Every night, I rock Elijah while he drinks his bottle. He stares, watching the fish projected across the ceiling. I pray over him, we pray for all our loved ones by name, and I recite scripture to him. Undoubtedly, each night we end with the 23rd Psalm:
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
(King James Version, the way I learned it so many years ago.)
This morning I've begun a study on this brief, but highly recognized Psalm. Going phrase by phrase, I've started with the foundation: The Lord is my shepherd.
Max Lucado writes, "Though he creates, God was never created. Though he makes, he was never made. Though he causes, he was never caused. Hence the psalmist's proclamation: "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and hte world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90:2
He continues, "Counselors can comfort you in the storm, but you need a God who can still the storm. Friends can hold your hand at your deathbed, but you need a Yahweh who has defeated the grave. Philosophers can debate the meaning of life, but you need a Lord who can declare the meaning of life."
Before I can even get to God as my Shepherd, I stop at three simple words: The Lord is...
Whatever you need, whatever you lack, whatever you seek, the Lord is...
Despite my insufficiencies, an all-sufficient God is...
Even when I don't understand, the Lord is...
He is...
He was...
He will always be...
Today I rest in my God, the everlasting of everlastings, who is...
What is he to you today? The ... is your own fill in the blank. It's your own way of calling on the Yahweh of the universe to seek and find him.
1 comment:
The Lord is.... is something I've begun to rest in. I often say that and stop. It's a hard concept to grasp sometimes. He is all that we need.
Also, you rebuke me with your parenting! So many nights, I'm quick to throw my kids in bed, kiss them goodnight, read their little devotional, say a quick prayer and out I go...in hopes to not have to spank anyone for getting up 50 times!
Post a Comment