The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need. Psalms 23:1
I have read the 23rd Psalm thousands of times throughout my life and can even recite it from memory. It is so burned into my brain from so many years of reading and hearing it over and over that, I almost don’t hear it anymore…if that makes sense.
Repetition and too much of any one thing can do that to you, right? Well, that isn’t supposed to happen to scripture. But it had until today…and all it took was a version change. A different perspective that seemed to change the angle just slightly…or…just enough to wack me over the head.
As I said, I have heard the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” my whole life. That is the verse. Period. Until today. When I heard it very loud and very clear, again for the first time.
How about this one; The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.
I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED.
I can honestly say I have never said that because I never believed those words applied to me. WHY? Because I don’t think I DO have all I need. Does anyone really ever have all they need? But that is precisely what David meant when he wrote those words. He truly had All that he needed. He was content.
So what did he mean?
Here is what I can tell you. David was not referring to his stuff. Things like cars, houses, and vacations. He was talking about his contentment with his God. Let me reword it again:
BECAUSE THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I DO NOT NEED ANYTHING
David recognized that in this state of humility with God, our God, it was and IS possible to not need anything. Can you imagine that? You see because we Christians are so immersed in a society where people believe they can never get enough…that honestly, it is very easy to drift over to that way of thinking. Over time, we become what we do not want to…which is believing we don’t HAVE what we THINK we need…or as reworded below:
EVEN THOUGH THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, HE CAN’T GET ME WHAT I NEED
It is important to recognize this condition above for what it is: That it is NOT from God but rather from the Enemy. Our job then is to resist and to work to become content in our circumstances no matter what they are. It is not easy. Frankly, it is crazy hard…especially if you are not happy with where you are in your life.
The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
Let me put it another way:
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6
Although it is a very true statement, “You can’t take it with you” the Bible implores you and me to lay up our treasures in Heaven so that your time spent here on this earth can be more like what David said…where you have all you need.
Simply put, if you are focused on the “stuff” you don’t have, then you are not focused on Him.
My intent today with this short post is to remind you that if you seek Him, you will find Him which leads you to a place where you can be content in your life, right where you are. Then you can say with conviction…that you really do have all that you need.
Until next time guys-
