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Love & Guidance Complete
John TiltonPsalm 23:1-6 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
One of the most well known psalms, Psalm 23 depicts God’s complete love, guidance, protection, provision and blessing. To know that He provides abundant provision (green pastures), that He is our guide, refreshes our souls; even in our most challenging time so that we need not fear what may be upon us, but equips and arms us, as well as provides for our needs (prepares a table) and anoints us, having the blessing and honor to live in a relationship with Him … this is complete love and guidance. Knowing all that David contended with, I can see how these scriptures would come forth from His relationship and interaction with God as a gift to others.
The words of Psalm 23 indeed refresh my soul and remind me of God’s complete love and guidance as I recite the words, seeing vivid pictures of how He can and does manifest each word into His faithful gifts to me. I realize that this gift is an answer to so many different situations and times of needing guidance to immediately hear Him speak to me.
Dear Lord, I will keep this psalm readily available to recite and remember often your complete love and guidance, that my cup would indeed overflow being blessed to live in your house forever.
