I Shall Not Want

 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

I lack nothing. Not deficient. Utterly Contented. Those are the words in the book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. 

If I belong to the Great Shepherd I will not be looking for greener pastures. If I am not content with where I am, does that mean I belong to a different master? I've struggled with addiction for years and though I'm clean from the "bad substances," I still have other addictions that occupy most of my mind. The root of the problem is that I'm not content. I look for something to fill up the hole in my heart and it's not always Jesus. I look to nicotine, food, or buying things and then I find myself in trouble, begging Jesus to help me out of this mess I have created. Over. And. Over.

I lack nothing. 

I am reminded that everything I need is in the Word and I must keep that forefront so that when trial comes (daily) or temptation calls (daily), or my old nemesis anger (almost daily) I can respond in the way God has instructed me. I can pray about it instead of bingeing and praying for relief. I can rely on the verses I've memorized instead of lashing/acting out. 

Not deficient.

Reading the Bible and praying every day is not a habit. It's a lifestyle. It's just something I do now. My household knows not to bother me when it's "Jesus time." In the mornings I fill myself up with God's goodness, so that I am less likely to falter throughout the day. And when a morning comes and I haven't taken time for Jesus, it shows throughout the day. 

Utterly content.

There are things I can control, and there are many more things I cannot. My sons are adults. I work with a large team of people. Prices of necessities keep rising. So I must "give it to God." Whatever it is that is causing me sleepless nights, outbursts, discontentedness-I must give it to God. He is the Good Shepherd and He will provide. He always does.