Psalm 23 prayer

THE LORD, MY SHEPHERD

By Gail Rodgers

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul." (Psalm 23: 1 - 3a)
This disappointment was a hard one to bear. Her hopes had been high. She had always believed that God took an interest in the details of her life. She even thought that He had orchestrated these particular details ... yet today she felt her faith falter. In this disappointment she wondered where God was. I was disappointed too. "Father, how should I pray? Give me Your perspective", I prayed as my heart hurt for her. That still, small voice of His Spirit impressed my mind with the thought that I should pray these words of Scripture over her circumstances ... The familiar words of Psalm 23: 1 took on fresh meaning...
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."
Father, thank You that You are the Good Shepherd and You see every tear. Carry my friend now, as a tender shepherd carries a wounded lamb. Comfort her in this time of questioning. Draw her to come and find her needs met in You.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures,"
Father, provide restful places where her soul will be fed. Help her to sleep well at night. Nudge her to reach for Your word and speak to her heart by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
"He leads me beside quiet waters"
Calm and quiet her spirit, Lord. Bring her to a fresh belief that You do have her best interest at heart. Free her from any confusing thoughts of self - condemnation. Let her spirit drink deeply from Your living water.
"He restores my soul."
Father God, thank You that You alone are the One who can restore the broken and hurting places within a wounded soul. Help her run to You in her pain and not from You. Restore hope and peace within her. Pour out Your refreshing on her soul so that she may catch her breath and be strengthened to carry on. Thank You that You are called My Shepherd, the Shepherd of my soul, fully trustworthy, fully able to restore. We praise the name of the Lord our God!