PursuitSample

Trusting God’s Pursuit - Devotion with Ps Anna Blyth

Psalm 23 would be one of the most widely known passages of scripture today. It is simple yet profound, and easy to remember at only 6 verses long. Let’s take some time to unpack why it’s so significant…

In verse 1 David starts with a bold statement: “The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.” It’s a statement of faith and an analogy in one. He describes God as his shepherd. Shepherds are responsible for their sheep, tending to them and keeping them safe. They provide for them and anticipate when needs arise. It’s not surprising that David would think of God in this way when he was a shepherd. It would have been a simple way to remind himself that he can also live as carefree as the sheep he tends to. When we trust God as much as the sheep trust their shepherd, we can rest in His provision.

David continues the passage by stating that God provides him rest and peace. Then he talks of God renewing his strength and providing God-honouring guidance and direction. Verse 4 tells us that God provides constant comfort, and verse 5, that His provision and blessings are evident even in dark times (that’s a source of comfort given the times we are living in.)

What’s more? God, the good shepherd, blesses David not just in the natural and spiritual on Earth, but also in Heaven. In verse 6, David declares one final, confounding truth: “Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Now that’s an assurance of one’s provision!

Psalm 23 reminds us to pursue God with all our heart (putting our full trust in Him) because His goodness and unfailing love is always pursuing us. David used an earthly analogy of a shepherd to describe God, but God is not limited to blessing us in earthly ways. David knew where his forever home would be - not here on earth, but “in the house of the Lord forever.” God is eternal and He wants us to inherit eternal blessings. Eternal life, and eternal rewards. All the blessings of this life and the ways that God provides for us are a shadow to His everlasting glory that we have the privilege of sharing in. What an amazing inheritance!

Is there a chance you might have put limitations on what God can do in your life because you aren’t trusting Him fully? Our God is a good Father, and like a shepherd, He desires to care for His sheep. We need to pursue Him with our whole heart this year and trust that He is always pursuing us with His richest blessings, in good times and hard times.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that you’re a good Father. And like a good shepherd, you desire that I would live a prosperous and blessed life through trusting you with my whole heart. What a privilege it is to follow you all the days of my life. I pray that you would help me see afresh why I can trust you and that you only have good plans for my life. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to live by faith, not by my sight. I want to pursue you forever. Amen.