I learned Psalm 23 (the King James version) when I was very young. But I have to admit that when I first learned it, I had a problem with it. And it was the first line that I had a problem with:
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."
Now depending on how you read this line, it can be a good thing or a bad thing. And as i often did at that age, I somehow took it the wrong way. Here is what I thought it meant:
The Lord is my Shepherd, and I don't want that.
I took the "I shall not want" part to mean that I shall not want the Lord to be my shepherd. See how I was confused? It wasn't long before someone explained my mistake and I understood the meaning of the passage. However it wasn't until I was much older that I understood the "feeling" of the passage. The truth is it was quite recently that I began feeling a lack of wanting.
Amazingly I have discovered that it has nothing at all to do with material possessions. I could have nothing and still not want. And I am finding that the less I have the less I want. As I unload my material possessions my spiritual possessions increase. As my relationship increases with the Lord I feel less of a need to have material things. Just like a shepherd, the Lord will take care of his flock. He will feed us, and protect us. And if we follow his guidance we have no need to want anything else. He will guide us if we allow him to.
Have a Blessed day,
Greg
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Greg,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the older we get the more we understand the valid points of this powerful Psalm.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Funny how the verses come to life the older we get and the more we look at everything in context. I'm trying hard to renew my faith, but the motivation isn't there. Maybe I should pray for that.
ReplyDeleteI feel so much the same Greg. I want more of Him, and less 'things.' Have a great awesome day. Sarah
ReplyDeleteHey! Thanks for visiting my blog today! I love this verse! I too learned it quite a while ago! It's one that you can always lean on.
ReplyDeleteWadmalaw Island...I know where that is! I've sailed by it before!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings!
Susan
That's really quite funny...I thought the same thing! Very confusing...but eventually I figured it out. Things really don't satisfy anyway...and God provides all that we need!!
ReplyDeleteWow what great observations Greg. It's true too. There have been times in my life when I have thought that in some ways it would be easier living in a poor 3rd world country because of the lack of want.
ReplyDeleteGreat encouragement for my heart right now too. I so appreciate that.