23: Treasures Within Psalm 23Sample

23

DAY 1: FOUNDATION

When God is elevated, our faith and our leadership are insulated. His word provides revelation and wisdom where our human minds are limited. It galvanizes us where we might ordinarily be spiritually vulnerable. The truth of God’s word not only escalates our levels of faith but also insulates us from the pack of big bad wolves like fear, insecurity, and pride. We must allow it to marinade inside us and become an anchor throughout all areas of life. For years, my only familiarity with the 23rd Psalm was hearing it read at funerals. Once I became a believer and matured in my faith, I began to realize how impactful and powerful it truly is.

My ‘ah-ha’ moment with this passage came when I heard a pastor speak at our church. It was a new year of resolutions where he challenged the congregation to pray the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm every morning. He spoke about how his life dramatically changed when he consistently applied this to his life. I took his advice and decided to make that commitment of reciting them daily (realistically thinking, “how can I expect to recite scripture every single day?”). Years later, not only have I memorized them, but I have prayed both of those prayers religiously every morning since I accepted that challenge. I am living proof that you never completely realize the impact of something until you intentionally and habitually apply it to your own life. Faithfully implementing Psalms 23 into my devotional time has been a spiritual game-changer for me. Although we are susceptible to spiritual stagnancy in various seasons of life, verbally declaring the goodness of God is powerful and invigorating. When God talks about a “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), this is what He means. These passages remind me of such foundational promises made specifically to me by my Heavenly Father. We will unpack the 23rd Psalm and uncover multiple applications to what has become a foundation in my spiritual journey.

CHALLENGE:

In what ways have you elevated God in your daily life?

How can making scripture personal elevate your faith?