Devotional Text

Pastor David’s devotional for April 27, 2022

Psalm 23
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,[a]
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.

Last Sunday, I preached about God; I talked about some of what God has revealed to us about who God is. During the sermon, I invited people to think about how they would complete the phrase “God is______.” How do you complete the phrase?

As I think about the question, I can come up with many ways to complete the phrase (you probably can too). In Genesis chapter 1 we hear that God is the creator and that God is all powerful and good. In Genesis chapter 2 we hear that the all-powerful creator God chooses to draw near to us and to be involved in our lives in very real ways. Of course, this means that God not only reveals something of who God is to us in the Bible, but God also reveals Godself to us by drawing near to us through the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. What have you learned about God through your experiences? That is a big question, one we can break down into smaller questions to help us think about who God is. How have you seen God at work in our church lately? Have you experience God at work in your life lately? If so, how has God been at work? What do these experiences tell us about God?

To dive more deeply into the questions, lets look at the 23rd Psalm. The Psalm is attributed to King David. David answers the “God is” question by saying God is his Shepherd. Throughout the Psalm, David tells us ways he has experienced God as a Shepherd. God leads him to green pastures, to still waters and on the path of righteousness. God refreshes him and protects him and anoints him. Nothing in life or in death will separate him from his Shepherd!

God can lead us in lots of ways. Sometimes God opens a door for us at just the right time and sometimes God closes a door to us. Sometimes God brings people into our lives at just the right time. Sometimes God inspires is to go a different direction. Many of you know that I believe God led me to Desert Spring. Have there been times in your life when you believe God was leading you? If so, when or how?

Life can bring with it great challenges. All of us can testify to many challenges we have faced! As you think about the challenges you have faced, can you see the hand of God who was with you in the challenge? Have there been times when God provided? Have there been times when God’s grace helped see you through?

For all of us, there can be times when we had to face a fear. Life is full of changes, and some of the changes we need to make are a bit scary. King David makes a very powerful statement in verse 4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil.” With what God has revealed to you in your life, does your faith in God help you face fear?

The Psalm ends with a powerful promise: the Shepherd will be with us always: we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I love this promise. You probably do as well. What does this promise tell us about God?

There is no limit to God’s love for us! Amen!

God bless you!

dave