“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” – Psalms 23:1

A Reflection: God is my guide—This I am sure of! Even when I would wander off and do things my own way, God has not cease to lead me, but instead He shepherds me to green pastures beside quiet waters, where my days of thirsting to be satisfied in Him would be refreshed! I can look back and say, I had everything I need! Even now I can say, “with God I have ALL that I need!”

From the beginning of my life to now. God has been my guide! I look back on my life from beginning to end and see my plans and what they actually turned into. Even though I have made plan after plan throughout my life, I see that time and time again my steps went nothing towards the path of those plans. Not that I didn’t “plan” to follow my plans, but my steps weren’t determined by me. I read in God’s Word where its says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

I can confidently say, God’s plans for my life have been far better than any of my own! My heart is full of thankfulness that I have not had my way, for if I would have, I would not be able to say, “God, You have been my guide all of my days!” I look back on my life and see things that at the time appeared miserable—trials and spiritual storms that seemed to bring a lot of pain. But even all of that, I wouldn’t trade for anything! My trials have given me more humility, Joy and understanding as I walk the path towards Christ that I would have never known unless I had gone through them.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are will me! Your rod and Your staff bring comfort to me.” – Psalm 23:4

I know that even through the darkest of days, God is with me. The Psalmist is clear in Psalms 23 that he went through a major trial. Just because God is our Guide doesn’t mean that the road ahead is through green grass and sunny pastures, but instead he describes the path that God was leading him as a path that went through a valley that seemed close to death itself—The valley of the shadow of death. I picture in my own mind a lifeless desert in total darkness filled with bones—no light to see where one is going.

The Psalmist says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” Why? “For You [God] are with me!”. The Psalmist continues, “Your rod and Your staff bring comfort to me.” Though it is really hard to sometimes see God in the midst of darkness, I can look back and know He was my guide! Though I had no idea what was happening or where I was going, my Faith in God is what got me through. I had to walk by faith and not by sight. God was the Light of my eyes! And He indeed was my guide—bringing me out of the darkness and into His light!

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” – Psalms 23:5

Oh, how my Guide has even granted me forgiveness! His Grace is enough for all of my offenses against Him! As the Psalmist says in Psalms 32:1: “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” God’s Grace has poured out upon my life even more Grace, Grace so much that I can forgive those who have done me wrong. Outside of God’s Grace it is no easy matter to forgive someone of a wrong they have done to you—to those who speak lies about your character or slander you to those you are close to, or whatever it may be. Apart from God, the only thing I can muster up against my enemies is resentment. In my life I can say that resentment has had no effect on those who despise me, but instead caused me even more grief! The Root of Bitterness only springs up and causes more trouble in the life of the one who holds on to it. (Hebrews 12:15).

In my own life I have seen where God’s Grace in my life has helped me to forgive others who have done me wrong. He has led me to forgive and in doing so He has filled me with an unspeakable Joy! Right there in the presence of everyone my life is filled with God’s Grace! A feast of Gratefulness and Joy! My cup runs over! I remember my Pastor once sharing about how a host who enjoyed the company of a guest would pour out his wine into his guest’s cup until it overflowed, pretty much saying “You are worth wasting my wine over! I enjoy to have You at my table!” Who could not be filled with Joy, even in the presence of their enemies, knowing that the God of the Universe delights to have fellowship with us—Delighting to have us at His table! God is my guide! Even my enemies must realize that! I will boast in my God’s Strength in me, even in the presence of my enemies!

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalms 23:6

God’s Love endures forever and ever. Nothing could compare to it! How wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ! I can look back on my life and even now look at where He has brought me and I can truly say. GOD YOU ARE MY GUIDE! I could not have planned anything better than this. I look at where He has brought me and I feel so humbled and know without a doubt that this could only be God’s favor! I have done nothing to deserve God’s Love but He Loves me just the same. My works have absolutely nothing to do with God being my guide but my faith in Him. I would not say that I have a lot of faith, but from a quote I once heard– “It’s not the quantity of faith that matters, but the quality of faith.” Pretty much its not how much faith you can muster up, but WHO your faith is in! I’m confident that all of us who are God’s Children–Who will dwell in God’s House forever and ever–can look back on our life and even in the present moment say, God YOU ARE MY GOD! You will be my Guide, even to death!

“For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death!” – Psalm 48:14

I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. – Psalms 25:5