“The Lord’s My Shepherd,” ELW 778
1 The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie in pastures green; he leadeth me the quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me the quiet waters by.
2 My soul he doth restore again, and me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness, e'en for his own name's sake; within the paths of righteousness, e'en for his own name's sake.
3 Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale, yet will I fear no ill; for thou art with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still; for thou art with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still.
4 Mt table thou hast richly spread in presence of my foes; my head thou dost oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
My head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
5 Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me, and in God's house forevermore my dwelling-place shall be; and in God's house forevermore my dwelling-place shall be.
Devotion
“Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, yet will I fear no ill;”
Healing comes in amazing ways. My mother’s caregiver was her husband, who at 93, broke his hip. My mom had Alzheimer’s and we had to move her into a care facility. I spent a day with mom while my sister shopped around.
Not knowing me, my mom was very agitated. For the first few hours, she just stared at me, with fear in her eyes, and shook her head… no, no, no. I tried many ways to set her at ease. Then, I began to sing some old hymns, and once I started to sing the above, there was a change in her demeanor; she started to feel at peace with my presence.
Sometimes, the healing in God's promise is hard to hear and experience. Sometimes, it takes a creative means to deliver it. Thanks be to God in our Lord, Jesus the Christ.
Prayer
Almighty Savior, may I put my trust in you, to creatively use me to share your healing and salvation in ways people can hear. Amen.