Day 37: Remembering God's Promises

What if a frantic and desperate David, running for his life, panted out these words as prayer?

The Lord is my shepherd (God has always been there for me; He still is.)

I shall not be in want. (He provided when I was taking care of the sheep; He provided when I went up against Goliath. He provided for me the last time Saul freaked out. He’ll provide now.)

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. (I’ve been in bad fixes before, and God has always provided. I must trust in Him.)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (which I am definitely doing right this minute),

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Remembering these truths, David’s heart rate begins to settle to a nice, manageable thump. His ability to think clearly returns. He must keep running, because evil is in pursuit, but he is no longer overcome. The epic adventure has begun.)

I confess. I don’t know at what point in David’s life he wrote this psalm. But what I do know, and what you know, is where we are in our own lives. I hope you’re in a happy space. But if you’re not, then what about this idea? What if, in preparation for Advent, like the men and women of the old days, we take time to use this Psalm to find our own reality? What if you found your own truthful and personal way to do as David might have done? Using this Psalm, remember. Remember who God is, what he has promised. Remember that we are clay. Speak the truths of these words to God and see how the Good Shepherd leads you! Because, my friend, you’ve got places to go, people to meet, and words of hope and encouragement to share - all appropriately socially distanced of course!