Back about 5 years ago, the Lord spoke to me adorably and said, “ All of life’s answers are in Psalm 23.” Ever since then I have looked at these scriptures through a new lens. Since He told me this a long time ago, I am discovering more and more that all of life’s answers are in Psalm 23. In contrast, the church reads this Psalm at funerals. Life with Jesus doesn’t begin when you die, it begins when you are born again, born into Christ.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The Lord is the Sheppard I shall not want is the first verse of Psalm 23. It’s a reminder that if Jesus is your Sheppard, He is the One leading down the path of righteousness for His Name’s sake. To accomplish this, you must deny yourself. I shall not want is denying yourself. This is the first concept that you must learn if you want to enter heaven. You were not sent here on earth for you, but for God’s glory. How you live your life proves what you believe. Paul said it best when he said, “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ in me.”
Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The biggest challenge that any follower of Jesus faces is denying yourself. All circumstances are designed to test you if you love God or if you love yourself first. Jesus was tested in the wilderness to see if He loved Himself more than God and He proved that He did love God more than Himself. If you don’t pass the test of loving God more than yourself, you will be tested until you prove that. Even when you have proved that you will still be tested to see if you remain in that status of loving God more than yourself. This challenge is to see if you believe in the first commandment. Without passing the test of loving God more than yourself, you can give all your possessions to the poor, but without love, you are nothing. The love of God is the more excellent way. Be blessed, my friends.
Job 2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” 4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”