Vs.1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

God is our caretaker; He knows exactly what we need.

And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:22-32

In our trusting and abiding in Him, all our wants are fulfilled. Often times we don’t trust or abide in Him and therefore our motives and intentions are tainted.

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.  James 4:1-3

So our goal is to keep our eyes on Him.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.  Psalm 37:3-5

Vs.2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

In our walk with God, often times we tend to take control of situations. We sometimes get an attitude of, “Okay God, I can take it from here…” When we start to get into this attitude, we begin to operate in our own strength. Eventually we burn out. We come to realize that God’s grace is no longer on our lives to perform at an optimum level. This is how so many believers experience burnout. It’s a tragedy and quite unnecessary because God called us to live in His peace. So as our Caretaker, often times he allows us to “burnout” and come to a place of brokenness before Him. He removed His grace and ability off our lives to “MAKE us lie down in green pastures”.

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.  Hebrews 4:11

The children of God wandered in the wilderness for forty years because of disobedience and unbelief. They never experienced God’s rest in the Promised Land. Disobedience and unbelief cripples our walk with God. When we decide that we can do it better or faster than God our own way, eventually we get taken to the “woodshed”. He sits us down and begins to deal with our heart, exposing the wall of disobedience and pride we built. When we come to the realization that God knows what’s best for us, we see that it’s impossible to progress in life and ministry on our own strength. It’s in that moment in time and destiny that God grants us, out of His kindness, to come before Him with a repentant heart to change and be healed. These are unavoidable occurrences in the life of believers. We must be continually crushed so that our carnal desires are brought into subjection to God’s will. It’s in that crushing, that like a rose being crushed, releases a sweet perfume.  Often many people get stuck in this phase of growth. Giving up our control is one of the hardest acts of love we ever have to face. For those who willingly choose to hand over their control on life, they will experience life in a more fulfilling way. God will pick us up and call us to walk with Him again, not ahead or behind, but WITH Him. This is where “He leads me beside quiet waters”. In that place, we have total confidence and total peace. We can rest in the fact that our Caretaker, the Lover of our soul, will guide us to a deeper place in His heart.

For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace.  Isaiah 55:12

The best description of our walk with God is ballroom dancing. When you watch a couple ballroom dancing, it’s a fluid motion. It’s graceful and elegant; it’s in sync and exciting. What most may not understand, it that even though both partners are sharing the same space, and both have a part to play in the dance, one is always leading. That is how our lives are to be with God. We are to walk in grace and virtue. We are to walk so close to God that we share the same space. We are to be in sync with His movements as He leads the dance of our lives. As the world watches our lives, they should be moved with excitement and awe. Let God lead your life.

Vs.3 “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

The walk with God is one of restoration. He restores our soul to one that is lost in Him, one of intimacy. Our mind, will, and emotions are fixated on Him as He guides us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. The paths we walk in right standing with Him are paths for character growth in our lives. These are the paths that teach us what it is to be loving, merciful, forgiving and so on. These paths prepare us to handle the relationships we face in the world. It’s what forms Christ-likeness in our lives. Like traveling through a path or trail in the woods, there is always going to be unexpected terrain. It can be rough, slippery and full of surprises. We need to allow God to be the Guide. When we are walking in His footsteps, are foundation is secure. We keep a steady pace because God knows how to get us through every situation. The only thing that causes delays is when we fail to trust Him. Hold on to His hand as He holds on to your heart.

 

Vs.4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

In this walk with God, we will have many mountaintop victories. He always causes us to triumph, but soon it will be time for promotion. Every time God is pleased with us, He sends us into the valleys or wilderness experiences.

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Matthew 3:16-4:1

When time for promotion comes, you transition from exaltation to isolation. Jesus experienced the greatest manifestation of glory at His baptism. Quite a mountaintop experience, but God wanted to promote Him into ministry. For that purpose, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. It’s in these wilderness experiences, that our carnality and fleshly desires get tested and purged. The greatest opportunity for us to fall is in our moments of victories. When we are in a time of celebration, we tend to let our guard down. That is usually when the enemy strikes the most. We often times get prideful and boastful in what we came out of, that we lose sight of the One who led us through. That is the purpose of being led back into the wilderness. We can only grow in God to the level of depth in suffering we experience. We go through the valley of the shadow of death to take us to new levels of faith and understanding of who we really are. We come to realize that the shadow of death is our fleshly carnal man. Our physical body is perishing day by day, and it is a shadow of who our spiritual man really is. We must die to our flesh in order to live in our spirit, and recognize that our physical life is but a vapor. Our spiritual man, who we really are, is seated with Christ in heavenly places.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4-6

