Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd
He is in charge, not me.
I shall not want.
He provides all I need (though not all that I want).
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
I need help to be still before him, to recognize his greatness.
He leads me beside still waters
Peace is not found in striving but rather in following God’s lead in my life.
He restores my soul.
No one else can reach and heal the eternal parts of me.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
I need his help to do what is right.
for his name’s sake.
My life is about his glory and not my own.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I am not shielded from the griefs of this life.
I will fear no evil,
Too often I have feared the wrong things, instead of fearing the Lord.
for you are with me;
He grants the gift of his presence, never leaving no matter what trials I face.
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Even his discipline is a sign of his love. 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
It is the Lord, not people, who sustains me.
you anoint my head with oil;
He chose me to be his own and he heals me.
my cup overflows.
His grace, his love runs over me.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
There is hope because he is always good and his love never stops.
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
My home, now and for eternity, is with him.

Thank you, Lord.

(Words in bold are the verses of Psalm 23.
Words in italics are my own notes.)

Photo by Claudio Testa on Unsplash