Day: April 29, 2024

The Lord My Shepherd Cares

This 17th century Scottish hymn
is a paraphrase of David’s original.
This version was often sung
daily in Scottish cottages and
so the wordings became more
familiar to the people then and
with us than the Bible text itself.
This text of the 23rd Psalm comes
from Francis Rous, who was a
member of the British Parliament.
Rous’ Psalter was widely used and
was authorised by the Westminster
Assembly, which also created the
Westminster Confession of Faith.

Lord, You Provide, Guide & Protect:
The Lord is My Shepherd,
I Lack Nothing and have
everything I need (Psalm 23:1).
He lets me rest in green meadows;
He Leads me besides peaceful
streams. He Renews my strength
He Guides me along right paths,
bringing honour to His name (v2-3).
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 (Psalm 23:4).

Lord, the Shepherd of my soul,
praise & thank You for Your Care.
You are not just my Creator and
my God; You are not just the King
and the Judge of the universe. For
You are my Shepherd & I’m blessed
for because of You, I Lack Nothing.
Keep me from complaining; and
keep me from fear and worry; for
You’ll Provide all my needs. Amen.

Lord Shepherd, it is comforting
to know that I am not alone in
the journey of life. Thank You
that You are ever so vigilant,
Guiding and watching over me.
And thank You that You love to
lead me to “peaceful streams”.
Help me to respond to Your sweet
small voice, stay close to You;
and I will gladly Follow You. Amen.

Lord Shepherd, You faithfully
feed, guide and above all Protect
Your flock with Your very life.
Lord, You are always close by,
You protect & comfort us, and
You protectively watch over us.
Merciful Lord and dear Shepherd,
in my darkest moments when I’m
very afraid and I cry out to You,
extend Your hand to hold my hand.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

God Promises Fruitfulness

The psalms written mostly by
David, over a period of 6 centuries
and used as the temple hymnbook,
capture the essence of what it
means to walk daily with God.
The first six psalms form a fitting
introduction to the entire Psalter.
In them you learn the importance
of meditating on God’s Word (Ps 1),
acknowledging the Lord as King(P2)
and constantly being devoted to
prayer in good times & bad (Ps 3-6).

Lord, we’ll Delight in Your Word:
Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law
of the Lord, and in His law he
meditates day and night (Ps 1:1-2).
He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its Fruit
in its season, whose leaf also
shall not wither; and whatever
he does shall prosper (Ps 1:3).
For the Lord knows (and approves)
the way of the righteous (v6).

Father God, more than anything,
I want to make You Lord happy.
And I want to do and be all that
You planned when You created me.
It’s Your counsel I want to follow,
Your side Lord I want to be on and
Your behaviour I want to imitate.
Help me Lord to Continually Think
of You and Your Word so that
I may experience Your joy. Amen.

Lord, I want to have this kind of
blessed life & this kind of happiness.
So I pray that You Lord will
cause me to recognise the wicked
and refuse to follow their leading.
Pray I will refuse to join in with those
who mock what’s precious to You.
And pray that the Scriptures will
increasingly become the controlling
influence in my life. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, give me the desire to read
Your Word and to meditate on it
day and night. Let me eat deeply
from Your Word & make me wise.
Cause me to Delight in Doing Your
will and that’s what I purpose to do.
Most of all, empower me to Do
what it says and Transform me
and the circumstance so that
I will bear fruit that lasts. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

Psalms written mostly by David
capture the essence of what it
means to walk daily with God.
The first six psalms form a fitting
introduction to the entire Psalter;
emphasing the importance of
meditating on God’s Word and
constantly being devoted in prayer.
And Psa 7-20 show the importance
of Seeking and Trusting the Lord..

On Monday, we learn from Ps 1
that God Promises Fruitfulness.
On Tuesday, we learn from Ps 4
that God Hears When We Call.
On Wed, we learn from Psalm 9
that God Is Our Refuge In Trouble.
On Thursday, we learn from Ps 16
that God Shows Way & Gives Joy.
On Friday, we learn from Psalm 18
that God Gives Strength & Security.
On Sat, we learn from Psalm 20
that God Will Come & Save You.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as You are Our Refuge In Trouble
and that You Hear When We Call.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as You Promise Fruitfulness and
that You Show Way & Gives Joy.
For You Give Strength & Security
and that You Will Come & Save.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.