Psalm 23 (NRSVUE)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Prayer
God who guides us, as much as we might want it to be true, you don’t promise that our lives will be free from struggle. Assure us, still, of your constant presence with us. Encourage us not to pretend that dark valleys don’t exist, but to open our weary hearts to your presence in the midst of them. When goodness and mercy seem a long way off, help us to put one foot in front of the other until we can walk with confidence in the knowledge of your love for us, whatever comes. Amen.
Written by Rev. Allison Wehrung, UKirk Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)