23rd Psalm

23^rd Psalm 

"The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside still waters..."

 (Psalms 23:1-2). 

            In the forties and fifties, many public schools in Massachusetts always started with the 23^rd Psalm, the Lord's Prayer, and the pledge of allegiance to the United States. Wow, by today's standards, that is powerful stuff. Look at this and see if we can apply it to our lives today.

            The first two lines above lead us to tranquility. Faith will take care of your wants and guide you to that inner peace you desire and to the restful place beside still waters.

 

"He refreshes and restores my life;

He leads in the paths of righteousness for His namesake."

(Psalm23:3) 

When things in your life need rebuilding, the way to get out of the dumps is to follow Him. 

"Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff to comfort me."

(Psalm 23:4) 

            In the biblical context, the rod is an instrument used for guiding, rescuing, and protecting (sheep) and the staff is an instrument of support. The Psalmist says the Lord is with you and will guide and support you. 

    Christians have beautiful tools to work with; the more we let God lead, the more we will be at peace. 

Thought for Today: Let us reflect on this New Year and all of our goals and resolutions. Read the 23rd Psalm and accept God's help to us. It will be a big help in locating those still waters we all seek. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, stress often builds up in our lives. It combines hurts, anger, and resentments kept hidden inside ourselves. We pray that when this occurs, we find a way to let you help and can accept the guidance, protection, and support promised through our Christian faith.

Amen

 

 

 

New Year's Task

Our Task for a New Year.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5; 16 

            Happy New Year! We say and think that and have trouble living it because there are problems (illnesses, financial issues, family stress, etc.) that do not roll over at midnight on December 31^st. “Happy New Year” is an excellent thought to have. If we are the light of the world, then we need to be happy and allow the light to shine.           

Hearing or reading the news can be depressing. There is our post-COVID world, and racial violence seems to be on the uptake, New Year’s Eve violence, and world economies seem lackluster. As Christians, we need to care and be concerned. However, we also need to pray and thank the Lord for the good news side of the coin. Our focus needs to be on the positive side; there is always more right than wrong, good than bad.           

In a recent TV sermon, Joel Osteen asked, “The Bible says we are the light of the world. Have you got your light shining out?” Focus on that with smiles and laughter, and show the warm glow and the light of the world. 

Thought for Today:  Today will be a great day. Yes, everyday things like illness, stress, cranky kids, bad weather, and too much to do will occur. There will also be great friends and family, fresh air, good food, and other positives. We need to keep our light shining so others may see it. 

Prayer for Today:  Dear God, we give thanks for the warmth and joy you give us in our hearts and our Christian love for others. We thank you for the happiness in our lives and the ability to share it.

Amen