Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

First Friday Prayers: The 23rd Psalm

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First Friday Prayers: Psalm 23 by Lauren Sparks

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a study by Jennifer Rothschild on the 23rd Psalm.  An exercise in the last week of the curriculum surprised me.  I easily slipped into praying scripture without even trying!  So I thought I might take you through this section of the workbook and let you have a go of it too!

 

The author asked us to write a script using the 6 verses of the 23rd Psalm with other passages of her choosing to write our own personal narrative.  She asked us to use the first person, talking about our Shepherd.  So here are the story starters in bold, while my answers are in pink:

 

Combine the 23rd Psalm verse 1 with Nahum 1:7:

God takes care of me and I have everything I need in Him.  He is so good and gives me shelter when things are hard.

 

Combine the 23rd Psalm verse 2 with Psalm 16:8:

God nourishes me and brings me peace.  If I keep my eyes on Him, I am strong.

 

Combine the 23rd Psalm verse 3 with Jeremiah 6:16a

My God refreshes me and leads me to do what’s right so He will be glorified.  Obeying Him is restful.

 

Combine the 23rd Psalm verse 4 with Isaiah 58:8 and Psalm 5:12

No matter what hard thing I face, I’m not afraid because you’re with me and you comfort me.  You bless me and show me favor.

 

Combine the 23rd Psalm verse 5 with Psalm 3:3

I can overflow with joy at what You have for me.  You protect me and keep my chin up.

 

Combine the 23rd Psalm verse 6 with Psalm 125:2

Your goodness and mercy pursue me and I get to be with you forever.

 

On the first three prompts, I answered in the manner requested.  I spoke ABOUT God.  But I did not realize until after I completed the exercise and looked back over it that I subconsciously slipped in speaking scripture TO God.  I all that practice praying scripture is instilling a good habit.

 

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to look up these scriptures and pray them yourself.  You can use my words or your own.  Either way, this message will not self destruct.

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If you give this a try, I would love to know how it went.  I’m praying for you in this.  And don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit.  It would mean so much to me.  If you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word post, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

 

Lauren

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up.

 

Linda Stoll’s A Rare Gift Indeed will make you think.  It really challenged me and I’d love to hear if it challenges you.

 

The Link Up

 

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

 Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.see

Psalm 23 Lessons on Rest

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A dear friend of mine asked me to do a Bible study with her.  It almost didn’t matter what she wanted to study.  I would say yes to just about anything to get to spend time with her.  But what did she want to study?  Jennifer Rothschild’s Psalm 23:  The Shepherd with Me.

 

What?  A six week study on a passage of scripture full of calm, peaceful verses?  The “he makes me lie down” chapter during the year I’m focusing on “rest”?  That “yes” was a no-brainer.  Our Father is so kind to put lessons on my word for the year right in front of my face.

 

In the first week’s study I learned that some scholars believe David wrote Psalm 23 when he was on the run during the civil war brought on by his son Absalom’s rebellion.  Whether or not that’s true, we know from history that David had been through some stuff.  He had faced down a murderous giant, feared for his life at the hand of King Solomon and fought against the overthrow of his reign – among many other trials.  His own son wanted to kill him.  And yet he wrote this:

 

Psalm 23 NASB

 

“The Lord is my shepherd,
I [a]shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside [b]quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the [c]paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no [e]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 [f]have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h]dwell in the house of the Lord[i]forever.” 

 

The Lessons

 

David wrote of his abundance in the Lord.  Because of God’s care and mercy, he boldly proclaimed that he feared no evil.  Even as he was being hunted down like a dog.

 

No matter what I’m going through, “my cup overflows” too.  “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life”.  And you too.  We can rest on that.

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up.

I was so glad to see Katie R Dale back on the link up last week.  Her post To Do or Not to Do, That’s the Question helps continue the conversation on rest.  She offers a very practical approach to deciding what should and shouldn’t be on your plate!

The Link Up

 

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

 Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

 

 

 

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