The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:
Psalms 23:1-3
The mind is a beautiful thing; it allows us to visualize and actually get a sense of being in the place that we are thinking about. For example, when reading these verses of scripture, my mind automatically takes me away and I envision myself lying in a field of green grass, growing up in West Virginia and spending summers in the Bluegrass state of Kentucky makes this easier; the sights, the sounds and the smells of a warm summer day, with the wind gently blowing; looking up at the clear blue skies and without a care in the world. All I feel at that moment is free and content; having that youthful feeling when life was simple and carefree, full of enjoyment and I didn’t want for anything. There is such a peace that comes over me and my soul is refreshed.
David, growing up as a shepherd boy, had plenty of time while he watched over the sheep to think. He could certainly use what he knew and observed, to be creative in his writing. Here he speaks naturally from the vantage point of being a sheep. He said and I paraphrase, “The Lord is my keeper, my guide, and my provider. He watches over me and tends to my needs; both naturally and spiritually. He takes care of me so that I lack nothing and He makes provisions for me continuously, also seeing that I am fed until I am satisfied and until I am full. He makes sure that in my lying down, I can rest easy from the fears and worries that surround me and from those that seek to destroy me; I can sleep peacefully knowing that He is watching over me and protects me from the dangers seen and unseen that lurk in the wilderness; He assures me that I am here and all is well. The sounds from laying by the waters soothe me, it is a calm within its self, it allows me to be in a place of peacefulness that only still waters can bring, a place of no anxieties; a place where you can get lost in its serenity; a place of tranquility and quietness in order to restore me for another day’s journey.
It would behoove us to get to that place regularly, where we can find rest for our soul; so that regardless of what’s going on around us along this journey; whether we are tired, exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, or worn from the cares of the world, we will remember that God is our shepherd. He watches over us continually and cares about the well being of His flock. He wants to restore us to a place of rest and tranquility; where our hearts and our minds are at peace in Him. With this peace, we can hear clearly from God and move accordingly. It is hard to hear which direction we should go from the Shepherd when our mind is clogged from the anxieties and the worries that each day and life brings. We can be confident as He assures us with His guidance and directives for our lives, that He will lead us on the right path and we need not worry. We can take comfort in knowing, God is concerned with everything that we are concerned about (Ps 138:8).
Find yourself lying in a green pasture today, imagine yourself there, feeling peaceful, feeling free, feeling refreshed and feeling restored!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
Psalms 23:1-3
The mind is a beautiful thing; it allows us to visualize and actually get a sense of being in the place that we are thinking about. For example, when reading these verses of scripture, my mind automatically takes me away and I envision myself lying in a field of green grass, growing up in West Virginia and spending summers in the Bluegrass state of Kentucky makes this easier; the sights, the sounds and the smells of a warm summer day, with the wind gently blowing; looking up at the clear blue skies and without a care in the world. All I feel at that moment is free and content; having that youthful feeling when life was simple and carefree, full of enjoyment and I didn’t want for anything. There is such a peace that comes over me and my soul is refreshed.
David, growing up as a shepherd boy, had plenty of time while he watched over the sheep to think. He could certainly use what he knew and observed, to be creative in his writing. Here he speaks naturally from the vantage point of being a sheep. He said and I paraphrase, “The Lord is my keeper, my guide, and my provider. He watches over me and tends to my needs; both naturally and spiritually. He takes care of me so that I lack nothing and He makes provisions for me continuously, also seeing that I am fed until I am satisfied and until I am full. He makes sure that in my lying down, I can rest easy from the fears and worries that surround me and from those that seek to destroy me; I can sleep peacefully knowing that He is watching over me and protects me from the dangers seen and unseen that lurk in the wilderness; He assures me that I am here and all is well. The sounds from laying by the waters soothe me, it is a calm within its self, it allows me to be in a place of peacefulness that only still waters can bring, a place of no anxieties; a place where you can get lost in its serenity; a place of tranquility and quietness in order to restore me for another day’s journey.
It would behoove us to get to that place regularly, where we can find rest for our soul; so that regardless of what’s going on around us along this journey; whether we are tired, exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, or worn from the cares of the world, we will remember that God is our shepherd. He watches over us continually and cares about the well being of His flock. He wants to restore us to a place of rest and tranquility; where our hearts and our minds are at peace in Him. With this peace, we can hear clearly from God and move accordingly. It is hard to hear which direction we should go from the Shepherd when our mind is clogged from the anxieties and the worries that each day and life brings. We can be confident as He assures us with His guidance and directives for our lives, that He will lead us on the right path and we need not worry. We can take comfort in knowing, God is concerned with everything that we are concerned about (Ps 138:8).
Find yourself lying in a green pasture today, imagine yourself there, feeling peaceful, feeling free, feeling refreshed and feeling restored!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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