Psalm 23 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Verse 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
Verse 3he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Verse 4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me.
Verse 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Verse 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Devotion
Today's reflection ponders how God "RESTores" us.
I call Psalm 23 the "AAAAAHHHH" passage. It's the word that comes out of your mouth when you get home from a long, hard day, and you kick off your shoes and lay back in the recliner. Or when your throat is so parched you feel like you swallowed a cup of sand and you drink a glass of cool water. We receive even more than that from our Savior. When life beats us down like the rays of the hot sun, Jesus is there to quench our thirst and refresh our souls. When we get so busy and distracted in our lives, Jesus provides us lush green grass to frolic through in our bare feet. Jesus makes a way for us to find rest and replenishes our spirit. We can't do it on our own. We need the refreshing, life giving Spirit of God to restore us and send us out to serve the world.
Prayer
Restorer of our souls, continue to lead us in the way you would have us go. Help us to find the time to pause and be refreshed so that we might help others drink in the gifts of your Spirit. Amen.