide many things, I know that my cup overflows. I still have plenty to give, and as I keep giving, I keep having more available to share with others. There’s no math that makes it make sense, but that’s not for me to figure out, right? Sure, I want things for me and those I love, but when I stop to consider what I already am blessed with, I cannot deny what crazy good showers of blessing he has poured down. HE leads, I follow, and that has been the best realization ever.
Thank you for this reminder on a day I could use it.On a lighter note …. thank you for your comment,it made me laugh,just what I needed as well!
thanks for the reminder, sorely needed today…
Amy,
You know I used to love this time of year and I now hate it. All it reminds me of is my mom at the end of her brave fight with Lung Cancer at the young age of 52. It will be two years on November 2nd at 7:36 pm. Your blog and this Psalms 23:1-6 definitley came at a time that I really needed to read it. Thank You!
Amy, thank you for the reminder. I recently heard this at Camden’s visitation. You put this in a whole new perspective. It’s about living as well and walking in greener pastures, letting our gracious father be our provider and allowing us to find peace in all the gifts that he’s given us. Today a light shines and tomorrow a new candle will be lit. God Bless and as always hugs from the Bates family.