~ written by Connie Dunmyer
Do you ever feel like even with all the prayers and tears, that you might be missing something – missing that for which you are asking because you’re not quite getting it right? Well, I have. And I would say that 99% of the time, my fears about that thought are nothing but Satanic attacks. It is possible that the other 1% of the time, I am “missing it on purpose”, likely ignoring the answer I don’t want to hear. For you see, I have learned something lately that shifts my whole perspective.
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing. [I shall not want].
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet [still] waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides 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 [runneth over].
6 Surely goodness and love [mercy] will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I have heard this Psalm many times for much of my life. And quite often, it just kind of glides off my brain – not really making an impact. Then – as I was questioning God about “what I was missing” – I read these passages from “Trusting God”, by Jerry Bridges:
The initiative is with the shepherd. We think so much about OUR responsibility to discover God’s will in a situation or to make wise decision in life’s choices, BUT the Biblical emphasis seems to be on God’s guiding us.
He continues:
[In reference to Paul attempting to travel East, but God sent him the famous “Macedonian Call”.] God did not leave it to Paul to seek His will. Rather, as Paul moved along, God took the initiative to guide him.
And finally:
God . . . has placed each of us in the body of Christ according to His will. To place us in the body obviously denotes far more than leaving the choice to us. It means actually putting us there. It includes all the providential circumstances that are brought to bear upon us to insure that we DO find our rightful place. . .
Well, okay then. Perhaps if I shift my perspective here, I can gain more meaning from this very famous Psalm. Here’s what I received – my psalm-ette, if you will permit me:
Lord, you are my shepherd – my Good Shepherd who laid down his life for mine. And because you still live and have given me the Holy Spirit – you still lead and guide me – & sometimes even carry me. As long as I stay with you, close to you, I will not be in want – I won’t lack anything – because you guide me to green pastures where I can rest and eat and be supplied. You actually “make me” lie down because sometimes you have to force me to stop. To simply BE in faith. Residing in that hope yet unseen. You guide me to quiet/still waters where I can drink. You restore my soul. [One version says “refreshes my soul”. It’s like “sanctuary” in The DreamGiver by Bruce Wilkinson.] You guide me on good paths of righteousness (not evil paths) for Your Name’s sake. It’s kinda like the Lord’s prayer: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. I can avoid so much evil and heartache if I will allow myself to be led – guided.
Even though I will walk through the “valley of the shadow of death” – I need not – I will not fear any evil BECAUSE You are with me. Nothing can touch me except what You permit – and if You permit it – it cannot destroy me.
Your rod and staff – comfort me? … I needed some education. The rod is for discipline. How is that comforting? It’s comforting because You only discipline those you love. Proverbs 3:11-12: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child.” The staff is comforting because it’s used to ‘rescue’ – pull me out of danger. So even if I do get off the path and fall into evil – a ravine of sorts – your staff will pull me up and out of danger. Maybe even away from the wolf that would attempt to tear me apart.
You prepare a table before me. I guess the thing that strikes me about this is that it’s “in the presence” of my enemies. Yes – there’s eternity. But this sounds more like in this lifetime. Maybe it’s vindication. Maybe it’s blessings even in the MIDST of enemy attack. It’s food – nourishment – all we need – NO MATTER what evil is happening around or to us.
You anoint my head with oil. Why do shepherds put oil on sheep’s heads? There is a parasitic condition caused by a mite called Psoroptes ovis that is spread from sheep to sheep through friendly head-butting and rubbing. Applying a thick coat of medicinal oil to the sheeps’ heads is to kill the parasites and prevent their spread.
So it’s healing. Treating and preventing disease. And it’s the shepherd’s job, his initiative, to pour the oil on their heads. Oil also represents the Holy Spirit. Anointing us with Your spirit. And my cup overflows. Abundance. It’s more than enough. It’s not only my needs – but my delights. The focus of course is not things and stuff – it’s spiritual – it’s The Spirit. And I can have all I want and more. Luke 11:13: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
AND THEN Heaven on top of all that. Heaven starts here, now. Yes – even in the midst of my enemies, or my struggles, or my temptations, or my pain, or my grief, or my “fill in the blank”... we have all we need. And we have more blessings than we know what to do with. I fear more than we actually recognize. But it starts here, it’s every day – and it continues FOOOOORRRRREEEEEEEEEVEEEEEEER!
I’ve been saying to Jesus “I just want clarity”. “I just want to know what to do”. But that’s putting the emphasis on ME. “I” need to know – or rather WANT to know. But that’s not really trust then, is it? The emphasis MUST stay with The Shepherd. It’s harder to do in some ways – because I kinda like the “illusion” of control. But in the end – it’s just a mirage. Only the Good Shepherd has control.
Ok. So my prayers need to change. My attitude, my emphasis, my focus, needs to shift. It’s up to Jesus – period – full stop. And I need to trust – AND REST – in the knowledge that He IS indeed guiding. Even if I don’t see it or understand it. Ironically, I’ve been making it too hard.
I’m not “missing” anything!
The Shepherd is in charge. HE does the initiating. HE makes sure I’m going where I need to go, eat what I need to eat, rest when I need to rest, have what I need to have – and more! My job? Stay close to the Shepherd.
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