- Morning Devotional
- September 4, 2003
- "Comfort
for The Night"
- by Don Emmitte
The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 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. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23 NLT)
I am actually writing this devotional late at night. It has been a particularly stressful time in our family. Many of you have written to us with words of encouragement. For that we are indeed very grateful. We are still waiting on the Lord and that brought me to one of my favorite passages this evening. David wrote the 23rd Psalm in the midst of great uncertainty. Often it is the “not knowing” that is used to bring us at the precipice of despair and fear. Perhaps you are facing such a time in your life. Let me offer the following observations that helped me ease my mind this evening.
- The
Lord is my Shepherd.
He is the perfect salvation. There is nothing that can interrupt His love
toward me. He will rescue me from every enemy.
- I
have everything I need.
He provides perfect satisfaction. It is so easy to miss satisfaction in our
continual quest for more. He gives all we need!
- He
lets me rest in green meadows.
He provides perfect rest. When we are weary and nearly fallen, he brings us
to a place of rest.
- He
leads me beside peaceful streams.
He refreshes us. He readies us for the next steps in our journey. Even when
we feel as if we cannot go on, he is already moving in us to refresh us.
- He
renews my strength.
About to fall, without strength to go on, the Lord recharges our strength.
- He
guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
The darkness is dispelled in the light of his love and grace so that we may
see our way.
- Even
when I walk through the dark valley, I will not be afraid. For you are close
to me.
In the darkest of times, fear cannot overtake us. He is ever close to us,
never more than a whisper from us.
- Your
rod and staff protect and comfort me.
He carries the weapons of our protection. No enemy is so great as to stand
before him.
- You
prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
Every enemy, death included cannot sit with us in the celebration of life he
has already prepared for us.
- You
welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.
Healing and restoration are ours in his presence.
- My
cup overflows with blessings.
So great are his blessings, we cannot contain them all. They pour out in
overflow!
- Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Eternal life is our destiny. We are bound for that perfect land in Christ Jesus!
What a great and mighty God we call Abba, Father! Rest in Him this day and every day! He is our comfort for every night in our lives!