“The LORD is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
The book of Psalms contains 150 very different songs written by different poets. The Psalms express the joys, thanks, struggles and questions of believers in a way that present day readers still can understand. Therefore, the Psalms can be a great help for our prayer life. The book of Psalms is divided into five parts. The first part includes Psalm 1-41. Psalm 23 is about God’s care for the believer. David, the writer of Psalm 23, took care of his father’s flock of sheep while still a boy. He used his own dealings with the sheep as a picture of the care he received from God.
Prayer exercise:
Read this psalm out loud slowly.
Read again (out loud) and use the words as a prayer to God.
While reading, you can add words that come to mind.
For example:
Verse 1: The LORD is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. LORD, I do lack… (fill in your own need), but I want to trust You to take care of me.
Verse 2: He makes me lie down …. He leads me beside still waters.
Verse 3: He restores my soul… Thank You Lord, that Your care is always there for me.
Pray through this whole Psalm like this and thank God at the end for His presence.