Second Sunday in Lent

‭‭God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Psalm 23 MSG

God, my Shepherd! I don’t need a thing.  When I am overwhelmed, I find your meadows to rest in and drink from your still waters. Here, I am able to catch my breath. It is here that I realize I have everything I need. I am not frantic about what the next step is, nor am I driven to make something happen. I wait on you to send me in the right direction.

The enemies that you prepare a table for me to eat in front of are the enemies within my own self. The enemies are not other humans.  These enemies are the ones who teach me so much about myself. They let me know when I’m fearful,  when I’m angry, and when I’m disappointed. They let me know when jealousy is present or when I am being manipulative.

These enemies are the ones I welcome to the table God has prepared for me. I invite them to sit with me. I become still. I ask, “What is it you want to share with me?”

Somehow, through all of this, God revives my drooping head, and blessings begin to flow again. The enemies have been heard. I have learned more about me, and my reactions to the world around me begin to change. I now have room to live and move and breathe. I feel more at home with myself and God.