April 30, 2020

One of the most beloved chapters in the entire Bible, Psalm 23 is a beautiful picture of providence — of a loving God who both guides and provides, who journeys with us along the way. 

Poetic word phrases like “my shepherd”, “I shall not want”, “restores my soul”, “leads me beside still waters”, “comfort me”, “my cup overflows” provide soothing respite to our frazzled, stressed out lives.  Reading Psalm 23, is sort of like turning on a sound machine and letting the world disappear in the white noise of its peacefulness. 

Rest here today!

Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    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 goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank You for being a Good Shepherd that I can trust my life to.   

For your guidance and care in all my days, thank you. 

For giving me rest, thank you.

For restoring my soul when no one else could, thank you.  

For leading me, even in hard places, thank you.

For Your comfort, thank You. 

For protection and provision, thank you. In you, I have everything that I need.

For peace, thank you.  

For hope in all my tomorrows, thank you. 

For ongoing goodness and mercy, thank you. 

Thank you that I have everything I need right now.  Because of you, I lack for nothing. 

I couldn’t be more grateful.

Amen.

67 thoughts on “RHYTHM: DAY 11”

    1. Gracias SEÑOR porque tú eres nuestra roca, tú eres nuestro sostén, porque en ti confiamos, tú nos das aliento, no nos abandonas en de la tormenta ahí estás tú, lléname de tú espíritu santo, dame de beber, hoy quiero más de ti, llena mi vida, te necesitamos mi Dios amado Gracias por tú misericordia y tus promesas que día a día se renuevan , en nombre y por amor de tu hijo amado Cristo Jesús ,amén.

  2. Father God, I thank You this morning for the health & welfare you have provided for our
    family during these difficult days. I thank you for the provision of continuing fellowship with
    our church & home families. I ask you Father for mercy & grace upon our country and direction
    for our leaders. All these Blessings I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen

  3. Dear Heavenly Father,
    Just the very mention of Your name brings peace to my soul . During these trying times, especially, I know I can find comfort in Your loving arms. You are like a shepherd tending his sheep, watching over us day and night. You are always there to rescue us from a fall or save us from the ravages of the world. With You, I can lift myself up to a higher plane. Thank you for loving me and giving me the peace of my salvation. I can walk through this life knowing You are my Protector, my Savior and Lord. There is no better joy. The truths and promises in Your Word are like refreshing waters that renew my spirit. All the days of my life on earth and in heaven I will love and follow You.
    Thank You, Jesus. Amen!

  4. Heavenly Father, thank you for rescuing my soul, thank you for giving me assurance that you will be there when I call out to you. I pray for my inner peace at this time, and I can claim healing in Jesus name.
    Amen.

    1. I claim healing for you in Jesus, name, complete healing. Thank you Lord for the praise report of her healing. AMEN!

  5. Thank you for being by Great Shepherd. Too may times I want to go my way or do things my way, not knowing the destruction that might follow. I am glad that you come looking for me and directing me to the right path. You protect and comfort me when I need it most.

  6. Father God, you are to be praised and I do praise you, Lord. I know I don’t please you with all my actions and thoughts. Help me recognize when I am not pleasing you and help me get that corrected quickly and forgive me, please. Thank you for the songs of the birds this morning. Thank you for waking my family up to see this beautiful day You have made. Help me use it wisely. I pray for a friend who had surgery on her nose to remove a melanoma. I pray that the doctors did indeed “get it all” and for her recovery. I lift our leaders who are making difficult decisions in most difficult times. Give them wisdom and courage to guide us in this your new day. In Jesus precious and holy name I utter this prayer, amen.

    2. Amen. I pray for your friend and her battle against the silent enemy of cancer. I rejoice that the love of my life has a beautifully recreated nose without cancer. I pray the same for our friend in Christ. That she too will have her face restored, her faith strengthened, and the God will receive the glory for her healing!

  7. Father, you have taken care of your people since the beginning of time and You won’t stop now! You will never leave us or forsake til the end of time. May we draw closer to our Father during these trying times so that we can feel Your heartbeat and hear Your still small voice. We know Your voice and know, even now, that You are in control and we have peace in our hearts. Take control, Good Shepherd, and lead Your saints today! Not my will but Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We rest today under shadow of The Almighty God, our Heavenly Father.

