A psalm of David.

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.

Psalm 23:1-6, NIV

 

 

Psalm 23 ~ A Pilgrim’s Journey

The Lord is my Shepherd

I have everything I need;

When I am weary, He leads me

To rest by the soothing sounds

Of still, breathing waters.

Making sure I am ready to walk

Through the path that lies ahead.

Because, You are with me every step of the way

My hope, my deepest soul, is refreshed

Restored, renewed, reinvigorated.

Even when it gets rough and steep,

Or dark and lonely (I can barely see)

My Shepherd guides me lovingly

With His staff like a blind man’s white cane.

I have no need to fear, even when

The Valley of the Shadow of Death is near

For my strength is not mine to carry

But Yours to keep me going.

Look at this table set before me now,

I have traveled long and hard to

Reach this place of heavenly peace

It’s filled with all the goodness He could ever give

Even in the presence of mine enemies

See how He has anointed my life

Oh! My cup absolutely runneth over!

I am redeemed, rescued from all things

That come against me day after day after day

Because I have put on my armor

Clothed myself in His love, resting,

Living – abiding – in Him and He, in me.

 

~Marcie Bridges

©04/22/19

All Rights Reserved.

 

“Now their way lay just upon the bank of the river: here, therefore, CHRISTIAN and his companion walked with great delight; they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits: besides, on the banks of this river, on either side, were green trees, that bore all manner of fruit; and the leaves of the trees were good for medicine; with the fruit of these trees they were also much delighted; and the leaves they ate to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was also a meadow, curiously beautiful with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay down and slept; for here they might lie down safely.” The Pilgrim’s Progress

 

My friend, are you tired too? Weary from your journey? Ready to call it quits and never come out from under the bed sheets?

 

It’s wonderful when our friends come around and they only mean to encourage us when they give us well-meaning Scripture verses meant to soothe us.

 

Yes, we know all things work together for good. But in those moments—the most heart crushing, heartbreaking, heart rending moments—it’s not always what we want to hear.

 

And so dear friend, it’s time to just rest in Jesus. Refresh yourself by His spring of living water. Allow Him to comfort you with His rod and staff, and lead you to the perfect place of peace.

 

Life is hard. So very hard sometimes. But the one thing I know to be true, the one thing we have that the world cannot offer or give us, is the peace we will receive when we just give it all to Jesus.

 

Doesn’t the place Christian ended up at before going across the river to God’s heaven sound lovely? God is offering you a place of rest beside the still waters. Will you let Him lead you there?

 

From My Heart to Yours,

Marcie

 

 

Pictures courtesy of Unsplash