The Good Shepherd of my Soul
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His name’s sake.
Yea, 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, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil;My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meAll the days of my life;And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.
Just recently I was at my church where I am surrounded by many people who love me and my family. We truly have been blessed by the move that we made three years ago to begin attending Pastor Chuck Balick’s church in Carp, Ontario called West Ottawa. I have not felt as appreciated by a church as much as I have felt appreciated by this church.
I was getting a coffee at the back of the church a few weeks ago when a lady who I know, who is an intercessor and worship leader, walked up to me and said, “Darren in the middle of the night I was meditating on Psalm 23, and then suddenly, I saw that Psalm inside of you.” She explained that she felt that I was a living example of this Psalm.
I was honored by this thought. I have gone through many tribulations in this life. I am not in any way a victim because of these struggles, but I have learned that I am an overcomer. I have a great Shepherd who leads me and guides me. No matter what I go through He can get me to the place of peace and joy in my inner man.
As I read this psalm today, I noticed the parts that were about the healing of the mind. Two thoughts that stood out in the Psalm were “He restores my soul,” and “He anoints my head with oil.” I know that this idea of anointing the head of the sheep was about protecting it from parasites and bugs that could cause it harm. Bugs and parasites can represent thoughts that enter into the mind to destroy. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Peace of mind is what the devil is after. If He can get into your thoughts, then he has opportunity to destroy you.
Our God is so good that he anoints our heads with oil. His thoughts become our thoughts. His thoughts are healing, hope and breakthrough. Whenever the mind of Christ comes upon me, I am victorious (1 Corinthians 2:16). One of the things that I teach the most is to get the Lord’s mind regarding your trial. If you will get His mind, then you will soon realise that He is able to protect you from every thought of the enemy.
1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.” Awareness that we are being attacked is so important. Just recently the Lord warned me of an attack that was coming against me and my property. I saw how the enemy was going to try to pillage us. Two days later this started to happen. The awareness of the impending attack prepared me mentally for the attack. God anointed my head with oil. I declare that you will know God’s voice in such a way that even before the enemy comes you will be prepared.
We memorise the word of God to fight our mental battles. Psalm 23 is an amazing Psalm to me. I don’t know how many times I have been comforted by it and how many more times I have comforted others with it. It is a Psalm of declaration with authority to create what it states. As I envision myself as the sheep within the Psalm, I see the protection of the shepherd and no matter what comes against me my good shepherd, Jesus, leads me to safety. The enemy may come at me one way, but he will have to flee in seven ways (Deuteronomy 28:7).
We are protected through intimacy with the Holy Spirit and by hearing the voice of our God. My sheep hear my voice (John 10:27). His spirit in me or His peace in my heart is the guard that keeps me safe. His peace is like a quiet witness that every storm shall pass. As I worship Him and thank Him the truth of the word comes on like a light within my being and I know that I shall be fine. I need no other confirmation than His peace and His word. I will be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).
If I was cast aside and freezing on a frozen tundra, or bobbing like a small ship on the North Atlantic Sea, or dying of thirst in a mighty desert, I would know that I would be fine because He is with me. There is nowhere that I can run from His presence (Psalm 139:7-12), and even in the worst of situations, he will soothe me and tell me that I will be fine. His peace in me becomes a witness to others that they too can face storms by His grace and life living within them. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).
I pray for you today and ask the father to be with you and to comfort you. I don’t know the trials that you are facing. Perhaps you are like a minister friend I know who just lost his wife, or perhaps you are struggling with cancer and don’t know if you will make it through. Perhaps your resources are drying up and you have no prospect of work. I know that God is with you and will help you. Look to the hills from where you help comes from (Psalm 121:1-2). You will see His hand move. Your faith will not fail. You will conquer in the name of Jesus. I declare that everything will be fine.
