by Martha June

“…I lack nothing.”

Psalm 23:1

Recently I purchased a new Bible and retired my worn ESV. It had been my Bible since early High School, and was big, bulky, and full of notes. Partially due to its size I had not made a habit of bringing my Bible to church so I needed something more portable. In the end I made the switch from a journaling Bible to a thinline NIV. (No more excuses!) When I began using the new Bible I prayed “Lord, what do you want me to study?” Enter Psalm 23.

Simply put, Psalm 23:1 struck me. I have mulled over it for weeks. More specifically over David’s statment in the first verse “… I lack nothing.”

Frequently I look up synonyms or “another word for _” while writing. This practice helps me better understand different words and their meanings. I quickly Googled “another word for lacking nothing” in preparation for this post, and one of the answers was another word for lacking – insufficient. The definition of insufficient is “not enough; inadequate”. That is where our lesson resides today.

How many of you, like me, have felt lacking? I seem to be in a constant state of “lack” – lacking energy, direction, wisdom, patience, love for others, kindness, motivation, physical needs or wants I deem needs…and the list goes on. Like this antonym would suggest, I feel insufficent to walk out the call God has on my life. Or even walk in faithfulness to God during my daily life.

I read David’s statement and wondered, Can I say that about myself? As I have begun to better understand the nature of God’s “shepherding” character, I have been able to better understand my “sheepish” nature. From what I know of literal sheep, they lack alot. Including, intelligence, discernment, and the ability to defend themselves. Sheep are entirely dependent on the shepherd to provide for and meet their needs.

This is what I believe David was articulating in Psalm 23:1 – his dependance on God and finding his needs met there. It is within that dependence that he finds his personal “lacks” fulfilled. What David could not do on his own, God could step in and do.

The same goes for you and me.

Where we lack energy, God will provide it.

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Where we lack direction, the Lord will be our guide.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:21

Where we lack wisdom, the Lord will give it.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James 1:5

You get the idea.

What we lack will be filled – in total and complete dependence on God. Living in this dependence will mean that our weaknesses will be clearly visible. But it will also mean that God’s strength can shine much brighter through each of us. And if I can make this stretch, I believe it will only build our trust in the “Chief Shepherd” as Hinds’ Feet on High Places would stress and mold our hearts to look more like Jesus.

Will you ask God for more dependency on his Holy Spirit within you?

Lord, may we truly be able to say in total dependence on you “I lack nothing“. Amen.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is suffient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknessess, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Sincerely,

Martha June