Psalm 23 | I Shall Not WantSample

Verse 6. “Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.” [AMP]

Throughout all my days…isn’t that a beautiful thought that we can pause and relish in? It’s the type of daily life that the Good Shepherd has plotted out for each of His sheep…if we will listen to His voice and rest in His faithful, steady, and even, at times, cumbersome care.

This is the type of eternal provision that no other source can or will provide. The Shepherd is out front--leading, protecting, restoring, providing, redirecting. And His goodness, mercy, and unfailing love are bringing up the rear. Goodness before you, goodness behind you.

Surely. David was so convinced of his Shepherd's care that he just knew, beyond all doubt, that God could provide all of this for his present, and for his future...for all of time.

Trusting the Good Shepherd with your here-and-now is only the dress rehearsal for the grand affair, which is all of eternity shared with Him! Forever, that's a concept we cannot wrap our human minds around. But recall how Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Luke 11:2 (NKJV):

So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.

When we relish in God's provision, His way of life for us, we are essentially living in the way that makes room for heavenly principles--the way life is and will be when we make Heaven our eternal residence.

All of this is for your benefit, dear child of God. When He formed you in your mother's womb, He designed, or outfitted, you for this path, to live in this manner.

“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.“ [Psalm 23:1 MSG]

"The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want." [Psalm 23:1 AMP]

When He is leading the way, you don't need a thing.

Dig a Little Deeper:

1. What would life look like for you if you allowed God's model for eternity to intersect with your here-and-now?

2. Take a few moments today to pray specifically according to Jesus's model prayer in Luke 11. Place your specific burdens into the prayer. For example, "Let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, in this situation at my workplace, as it is in Heaven."

3. Ask the Holy Spirit what needs to be removed from your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule in order to allow more Table Time where you dine on His finest of provision. You'll find the exchange is undoubtedly an upgrade for your personal walk with Him and quality of life.

--Bridgette Tomlin