  8. …oh Father, thank You for Your hand…Your comfort and grace, Your rod and Your patience…

  9. Thank You Lord for this day. Thank for overflowing blessings. Thank You for all that I have and need. Thank You for opening my eyes to see, hear, and recognize You are with me and mine each and every day. I love how You work in me and through me. Despite my words, thoughts, and actions You guide, redirect, and correct me. And simply love me inspite of my sinfulness. Help me to be who You desire me to be and act. Thank You for who I am and long to be I love You, trust You, and need You all the days of my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

  10. I am thankful that I do not have to go through the valley of death. He leads me through the valley of the shadow of death. I am comforted to know that a shadow never hurt anybody but even still, He is with me. My earnest plea for today is that I will develop a deep relationship with the Father. I don’t know exactly what that is because I never had one with my father. Most of what I remember is punctuated with pain. Help me, Lord.

  11. Dear Lord, My Great Shepherd,

    What a blessing to know you lead me each day as a shepherd leads his sheep.

    You provide all that I need — rest, renewal, strength, guidance, and comfort. The stresses of this life melt away when I’m in Your presence.

    Your Word satisfies my soul. As I ponder it, it makes its way into the crevices of my anxious heart and brings a soothing balm; blood pressure lowers, racing thoughts slow down, panic is replaced with hope — Your hope.

    You’ll never leave me, and you’ll walk with me all the days of my life — through the darkest of times and the best of times, and during these most uncertain times.

    I pray for our President as he leads our country, and for Your hand of healing over our land. Give us just the right words to speak when someone’s in need. Help us to point them to You so they can receive new life and eternal life with You one day.

    In Jesus’s name.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

    Amen

  12. Oh, gracious and merciful Father, hollowed by thy name. May my thoughts throughout this day always turn to you in thankfulness. Your bountiful provision fills my table, guide me to someone who has needs. Your Holy Spirit fills my cup to overflowing. May someone who needs you come across my path and join me in walking through this storm, walking together under your outstretched hand. May we see a glimpse of heaven knowing someday will we be in the house of the Lord forever. Amen

  13. What a beautiful Psalm. Thank your CFBC not just for the Psalms you choose
    every day, but the prayer at the end of each devotion. I need that kind of lifting
    as I start my day.

    1. I reiterate my thanks to the leadership of CFBC who like the good shepherd are watching and caring for us. I pray that God leads the search committee to the right person and family to join our community with leadership and direction from the good shepherd.

  15. Heavenly Father, I dream of every person on the planet being able to say, “The Lord is MY Shepherd.” Help me to join You today in Your redemptive activity to move into that reality.

  16. This is my favorite Psalm as I learned this Psalm when I was a little girl. I had this very strong Christian grandmother who taught me this Psalm and I learned it out of the King James Bible and has never forgotten it. This Psalm has ministered to me and guided me through many situations. I know that Jesus is with me no matter what I go through, He is my comforter, my guide and protector. I thank the good Shepherd everyday for everything (the trials, struggles, blessings) because I know how much he loves me and for dying for my sins. Remember to always look at the cross as this allows us all to be thankful and hopeful every day.

  17. I shall not want.
    He leads me.
    He restores my soul.
    He guides me.
    I fear no evil.
    He comforts me.
    My cup overflows.
    Goodness and lovingkindness follow me.
    I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

  18. Father God , You are my shepherd thank you for my daily blessings that I lack nothing thank you for I am led in the path of righteousness for your name sake. Thank you for making us brave in facing the evil days and I praise you because I can be sure of your goodness and mercy every single day of my life. I am claiming your promises in the name of Jesus amen.

  19. Thank You, Jesus, that I do not have to fear because YOU ARE WITH ME. Your Presence is the peace, despite my heart and my surroundings.

  20. Thank you Abba, for You are the peace in my heart. You are my calm in every storm. Seeking You fulfills my every need. Connecting with You in prayer and through Your word is like receiving a hug directly to my heart, mind, and soul. You comfort me. I love You so very much. It is in Your name I give thanks and I pray. Amen!

  23. Thank you Lord for being a good shepherd who knows his flock. Each day is a blessing and I thank you Lord for allowing me to be a part of it.

  25. This Psalm is a beautiful reminder of my own grandfather who had a herd of sheep. I was allowed as a child to watch him sheer his sheep – hanging on a fence rail. I peppered him with questions as he and my father worked quickly. They captured each sheep, flipped them on their back, and then removed the wool from them. I always worried that the sheep were being hurt. My father and grandfather would point out how they were caring for the sheep and how the wool would benefit our family (providing income). This Psalm reminds me of my Christian heritage. Today our nation is undergoing this sheering process – but I’m confident we will be taken care of by our Jesus – the master shepherd.

  27. The peace from your care comes only when I submit to your authority over me and leave the tough decisions to you. The toughest decision I should ever have to make is to choose your will over mine, as Jesus did in the Garden. Then I can leave the consequences to you. I set that as my life direction when I died with Christ 50 years ago, and I do it daily as expressed in the Lord’s Prayer.

