“By Still Waters”
Psalm 23. Known to most people as the “funeral Psalm”. However, I would argue that it is in fact the “Living Psalm”.
Let’s read it together:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
I just returned from a week of vacation that I spent at the Southern Territory Music Institute (TMI) which is held at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY. What a beautiful place to be! My kids and husband went up a day before me so I had to drive myself there, which is fine. But about ¾ of the way into the trip, I started to become weary and bored. I had listened to most of my playlists and rehearsed the music for TMI. I didn’t feel like listening to a podcast. So I began to think about how much scripture do actually have memorized? While I was able to recall a fair amount, I thought, why not add some more? And I was led immediately to Psalm 23. I thought I had most of it memorized but I was missing a few verses so that’s where I started. I asked Siri to read it aloud to me and then I just started saying it over and over and over for about an hour.
And the during that time, God began working in my heart, reminding me that these words were for me and I would need them this week.
The Bible tells us to write scripture on our hearts.
Deuteronomy 11:18
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Proverbs 3:1-3
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Psalm 119:9-11
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Jeremiah 31:33
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Why do we engrave God’s Word on our hearts? Because, all day long, the enemy is whispering lies to us. What silences him? God’s Word. And not just reciting the words. We must believe it and stand on it.
The enemy also knows scripture. James 2 reminds us that even the demons believe in God. But they don’t put their faith in Him or apply the truth of His Word. It’s not enough to merely say it. You must believe it and believe that even though it was written 1000’s of years ago, it still applies to us today.
The Bible isn’t a collection of God’s words…it IS God’s divine Word speaking to us. And it will never pass away. It will endure for eternity and God meant for us to have it so He could speak to us through it today.
Read His Word every day in quietness each day. Let it wash over you. Listen to what God is saying to you. Ask Him to impress it onto your heart throughout the day. If you’re like me, you may forget as you go about your busy day. Ask Him to remind you and return to it. Ask Him to make your heart tender (give you a heart of flesh) to receive it once again, to seal it within your heart.
Heather Hanton
Ministries and Media Specialist
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
Women’s Ministries Department
