I Shall Not Want

I Shall Not Want

David says in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”

Having a connection with his heavenly Father who guided everything in his life meant everything to David.

Paul writes in Phil. 4:10-11: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”

Paul was in prison, and for a period of time he did not get any visits from other brothers and sisters. Paul did not say this in regard to need. You can notice that nothing he said was due to anything that was lacking in the circumstances he was in. In his spirit, he was doing extremely well.

It’s easy to have a demand on others in various situations, to have some criticism, a sigh, to murmur or complain. When talking to others, it’s easy to make mention of what is lacking. Paul was able to say: “Not that I speak in regard to need.” There was no trace of demands or blaming anyone else. In the middle of these situations, Paul could truly say: “I shall not want.” He had come to the still waters; he had come to rest. He had peace in the situations of life because he did everything through Him who strengthened Him. V. 13.

Through faith in God’s word, by God’s Spirit and through prayer, we are strengthened. The situations of life have been given to us so that we can learn something from them. We can learn from Jesus. There a work can be accomplished in us, resulting in salvation. Then we can bear others and become a blessing in our situations. All demanding, blaming, sighing, complaining etc., can be brought into the death of Christ. And I can cast all my cares on Him, He who is my shepherd. This has such a wonderful result in our lives, that we are able to do all things through Him who strengthens us. Then I can truly say: “I shall not want.”

May we follow Paul’s example in all the circumstances we encounter in our lives.