Surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:6 EHV

 

If you currently attend or have ever attended a traditional Christian church, chances are you sang a hymn written from this particular verse.  But the song probably didn’t go exactly like this.

 

In the short testimony I recorded recently and shared here, I confessed to struggling to feel God’s kindness to me.  And during that time I came across the version of Psalm 23:6 written above.  Now the Evangelical Heritage Version of the Bible is not one I have on my shelf.   I had actually never heard of it before, but I needed this translation.  Having always heard before that “surely goodness and mercy will follow me”, the idea of God’s goodness pursuing me captured my imagination.  This wording helped me visualize God’s lovingkindness in a much more active role.  And I needed that reassurance.  I wrote the verse down in my journal and continue to rewrite it every week.  This reminder that God’s goodness and kindness were for me – and many others I found – helped to eventually restore me to joy.

 

Maybe the word “follow” is a better translation from the original language.   I say “maybe” because I don’t really know, but I can get behind this version for one simple reason.  The entire Bible is the story of God’s pursuit of us.  From His visit to the Garden to search for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:9) to sending His only Son to take the punishment for our wrongdoing (John 3:16) to His promise to come back for us and be with us forever (John 14:2-3).  AND everything in between.

 

In Luke 15:4, the Lord is portrayed as a shepherd (just as he is in the beginning of the 23rd Psalm) who would leave 99 sheep to search for one who was lost.  We must choose Him, but He doesn’t let us get away without a passionate pursuit.  And who doesn’t like to be pursued?  By the God of the universe, no less.  He created us, He loves us, and He wants us.  In this world that is still so full of uncertainty, I find great comfort in this.  In Him.

 

According to Psalms 23:6, God’s goodness, grace and love stay closer to me than my freckles for as long as I live, and then they escort me to rest in His heaven in the next.

 

I’ll close with the same verse I started with, from The Passion Translation.  I’ll be clutching these pearls close to my heart:

So why would I fear the future?
For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.
Then afterward, when my life is through,
I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you! 

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

Deborah Haddix drew me into her 13 Practical Ways We Can Honor Mom.  I sometimes get caught up in thinking I have to spend a lot of money or find just the right thoughtful present, but what moms really want (myself included) is relationship.  And you can check off this list whether you get to  physically see your mom right now or not.  You can gift these sweet things whether you have much or are financially strapped.  I can’t think of a better way to love mom!

Now for this week’s link-up! Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.

 

 

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