  29. Oh Lord Jesus I also add my thank you and praise You for Your Word. For You are my comforter. You have filled my cup to overflowing and I pray for all those who are called by Your Name to be filled by Your Spirit to overflowing. To live with You in the still waters of You grace and mercy. Thank you for pursuing all Your lost sheep and bringing them back in Your fold. Thank you Thank you. In Your Name I pray.

  32. The Lord is my Great shepherd!
    Thank you God for Your son Jesus commissioning Peter to be a shepherd after He had risen to feed His sheep. I thank You for our pastors (shepherds) who feed us with Your Holy Word to disciple us and grow to recognize Jesus voice to follow HIM in our daily prayer life. His voice will lead us to trust and live Psalm 23.

    In Jesus name I pray, Amen

  33. I praise you Lord for providing me with everlasting life with you. I am forever grateful.

  36. Thank you Lord for giving me your peace when things around us are anything but peaceful! Help me to keep my eyes on You in every situation.

  37. Oh Lord, what a wonderful assurance that you will always take care of our needs in whatever situation we’re in. Thank you Lord for your love and for all the blessings you have given us more than we ever need. Most of all, thank you for the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of you Son Jesus.

  39. Thank you Lord for your promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us. I need this today as I’m dealing with some health issues. Thank you that you are there beside me and that I can lean on you. You restore my soul, you are my rock, my redeemer, you comfort me.

  40. LORD, you are my Shepherd. I have all that I need in any circumstance. You grant me rest, peace, strength, direction, courage, protection, comfort, nourishment, honor, blessings, goodness, unfailing love, and eternal life. I do not lack anything. Thank you, LORD!

  41. Thank you LORD!!!! Thank you for your constant faithfulness to me, even when I am not faithful to you. Thank you for your forgiveness and constant grace. Thank you for your presence.

    Thank you for Godly parents raising me in a Godly church (CFBC since I was 4 yrs old) so that this scripture is hidden in my heart. Thank you for those that volunteer to bring up the next generation.

    Thank you for bringing it to my attention that my kids do not have this beautiful Psalm memorized. Guess what’s now on our homeschool curriculum…

  42. Lord Jesus, You are everything to me. Thank You that I can walk each moment with you and not to have figure life out on my own. I can completely depend on You, knowing without You I have no good thing. For in Your presence I will find deliverance, love, peace, joy and hope. You are my AWESOME
    GOD !

  43. Lord, I am rich with your goodness and mercy. Your truth and love comforts me and I long for more fellowship with you. You are my rock and the foundation of my soul.

  44. Lord, thank You for reminding us that we have enough in You. You provide all that we have need of spiritually and physically. You are the Gate Keeper, the Vine Dresser, the Covenant Maker, and the Promise Keeper of our souls. YOU ARE ENOUGH even when my heart wonders??. Jesus, You are the Gate, the only Gate, the only Vine, and the only way to Eternal Life! I love You ABBA ❤️ I love You Jesus, I love You Holy Spirit (my seal until the day of redemption!) Come Lord, Jesus!❤️

  45. Thank you, Father, for restoring my soul especially during this time. I am so grateful for Your peace.

  46. Thank you Lord for being with me at all times & for comforting me in times like these. In Jesus Name, Amen

  47. Thank you Lord for allowing me to know you personally, because you desire to be in relationship with you. Help me keep my eyes on you, not on the valley i’m in, the shadows that cause darkness in my life, or the evil that affect me. None of the circumstances of my life will ultimately overcome me because you are with me, and as hard as seasons may be, you have ultimately over come all things, and I rest in that expectation.

  48. What words of comfort! So glad that goodness and mercy follows us each and every day

  49. Yes, what a beautiful truth about Psalm 23: “Reading Psalm 23, is sort of like turning on a sound machine and letting the world disappear in the white noise of its peacefulness.” May we all find rest in the peacefulness of this psalm today.

  52. The Lord is MY SHEPHERD!
    He is with us each step of the way on our path in life. He meets every need and promises we will dwell with him FOREVER.
    He is the GOOD GOOD FATHER!

  53. Thank you God that you have my eternal provisions supplied, in Jesus’ Holy name.

  54. A story of Salvation from start to finish.
    David was a great prophet. He was indeed after God’s own heart. Truly understood the plan of salvation, Jesus the true Shepherd.
    How I love this Psalm.
    David and Goliath story led me to kn ow and love God from kindergarten. And at age 64 , boy how this Psalm been proven true over and over again in my,life.
    Thank you Jesus, my cup runneth over. And I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.Amen.

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