We realize that even in these times of isolation, God is still with us. The very nature, character and Spirit of Jesus is in us, therefore we have nothing to fear. It’s in these times of isolation, that we get refined or pruned to bear more fruit. It’s the training ground to learn how to walk by faith and not by sight. We learn how to conduct ourselves in private so that when we have public ministry, we have developed the character and conviction needed to walk worthy of the calling.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:1-3

The only way to learn this posture is in the discipline of the Lord. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. God’s rod is for discipline. This is where discipleship comes from. He longs for us to learn the disciplines of godliness in order to present to the world, kingdom obedience. His staff is for boundaries. A shepherd’s staff was used to hook the sheep’s neck to pull him back within boundaries. So is it with God. He uses this time of isolation to establish boundaries in our lives to know where our influence and calling resides. This is so that we learn what we are to do, and how to do it right. It also teaches us to be comfortable in our calling, and not to over extend ourselves into someone else’s calling. Every believer has their part to play in kingdom growth. When we die to our own passions and pursuits, God is able to fitly join us together so that every part doing its share causes growth. When Jesus came out of the wilderness, He came in the power and authority of the kingdom.

Vs.5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Coming out of these valleys or wilderness experiences, you will walk in the wisdom and the power of God. You will have God’s heart and passion. He then prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies. He allows you to sit and dine with Him in the midst of challenges.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  Revelation 3:20

You will be able to rest and have peace in His presence. All it takes is a heart that is centered on Him. It’s in that place of rest and fellowship with Him, that we become fascinated with Him. In His presence, there is fullness of Joy. That Joy is a strength against the enemy. Our joy confuses the enemy. In this place of intimacy and fellowship, our hearts yield over to Him in worship. This is the heart cry that extends to Him in love and adoration. To sit with Him and experience the waves of love flowing from His heart causes us to respond in like manner. Our very lives become a worship song before Him. Our worship silences the enemy. We are called to live in this place. In this place we are no longer concerned about the posture of worship. The true position in worship is not hands lifted up, not on our knees or on our face prostrate before Him. The only position we are called to live in worship, is overwhelmed. That’s God’s heart for us, to be so overwhelmed and consumed by His majesty and glory that we reflect and resonate all that He is to a world around us. We become covered in His glory and anointing. You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. The oil of the Lord keeps us fresh. In His presence, we are continually filled with His Spirit, and carry the freshness of the dew of heaven. It allows us to not get stagnant or dried up in ministry to the world. We will always have a fresh message from the throne because we are in a constant state of communion with Him. That is the true power and strength of ministry.

Vs.6 “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

We can have a confidence that God’s goodness and kindness will continually be on our lives as we allow Him to shape and mold us for success. David, as he penned this psalm, knew that his heart toward God was pure. He had a confidence that God’s love would never cease. He firmly made the choice that he would dwell in the house of the lord forever. He knew the significance of intimacy with God.

How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.  Psalm 84:1-2

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  Psalm 84:10-11

David was said to be a man after God’s own heart. God’s heart is for continual intimacy and fellowship. He longs for us all throughout the day.

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

We as believers often have an identity crisis. Most struggle with their relationship with God, because of past hurts, broken or unbalanced family structure, or a poor self-image. The only way to bring healing and wholeness to our lives is through a total yielding to God. To be a true New Testament believer, we must be comfortable with God’s presence, God’s voice and God’s Word. We have to be balanced in these three areas to truly be a people who know our God and do great exploits.

…but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].  Daniel 11:32 AMP

Our intimacy with God intimidates the enemy. Our strength is in our union with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Our surrender to the will of God allows us to stand firm, and be a light to the world. In that stance, we find total fulfillment. David was quick to praise and magnify the Lord above every circumstance, and he experienced a life of victory and joy amidst trial and pain. This verse describes it well…

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Psalm 27:13

David learned through his many years in the fields, shepherding the family flocks, that God loved him. He learned to be secure in his relationship with God, and through that, he conquered fear at an early age. Goliath was not a monumental battle in the eyes of David, because he spent years learning the pathway to greatness in the fields. Through his intimacy with God, he was strengthened with might to defeat lions and bears. God was pleased with David and wanted to promote him to be king of Israel. In reading the life of David, you can see how he faced many valleys and times of wilderness trials. David learned in his youth how to rely on God and remain in a place of fellowship and worship. In that, David did mighty things for God, and so can you.