Everyone loves this psalm don't they? It is such a comfort in times of trouble, assuring us as it does of the Lord's presence and His sovereign care over us. Yesterday I was reading it over again, resting in its truth and thanking the Lord for who He is and all that He has done for me.
But somehow He led me on in it; I had been praying specifically for several friends who are going through immense difficulty at the moment - friends who are in that dark tunnel that seems to have no end and who are very naturally afraid and so very aware of their lack of control - they are indeed walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
I was remembering a particular conversation and I think that's why the Lord opened my mind and showed me that everyone on the planet is in fact walking through the valley of the shadow of death all of their lives. We each one of us have no control over the circumstances, the trials and indeed the number of days that we will live - each one aware that there is an end for us in this world and that awareness can cause anxiety and fear unless of course the Lord is our Shepherd.
I thought about the fact of my death - that I don't know when that will be, when I will breathe my last breath on this planet. All I actually know is that I have today - that this morning when I opened my eyes I could know that the Lord had gifted me another day and that through this day He would be walking before me. He would lead me beside still waters, He would restore those broken places in my soul - He it is who would guide me in His paths of righteousness because I have put my trust in His salvation and I am called by His name.
And I remembered that the table He has laid before me is not one full of food - no, it is that safe place that shepherds would mark out for their flocks - the 'mesa' lined with flaming torches to keep the wild animals away. He had laid out a table before me and in that safe place I would know His goodness, His loving kindness, His protection and His amazing grace. He had anointed my head with oil - I am His and He is mine and this day and for every day through my eternity I will dwell in His house.
It is wonderful to know this but He asked me this morning 'how will you live today on the basis of this truth?' and I answered - I will live thanking You for today and trusting You for tomorrow. I will live seeking this day to proclaim Your excellence - I will seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and then tomorrow if I open my eyes and see the morning I will live again for Your glory.
Every one of us lives in the valley of the shadow of death. Sometimes we forget or can get carried away by the things we encounter in this valley - we are distracted by the glittering baubles that sometimes line our path, led astray by 5 or 10 year plans. Sometimes our minds are filled up with family and career and success and reputation and we forget that today is the gift from our Lord - today is the day He has given us to magnify His glory and to receive His joy.
It's hard to live like that - day by day - holding His hand and trusting Him for tomorrow - but that is where He wants us because it is there that we find His perfect peace, there that we find that His joy has become our strength, there that we experience His sustaining grace and there that we find the abundant life He died to give us.
So on this new day I have filled my mind with His truth and I have asked Him to teach me how to live each day for Him. I know He will show me.
But somehow He led me on in it; I had been praying specifically for several friends who are going through immense difficulty at the moment - friends who are in that dark tunnel that seems to have no end and who are very naturally afraid and so very aware of their lack of control - they are indeed walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
I was remembering a particular conversation and I think that's why the Lord opened my mind and showed me that everyone on the planet is in fact walking through the valley of the shadow of death all of their lives. We each one of us have no control over the circumstances, the trials and indeed the number of days that we will live - each one aware that there is an end for us in this world and that awareness can cause anxiety and fear unless of course the Lord is our Shepherd.
I thought about the fact of my death - that I don't know when that will be, when I will breathe my last breath on this planet. All I actually know is that I have today - that this morning when I opened my eyes I could know that the Lord had gifted me another day and that through this day He would be walking before me. He would lead me beside still waters, He would restore those broken places in my soul - He it is who would guide me in His paths of righteousness because I have put my trust in His salvation and I am called by His name.
And I remembered that the table He has laid before me is not one full of food - no, it is that safe place that shepherds would mark out for their flocks - the 'mesa' lined with flaming torches to keep the wild animals away. He had laid out a table before me and in that safe place I would know His goodness, His loving kindness, His protection and His amazing grace. He had anointed my head with oil - I am His and He is mine and this day and for every day through my eternity I will dwell in His house.
It is wonderful to know this but He asked me this morning 'how will you live today on the basis of this truth?' and I answered - I will live thanking You for today and trusting You for tomorrow. I will live seeking this day to proclaim Your excellence - I will seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and then tomorrow if I open my eyes and see the morning I will live again for Your glory.
Every one of us lives in the valley of the shadow of death. Sometimes we forget or can get carried away by the things we encounter in this valley - we are distracted by the glittering baubles that sometimes line our path, led astray by 5 or 10 year plans. Sometimes our minds are filled up with family and career and success and reputation and we forget that today is the gift from our Lord - today is the day He has given us to magnify His glory and to receive His joy.
It's hard to live like that - day by day - holding His hand and trusting Him for tomorrow - but that is where He wants us because it is there that we find His perfect peace, there that we find that His joy has become our strength, there that we experience His sustaining grace and there that we find the abundant life He died to give us.
So on this new day I have filled my mind with His truth and I have asked Him to teach me how to live each day for Him. I know He will show me.
