I shall not want
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want...I shall not want.
Lately when I read, think, dwell on, Psalm 23 I stop there; I shall not want (ESV).
I shall not be in want (NIV). There is nothing I lack (HCSB). I have all that I need (NLT). I shall not lack (AMP).
Why do I often find myself in want; wanting something, longing for something different and/or more? Is it the Shepherd or does this sheep often follow the wrong shepherd?
This last month as I've been preparing to leave January 1st, to walk the pages of the Bible, where God meet, called, rasied up, lead, provided for and to countless insignificant sheep, to follow Him to do mighty things in Israel, the first line of Psalm 23 keeps beating in my heart.
I could list all the wants; what I want to be, what I want to experience, know, have. I bet we'd all have a long list. I want to go to Israel and the Lord will make that a reality in just a few days. I'm estatic. But I also know if I put all my hope and want in something else, in an experience, a trip, possessions, or in someone I will always end up disappointed wanting more.
I hear my Good Shepherd whisper to me, 'I am your Shepherd, you have all you need and lack nothing, you shall not want.' And I feel the weight and grieve of my own disappointment in still wanting. He never fails. He never disappoints. He is faithful and trustworthy. He is unwavering. I have all that I need in Him and I rest and cling to that in such a dissatisfied world. I can let go of any worry if something will disappoint because yes it may, but He never does. All my fullness is in Him.
When I remember and dwell on that, it's like I'm breaking through the water after struggling to get to the surface from the deep. He is light. He is refreshing. His burden is light.
The reality of battling wants is part of the daily battle of my flesh in this world and my spirit longing to be with Him, being sanctified with every step here.
"I will always have unfulfilled longings this side of heaven...if I will accept them, unfulfilled longings will increase my longing for God and for Heaven." Nancy Leigh DeMoss
"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out...his sheep follow him because they know his voice...I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." Jesus, the Good Shepherd, John 10
What shepherd do you know and listen to? What shepherd knows you and has your ear? One that is unwavering and trustworthy, brings fullness of joy, peace, strength, sustains you? Or is it the shepherd of the world that disappoints and never has enough for you?
Brings me back to "Those who cling to worthless idol forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Jonah 2:8 from a previous post. When I'm wanting, where and to whom do I turn to? Am I clinging to worthless things that cause me to forfeit his grace, Lord, Shepherd my heart always.
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack (AMP).
He is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
I long to go meet my Shepherd in the very fields and places He spoke and called Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, the disciples, Paul, ...Ashley. He meets me here, right now, right in this moment. In every moment. I hear Him. I know Him and His voice and I look forward to meeting Him there in Israel.
"we can succeed because the Lord is our Shepherd. God designed us as we are so that we would see our need of Him. In Him, we find all that we need." Kay Arthur
In Him I have all that I need. When I follow the Good Shepherd I shall not want and I don't need to stop there because when you follow this Shepherd, you have the rest of Psalm 23 as well..
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Posted in: on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at
