Psalm_23
Scripture Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Observation - What does it say?
David paints one of the most beautiful pictures of God. In the same way that a good shepherd cares for his sheep - leading and guiding and providing and protecting -God cares for his people. This opening statement sums up the entire Psalm. All the following verses unpack this declaration, listing the ways God supplies every need.
Understanding - What does it mean?
Those who follow Jesus lack nothing. Complaining is easy.
It takes no effort to imagine the ways we wish things were different or better, to wish we had more money, more joy, more influence, more ________. While we may perceive a lack, it’s only an illusion.
Consider these verses:
Ephesians 1:3 [God] has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
We who follow Jesus lack nothing!
That means right now…
- We have all we need to fulfill the plan of God for our lives
- We have all we need to overcome sin and temptation
- We have all we need to impact the lives of those around us for God
- We have all the strength we need to face our present challenges
- Any need we can imagine, God will supply
Life Application
Stop focusing on what we think we lack and thank God for supplying all we need!
Stop waiting for God to give us something else before we obey him.
- Levi Thompson