Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Psalm 23 (NRSV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.

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Reflect

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this beautiful passage? This psalm is like a warm, comforting blanket on a cold day. It is a reminder that God is with us through it all. No matter our pain, suffering, or depression, God is with us. There is no night so dark that God cannot get us through.

Winston Churchill once said, “When you are going through hell, just keep going.” This is what the essence of Psalm 23 is to me. Whenever I feel like I can’t handle something, whenever I feel like I won’t ever stop feeling the way I’m feeling, I remember those words. Just keep going.

God is with us in good times and in bad. It may be harder to see that God is with us in the bad times, but this psalm reminds us that we shall not want and we shall fear no evil, for God is with us.

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Pray

Dear Lord, thank you for being with us. Thank you for shepherding us through our dark times and comforting us in our times of need. Continue to be with us as we “keep going” through whatever is presented to us. Be our shepherd. Keep us in the house of the Lord, our whole lives long. Amen.

Go with God.