My
Personal Psalm 23
by Gregg Gibbons
As a shepherd, the
Psalmist David could relate to the LORD as his personal Shepherd to lead him in
all things (John 10:11).
We, too, can personally
identify with Christ…to me, the LORD is my Engineer.
He orders all the
details of my life…where I came from…where I am…and everything that will ever
happen to me (Matthew 10:30).
In Him I place all my
trust to lead me in His perfect loving ways, even when things seem out of
control (Proverbs 3:5-6).
…I shall
not want (lack).
I used to fall so short
in my self-efforts to achieve goodness and happiness (Romans 3:10-12).
But now the Lord has
given me His righteousness as a gift (Galatians 2:20-21) and His life as my joy
(Galatians 5:22, John 17:13).
I am now complete in
Christ and, therefore, I lack nothing (Colossians 2:9-10)!
He makes
me to lie down in green pastures…
God makes me lay down
my self-efforts (Philippians 3:8). The
pastures where I then rest are lush green, and full of life (John 15:5).
God nurtures me there
in my true identity and life in His dear Son (Romans 8:16, John 6:51).
…He leads
me beside the still waters.
God then leads me to a
quiet place to assure me of the finished work of His dear Son through the cross
for re-creating me (Galatians 6:14-15).
He leads me beside
still waters to show me my reflection is now a reflection of Christ Himself (2
Corinthians 3:18)!
He
restores my soul.
This truth restores my
soul (mind and emotions). God turns my
focus from temporal things to the indwelling eternal life of Christ (1 John
5:11-13).
My mind is being
renewed and my emotions are being healed by beholding the glory of His presence
(Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:20-24).
God delights in ordering each of my steps
(Psalm 37:23)… the unique ways Christ expresses His life through me (Colossians
1:29).
Christ leads me in His
righteous paths, not an external guide, but as my very life (Colossians 3:4).
…for His
name’s sake.
All of my life is for
God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7).
Jesus is the very
radiance of God’s glory through me (Hebrews 1:1-3)!
Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
Often life seems to be
a “shadow of death,” but the reality is that I am now one with Jesus the Light
of life (Ephesians 5:8, John 8:12)!
I can walk with my head
high at all times as a testimony of His grace (2 Corinthians 2:14).
…I will
fear no evil, for You are with me…
I see now how the
Psalmist David begins to address God more intimately as “You” instead of “He.”
I, too, want to be
transformed from talking about Jesus to talking to Jesus. And I want to teach Jesus, not just about
Jesus (Colossians 1:28-29).
Jesus, you have not
given me a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).
You have given me…You (2 Corinthians 9:15)!
…Your rod
and Your staff, they comfort me.
Your rod is Your living
Word that protects me from deceptions (Hebrews 4:12).
Your staff is Your
living Spirit, my Comforter, who faithfully lifts me up when I fall (John
14:16).
You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Father, You celebrate
the life of Your Son in me for others to see, including those who are against
You (Philippians 3:18).
They seek to do good
works for righteousness in addition to the cross (Philippians 3:18),
while they watch as I
feast solely on the lavish riches of the grace of Christ (Psalm 34:8, 2 Timothy
2:1).
May they be drawn to
You, Lord Jesus, in me…and to sup freely with us (Ephesians 2:19-22)!
You
anoint my head with oil…
You have given me Your
mind (1 Corinthians 2:16), and yet I don’t understand. Oh Spirit, illumine my mind (Psalm
18:28).
Without You, I could
never understand Your truths that set me free (John 8:32).
…my cup
runs over.
Jesus, You are the
fountain of water springing up from within me (John 4:14). Your life overflows me (2 Corinthians 2:14)!
Oh Father, use me as
Your cup to serve Jesus to a hurting world.
I am surrendered as clay in Your strong yet tender hands (Isaiah 64:8).
Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me always…
Mercy is not getting
what I do deserve – death. Thank you,
Lord, for Your forgiveness of all my sins forever (Colossians 2:13).
Grace is getting what I
don’t deserve – life. I desire to bestow
Your goodness and mercy on everyone I meet (Luke 10:33).
Jesus, I used to think
that I only invited You into my heart.
But, now, I see that You first invited me into Your heart (Ephesians
1:6)!
Your grace opened the
door, and I can now make myself at home in You. You are my dwelling place (Psalm 90:1).
I am now free to be who
You created me to be…in You…with You, Lord Jesus...my Engineer…my Life…my
Home…forever.
© 2003 Gregg Gibbons