Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

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.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the lord forever.

Over the years, this chapter has held so many different meanings. At first, it was a challenge. My grandfather told us he would give us money to memorize certain sections of the Bible. My cousin and I memorized what we could for the money...she, far surpassing my little brain, had all the passages memorized, but i did manage to get a few dollars!

Fast forward many years...though I could still recite this chapter in the Psalms, it still held no more meaning to me. Through listening to his personal testimony, I learned that my husband's grandfather was saved through this passage while serving in the Maries in Iwo Jima. This was the only passage he had ever memorized as a child, and when all around him was passing away, and he was beginning to wonder why it wasn't him, why was he spared? God brought verses from this passage to his heart and he asked God to be his Shepherd.

It reminded me that it is not us that saves, it is God alone. He saves us when we are running full force away from him, he grabs us and pulls us near. My thoughts...why me, Lord? Why did you save me when thousands perish?

And then a few days ago, the words of a song that were taken from this passage have been heavy on my heart. The Lord is my shepherd; i shall not want. Talk about instant conviction...all the things I want...as if I deserve anything. AND how I have failed to return praise back to him for all the blessings he has given!!!

So as I am learning to pray scripture...this has been my prayer:

"Lord, you are my shepherd. Help me not to want."

Slowly, I am falling in love more and more with this passage. I am learning to cherish every line with every passing year of my life. I might not have "walked through the valley of the shadow of death" trying not to "fear any evil" as Grandad did, but as the years go by this passage becomes all the more sweet...and I am so thankful for my own Grandpa's encouragement to me to memorize it...