Psalm 23:3 Need Restored?

He [God] restores my soul; He leads me in the paths

of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23:3

Interesting. David chooses to be content. He rests in the beauty and peace of green pastures and still waters. Yet, his soul needs to be restored.

David was betrayed, persecuted, experienced the heartbreak of his sin, and suffered at the hands of his own family. Through all of this, David knew where to find restoration for his soul: my shepherd...restores my soul.

God's restoration feels like an overflow of peace, a fountain of joy, an explosion of love. It doesn't erase pain, fear, or weariness but it fills us with God's strength to walk through life.

When we walk through hard times, we can turn to God. He restores our hearts, minds, and souls. He turns turmoil into trust, panic into peace, unrest into rest.

Sometimes, when times are difficult, we have trouble sleeping. One night. as I lay awake with my mind in turmoil, I got up to find my soft-bound Bible. I crawled back in bed and cradled it against my chest. Before long, I relaxed and fell asleep. This became a nightly ritual. I didn't consciously ask God for restoration but, in His grace, He gave me rest. 

When we hide from tomorrow, God is with us. When we struggle with sorrow, God hugs us. When we shake with fear, He surrounds us. He is there, every moment, to restore our souls. 

A restored soul...what does that have to do with a path of righteousness?

When our hearts, minds, and souls are restored, our relationships with God are enriched. The closer we walk to Him, the more we love Him and want to obey Him. 

But, just like we've seen before, walking with Him and obeying Him is a choice. He wants to lead us down a path that is best for us, but we have to choose to follow.

When we're rested, at peace, and strengthened, sometimes we're tempted to think we can make it on our own. We can make our own decisions. We head down our own path. Often, when I go off my own way, I'll look behind me and tell God to catch up.

Shocker, He doesn't. His desire is that I follow Him, not the other way around. 

When I truly allow Him to restore my soul, I want nothing more than to be with Him. I am hungry for His Word and eager to serve Him. My heart is full of gratitude for what He has done for me.

This is righteousness: hunger for Him, service, gratitude, love. When I focus on these, he leads me in His perfect way.

When has God restored your heart and soul?

When have you traveled your own path and how did He bring you back to Him? 

Share your thoughts!

Two Wrong Choices: Psalm 23:2

This is the second post in my series on Psalm 23.

To see the first post, click here.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters Psalm 23:2

Green pastures…quiet waters.

A picture of a peaceful time with God.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Make is the operative word here, friends.

Even though it sounds like a done deal, we always have the choice to say “no.” I can tell you from personal experience, that’s not wise. You don’t want to refuse God because He will MAKE you.

When my girls were little, I foolishly decided that it was a good time to graduate school. Needed my head examined, right?

So, there I was, spending my days as the mother of two preschool girls. And my nights, (you know, when you supposed to sleep) pouring over books.

Time with my husband fit in there somewhere. And, in between yawns, I prepared to teach on Sunday mornings.  

If God was telling me to slow down, I couldn't hear Him over the noise of the train barreling down the tracks – straight at me.

Then it happened: I had a seizure.

During the hours in the emergency room, God said, loud and clear, “I am making you lie down!”

While the doctors tried to stabilize my medicines, I couldn't drive. College went on the back burner. I became a stay-at-home Mom – literally.

I chose to ignore His “Make” and, finally, He made me anyway.

When you hear His voice telling you to slow down and look for a green-pasture time with Him, go along with it. Don’t learn the hard way, like I did.

He leads me beside still waters.

The word “lead” implies there is a follower. Another choice: would I follow?

So, I was stuck at home, and not happy about it; He made me stay there. I chose to gripe and complain, and ask Him why He was doing this to me.

I refused to be quiet enough to hear the Living Water call me to follow Him along still waters.

Time went on. They couldn't get me stable, so I kept having seizures. The time I couldn't drive stretched into a seemingly endless train of months.

Finally, when I ran out of pity-party words to say, I turned to God and asked, “What are you trying to teach me?”

I heard a whisper, “Choose to follow Me. Submit to My call to green pastures. Come with me to walk beside still waters.” 

I took a deep breath and surrendered. I experienced the beauty of green meadows. I could hear His voice in the quiet of still waters.

What took me so long? Two wrong choices: I ignored the Lord and refused to follow Him. Not mistakes you want to make.

When I think about it, why did He have to MAKE me? Why didn’t I crave that precious time?

Imagine lying down on the cool grass and smelling the scent of wildflowers. Imagine the peace of still waters.

God asks us to spend a few minutes letting our minds rest in His cool, beautiful presence. He offers us sweet, quiet moments in His Word, soaking our hearts in His love and wisdom.

• He loves you beyond anything you can imagine.
• He desires to see you relax in the green pastures of His presence.
• He calls you to revel in the quiet of His Word.

Choose Him and you will find peace and beauty.

How has God made you lie down?

Have you found the peace of green pastures and still waters?