I Have All That I Need

The other day, I envisioned myself on a path I've never walked on before, full of difficulty and unknowns. 

"Lord," I'd say, "I've never walked this path before. This is unfamiliar territory."

"Yes," He'd say, "And I will be with you every step of the way."

That would be enough to put a smile on my face and urge me forward -for He truly would be enough.

...

"The Lord is my Shepherd," said the psalmist in Psalm 23:1, "I have all that I need."

Whoa. Was he serious? Everything?

Yes... God is everything we need. We just don't realize it most of the time because we think we need other things.

We see how other people are bolstered and think it must really be working, but if we were to get a glimpse at their soul, we would instantly know it isn't. 

If you really think about it, if you have God -who clothes the grass of the field and feeds the birds of the air- you have everything. 

You have the One who makes it His aim to supply your littlest need, and usually in a better way than we would dream. 

"I have all that I need," the psalmist said. 

How simple... you can take it or leave it. But it is there, having been stamped in His word for all eternity as truth spoken about Himself, His heart, His ways, and inspired by the very God of the one who wrote it down.

He wanted us to know this about Him. He wanted us to see Him this way.

And yet, we are constantly reaching. Reaching for temporary things, maybe using our lips to proclaim this simple truth while our hearts are saying something entirely different.

Is He all we need, or isn't He?

...

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need."

I suppose I already am on a difficult path I hadn't walked on before -called motherhood. 

It's a winding, steep path up rocky, mountainous terrain. The minute I think I know how to walk this path, a new hurdle, a more difficult challenge, a rockier terrain, assures me I don't. 

Afresh, I look up. Is He here? My Shepherd? The One who is all I need? 

"Yes," He whispers from right beside me, "I never left. And I never intend to leave."

Fresh confidence of a heavenly nature surges through me and I smile.

"Since He is here," I reason, "I will make it to the top of this mountain in victory." 

And I take another step, then another, with Him.

Before long, I look back to see the rocky terrain I just traversed and know He got me through, one step at a time. 

I turn around and see still rockier terrain ahead and know that unless He is with me, helping me along, I won't make it. 

But He promised. And since He is my Shepherd who led me here, He will remain my Shepherd who leads me through.

I am His. He knows what I need.

...

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need." 

I have -not, somebody else has. But I have...

I have -not, I'm searching for and capable of finding. I HAVE. It's in my grasp. It's mine. I can use it any time I want.

I have ALL I need. All the lack in my soul -I have in my Shepherd. 

All the weakness I feel, all the needs, all the pains and voids left by pain -He fills them.

It is as though I have the one balm that would heal every wound and I have only to reach out my hand and dip out some of this precious treasure to apply to my wounds and weaknesses.

I have needs, but I also have a Shepherd with limitless supply. 

I have all that I need, and I have it in Him.

...

Oh soul, do you have wounds? Here is your Shepherd. He will apply Himself to you and heal your brokenness.

Are you weary? Behold your Shepherd. He is leading you to a place of rest.

Do you have weaknesses? Feel your Shepherd. He is reaching out to you in order to renew your strength.

Are you walking in the darkest valley? Here is your Shepherd. He is with you; He is right beside you.

Are you fearful? Look at your Shepherd. He will protect you!

Are you lost? Feel your Shepherd's gentle hands. He is guiding you and will show you the way.

Are you surrounded by foes? See your Shepherd. He will give you His peace and spread a feast before you in their presence.

Are you worried and distracted? Here is your Shepherd. He will anoint you with heavenly oil and renew your focus.

Are you feeling empty? Behold your Shepherd. He will cause your cup to overflow with His blessings. 

Are you feeling unloved and worthless? Turn and see your Shepherd. He is pursuing you and will continue to pursue you with His goodness and unfailing love all the days of your life. 

Do you feel as though you are drifting? See your Shepherd beckon to you. He will bring you into His home and cause you to dwell with Him forever.

Look at your Shepherd! He is all you need, and you have Him, my soul.

...

He is always closer than you think. 

He is always more ready to help you in your brokenness than you realize.

He is always eager to lavish His love on you.

He is always ready to pour out compassion over you.

Just look up, dear child of God. If you have needs, you also have a Shepherd.

Your path may not be the same as mine, but your Shepherd is. He is just as good to you as He is to me.

And His goodness to us is always more than we can fathom.

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