I’ve dedicated the last several Life Palette posts to explore the amazing truths found in Psalm 23 that came to life for me growing up on my Grandfather’s farm in Ohio. He was a simple farmer, a shepherd who raised sheep. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think of him with fond memories. As an artist I am passionate about nature, I especially love to paint farms and ranches. I’ve included a sheep painting to go along with each of the “Sheep” series post.
Life Changing Challenge
As you have continued on this journey with me through this life changing challenge, I pray that you will continue to be transformed by the truths of The Shepherd in Psalm 23:
Truth #1: God Meets All My Needs
Truth #3: God Heals All My Hurts
Truth #5:God Is Always With Me
Truth #6: God Loves Me
The 6th truth from Psalm 23 is beyond amazing, especially knowing me and my failures: God Loves Me. (If you’ve missed the prescribe reading be sure and get started, I guarantee this 30 day challenge will change your life!)
Amazing Love
As a shepherd, my Grandfather made sure that the pasture was safe for his sheep to graze on a regular basis. Sometimes there would be poisonous plants that needed removed. Certain bushes and trees had sharp thorns that would cut the sheep as they grazed and needed to be trimmed. Pieces of barbed wire laid loose, that the sheep may get tangled in, had to be hauled off. And the never ending task of mending fences so that the sheep would stay in the confines of the safe pasture. All of this is a picture of Jesus, The Great Shepherd who loves us: “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” (Psalm 23:5 NLT)
The very field that the enemy designs for your detriment, God turns into a feast. Paul says, “God cause everything to work together for the good of those who love God…” (Romans 8:28 (NLT) Things that the enemy intends for harm become a banquet!
Overflowing Love
The amazing part of being in God’s safe pasture is His overflowing blessings. In the Middle East, there is a custom when someone visits a neighbor in his or her home. The first thing they do is offer a glass of water or wine. Once the cup is empty, if the host refills it then the guest knows they are welcome to stay longer. When the host no longer fills the cup, it is time to leave. If the host wants to show the person they are welcome to stay as long as they wish then they would fill the cup to overflowing. It is symbolic of how special the guest is to the person.
God says, “I fill your cup to overflowing.” He’s saying, “You are special to me. You matter to me. I love you.” Jesus invites you to his banquet. A banquet he prepares with you in mind to show you how much he loves you. No matter what the enemy may do to try to spoil God’s party, he can’t!
The Best For Last
In tomorrow’s Life Palette blog I will give you the last of the truths found in Psalm 23, and it is surely true that God saved the best for last. To make sure you get all of the Psalm 23 posts, Changing The Way You Think, subscribe to Life Palette blog and receive it daily in your email.
Prescribed Reading:
In the morning, Read Psalm 23 in silence when you first arise. Read carefully and slowly. Don’t rush through it so that you can say with fidelity that you did it. Instead, let the truth of each phrase capture the attention of your heart, mind and spirit. Read it again in like manner at noon. Read it once more just before going to bed at night, only this time read it out loud. Do this for thirty days consecutively and let nothing come between you and this transformation process. As Paul says in Romans 12, you will be a transformed into a “New person by changing the way you think.”
Check out this song, by Jon Foreman, entitled The House of God Forever. This song is based off of Psalms 23 and will help to show you God’s love and the peace he gives you.