Psalm 23 is a very popular chapter of scripture that many of us have become very used to and if we are not careful, we can be reading it with a closed mind or not read it at all because we think we know all that it says.

This is what I thought as I read a devotional. The key scripture was Psalm 23 and immediately I thought to myself, “I know it.” Right after that thought, God said, “No. You don’t. Take another look at it.” Then, I saw another perspective to this chapter.

When we confess or quote this scripture, a lot of times, it’s more about the great things in it for us. For instance, I shall not want, You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over, He shall prepare a table before me, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, etc. Then we begin to scream in order to receive once a Pastor says it while preaching.

However, the key to all of these great things happening is in verse 1.

Why wouldn’t I want or lack anything? Because the Lord is my shepherd.

A shepherd guides and leads sheep. They determine the next step for sheep. Before you scream that I shall not want, ask yourself whether the Lord is indeed your shepherd. Is he the One you obey and listen to? Does He have a say in your life?

Psalm 95:7 says, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, …….. Sheep must hear the voice of their shepherd.

Going back to Psalm 23, we see these statements: He makes me lie down, He leads me beside still waters. In verse 4, the Bible says, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Why is it that as the author walks through the valley of the shadow of death, He will not fear? The Lord is with Him.

Hearing from God assures you of His presence. We are not confident sometimes or doubt that God is with us because He didn’t direct us there in the first place. Anytime I have the impression to do something and I confirm that it is God talking, I don’t waste time. I’m energized to do it no matter what it would cost me because I know I am backed by Him so He would provide what I need to execute that task. However, the moments I struggled to take a step were the times I wasn’t sure of His leading.

There is a dimension of God’s guidance in verse 2, He makes me lie down in green pastures. I love this particular way of God’s leading. I am not lying down, rather God makes me lie down. Isaiah 63:14 As a beast goes down into the valley, And the Spirit of the LORD causes him to rest, So You lead Your people, To make Yourself a glorious name. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

This is where you do things without even realizing that it is God who is actually leading you and I love it because it’s like being drunk. When you are drunk, you have the boldness to do or say certain things you wouldn’t have done under normal circumstances. There are things God led me to do that after doing them, I was wondering how I did them because if I were thinking logically, I would have found excuses. There was no way I would have done them outside of God’s influence. And the result is for His good purpose and to make Himself a glorious name.

We can’t do anything meaningful for God outside of His leading. He knows what we need and so the Lord’s leadership shows us what we really need. You need wisdom before that wealth because if you gain wealth without wisdom, it would destroy you. You need character before that position of power otherwise, you’d just misbehave. Before green pastures, God must make you lie down. Before your head is anointed, receive guidance. These are the things we need to be praying for rather than just material things. Take a second look at the content of your prayer.

• Prayer