A Path to follow, A Presence to guide, and A Promise to believe.
I can’t remember for sure when it was that I memorized Psalm 23 but it was probably while I was in Boy Scouts doing the work to earn my God & Country award. I am so glad that I did though. Over the years this Psalm has brought such amazing comfort and peace. If you have never memorized it, I want to encourage you to do so. It will be a great source of strength as your days go on.
Psalm 23 seems to fit in so many settings, discouragement, challenge, guidance, for assurance, and at the close of a funeral of one who has trusted The Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Check it out and then consider The Path, The Presence, and The Promise of Psalms 23.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs 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.
“He leads me in paths of righteousness.” As a follower of Jesus Christ, God has called me to walk a PATH that honors Him, encourage others, and point them to His Son. People truly need The Lord. “Jesus said…come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21
“For you are with me.” Our loving Father doesn’t send us out on our own. He promises His PRESENCE no matter our circumstances, our failures, our victories. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” God’s PROMISE to those who have trusted His Son as their Savior is eternal life. That brings me to the first verse of scripture I ever memorized as a child, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”