Student Life - February 2025
This month, I wanted to share a passage of Scripture that really has encouraged me lately. I led a devotion for a volleyball game with this passage a couple of weeks ago, but this Scripture still sticks in my head and uplifts me. Each time I read the passage, it never gets old. And for me, these verses help strengthen me in my walk with Christ. The passage of Scripture I’m referring to is Psalm 23 and I want to include it here for you to see.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
This chapter is incredibly beautiful, peaceful, helpful, encouraging and comforting to me. This chapter shows us the incredible love, trustworthiness and leadership God has over our lives. If we walk in relationship with God through His Son, then this chapter was written for us. The Lord provides everything to us, we just walk and live with Him. This speaks tremendously to our relationship to the Father. He provides so much for us that our cup “overflows” (v.5). This means we are well taken care of. This chapter explains we can find peace with God, overcome fear with God, receive prosperity with God, receive guidance with God and receive eternity with God. Truly, our cup
overflows. So, what do we have to give in return to God or what do we have to give to earn this fortune? There’s nothing we can give, do, or earn to receive this fortune. The only thing we have to do is make God the Lord of our lives. That’s truly it.
This text is beautiful to me because I have walked through some really great seasons of life and some really bad seasons of life. In these seasons, there are three truths from this Scripture that speak truth to me. In both periods of my life, the Lord was with me, and goodness and mercy followed me. This is hard to admit when you are in a tough season, but the Lord showed me how just having Him with me was more than enough I needed for the day. I did not need what I thought I needed at that time, I just needed the Lord and turns out my cup would overflow. The second truth I see is when I acknowledge the Lord as my Shepherd, I truly do not want nor need anything after that. I already have everything I need if the Lord is my Shepherd who is caring for me and guiding me. And I am incredibly grateful for that care and guidance. Lastly, the final truth
I see is the Lord’s providence over me. He constantly prepares what He desires for me. He gives restoration, strength, comfort, care, goodness and mercy. On top of all that, He gives us a home to return to. He gives us community with Him for eternity, in His house.
Everything I have been able to observe and write here in this article has come from Psalm 23. I do not say that to boast, but to show you the overwhelming amount of love and care our Heavenly Father has for us. This love and care has been bought for us and made available to us through His Son Jesus. None of this would be possible without Christ. And we can see the Gospel through Psalm 23. This Psalm is incredibly beautiful and encourages me greatly. I write this to you in hopes that it also encourages you and shows you the great love that the Lord has for His creation. I pray that you would consider these truths and be strengthened by them.