The Good Shepherd: Devotions Inspired by Psalm 23Sample

Fatten Me Up, Father 

By Zach Neese 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2–4 (NIV) 

There I sat—two feet across the table from a steely-eyed warlock. Just a month before, I would have been shaking in my Doc Martens, but not today. In some undefinable way, I had grown. I was bigger now, and I was fearless. What on earth had happened? 

Anointing had happened. 

A couple of months before, I had been approached by some teens from a local coven of witches and warlocks who warned me to back off. I was just a youth pastor in a tiny church in the hills of Pennsylvania, but a lot of kids were getting saved. The devil had apparently noticed, so the coven was now actively working curses against me. 

I initially thought they were kidding, but this was no joke, and they were wielding real power. I had always thought curses had no effect on a blood-bought child of God, but I failed to consider how many people I regularly interacted with that were completely unsubmitted to God. Even a Christian who is unsubmitted to God is susceptible to demonic influence, and the coven could easily leverage those people to make my life difficult. 

In very short order, all hell broke loose against me. And let me tell you—it was scary. The tumult that was released through these witches still ranks as one of the most terrifying seasons I’ve faced. It is no exaggeration to say I feared for my life. 

But that is where the devil overplayed his hand. Why? Because in my fear and desperation, I pressed into the only Defender I had: Jesus. When His sheep are in the valley of the shadow of death, the Shepherd proves His power with the anointing of His presence. 

In Psalm 23:5, when it talks about the Good Shepherd anointing our heads with oil, the word “anoint” is the Hebrew word dashen, which means “to fatten.” To a shepherd in ancient times, a big, fat sheep was a healthy, strong sheep, so fattening a sheep meant making it bigger and stronger. In English we might say that when God anoints a person, He beefs them up, making them much stronger than they previously were. 

The psalmist David knew exactly what he was talking about. When young David marched into the valley to face Goliath, the giant mocked him. What business did a ruddy kid in a shepherd’s smock have on a battlefield? But Goliath didn’t know the prophet Samuel had recently anointed David. That anointing had enlarged the shepherd boy—fattened him up with the presence of God. Now David, a mere kid, was spiritually bigger and stronger than Goliath, the battle-hardened giant. Imagine the Philistines’ surprise when a kid waltzed up to their champion, lobbed a rock at him, knocked him wall-eyed, and lopped off Goliath’s head with his own sword. How could that happen? God’s anointing made David bigger than his enemy. 

And that is the very reason I was no longer afraid of warlocks. After months of praying through hell’s valley at my Father’s side, I was dripping with the anointing of His presence. That anointing had fattened me up. I was bigger now, and I was no longer afraid of my enemy. 

I did a little sleuthing, found the big kahuna warlock’s phone number, and asked him to breakfast. Imagine his surprise when this ruddy kid swung wide open the diner doors like a Dodge City saloon, swaggered up to the table like John Wayne, offered Mr. Warlock a firm handshake, and took a seat. Over biscuits and gravy, I asked the warlock what he believed. I listened closely, asking clarifying questions until I felt like I understood his heart. When he was done sharing, he did something I am sure he has since regretted. He looked up from his eggs, met my eyes, and asked, “So what do you believe?” 

That’s when I knew this entire mess was something God set up. There I was in the valley of the shadow, sitting at a table prepared for me in the presence of my enemy, and I was full to the brim—my cup running over with God’s presence. He had anointed me for that very moment, and like David I had grown bigger than my enemy. That day, for the first time in my life, I witnessed to a warlock and watched him deflate as the withering realization finally sank in: my God was more powerful than his witchcraft. 

After that morning, I never saw the warlock again. I guess that town just wasn’t big enough for the both of us. 

You may be going through your own valley right now. If so, let me encourage you with this: people who walk through valleys with God receive His enlarging anointing. My friend, you have no need to fear shadows or cower before giants; God’s anointing makes you bigger than your enemy. 

PRAYER 

Father, I need You today. Whether Your path for me leads through pleasant meadows or through the valley of the shadow, I want to walk closely with You. I want to be so close that the anointing of Your presence transforms me and enlarges my spirit, banishes every fear, and breaks every yoke. With You I can face the day. With You I am more powerful than my enemy. Thank You for the gift of Your presence today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION   

• Take a moment to be still before the Lord. Read and reflect on Isaiah 10:27 (in NKJV and NIV), and ask the Lord to help you identify any burdens weighing you down.   
• Ask the Lord to fatten you up with the anointing of His presence and break the burdens off you.   
• Thank the Lord for the protection of His shepherding presence throughout your day.   
• Ask the Lord to fill you to overflowing so that His presence will flow through you to encourage and strengthen everyone you come across today.

Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me today?

MEMORY VERSE

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Psalm 23:5