My Shepherd
by Brenda Wood
Psalm 23:1-2– The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters (KJV).
The restaurant had a buffet line larger than my entire house. Did I want family food? Italian? Sushi? Chinese? Chocolate-covered, cream-filled desserts? YES! My knees weakened when I checked out the chocolate line. That’s when I recognized that my long-lived love of food had become an addiction. As a recovered bulimic I knew my eating capacity. I knew I was capable of eating fifty thousand calories or more at a sitting.
Blessedly, the verses of Psalm 23 began to run through my mind. I certainly was in a green pasture. A gal like me could eat all she wanted and more, for only $9.99 and beverage extra! But if the Lord is my shepherd, (and he is, I muttered to myself) then I shall not want!
I could lie down (alright a little loose translation here!) in this place and be satisfied.
I prayed for strength, and turned and stumbled back to my chair with only one serving of woman-losing-weight food. And the waters of greed, and poor me stilled.
What is yelling at us over the quiet, still voice of God? Is it our overloaded credit card? Does our smoking, eating, or gambling desire whine to be fed? Whatever our “feed-me” more problem, let us consider that the Lord is our shepherd and then rest in the peace of knowing that we shall not want.
Prayer:
Shepherd God, help us choose to lie down in tempting green pastures. Still the waters of our riotous minds and fill us with yourself. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Author and speaker, Brenda and her hubby Ron, live near Barrie, Ontario. They have two children and five grands.Her latest workshop is called “Living like a Princess when Your Life is the Pits.Brenda also speaks regularly for Stonecroft Ministries.Her latest book is ”Heartfelt, 366 Devotions for Common Sense Living. Watch for her memoir, due out this year, called ‘Overcoming What is Overcoming You.’ Email Brenda.