Bible Studies

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We have finished the groundwork of the first chapter which was the preparation we needed before we actually begin. We are already on a path and we know from experience how our actions, thoughts and feelings influence each other and our future. Like threads in a tapestry, they produce in our lifetimes a picture of who we are and what we are becoming. Now, on our path through the Psalms, the introduction is over and it is time to get to the real work.

Emerson said, "A man is what he thinks all day." Of course, we remember the writer not only because of what he thought, but from what he felt and how he acted and we call the result of that his body of work. I would say that if it were possible, we should use a stopwatch and record what we are thinking and how long we think about it in a day. Like a list of places visited, it might tell more about us than we think. How much time do we spend thinking about money, our jobs and our kids? Are we solving problems or rehashing them? How much time are we worried and how much time are we happy? What is our body of work?

There is another, older method of ordering thought. The twenty third psalm, the shepherd's song of David is one of the most well known writings in the world. It's been memorized by Sunday schoolers for generations, but the tradition of memorizing and reciting scripture began long before there were books. Jewish scholars are still expected to memorize large portions of the Torah before they even begin to explore their meanings.

Here's your homework assignment. There are 117 words in the twenty third psalm, so repeat it to yourself 117 times during the day. When things come up that require your attention, do them with your full attention. Then, when you have the chance, go back the poem of praise where you left off. Instead of elevator music, or daydreams that lead to questionable places, or pieces of old arguments replaying in your head all day, put something in the background that helps save energy instead of wasting it.





23. Faith and Strength

The Lord is my shepherd, what else do I need? He makes me rest in his green pastures, He leads me beside safe waters, He restores my soul. He leads me on paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though my path lies through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is my guide. His power and authority are enough for me. He has taken care of all my needs and has shown me my inheritance; my life is filled to overflowing. I know that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of this life, and then, I will live in the house of the Lord for ever.





“The Lord is my shepherd, what else do I need?” Now THAT is good news. Right up there with the best news that ever was. What does good news sound like? Would we know it if we heard it? The republicans won? The democrats? Hardly. Somebody who was sick, now is well? Definitely. You just won the lottery? It can’t compare. It’s more like you find out that the comet you thought was going to hit the earth is really going to miss. The whole earth is bound for salvation because we love our creator and He loves us.

When we take this step, when we physically put God in our lives by putting his Word in our thoughts and on our lips all day long, we enter into a partnership with our creator. What has been ‘Him’ out there and ‘us’ in here becomes ‘WE’, together. We have always become the person our habits produce in us. The purpose of this exercise is that now, and five minutes from now we will be doing our own work as we must, doing God’s work as we are able, or praising his Holy Name with our songs and prayers. By opening this door, we make ourselves available to the influences we seek. We will rest in green pastures and be led by safe waters and live in the house of the Lord, forever…

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