“He renews my strength.” (Psalm 23:3, NLT)
The older and more familiar version puts it this way, “He restores my soul” (NKJV). And who of us does not need our souls restored these days?
Our souls get tired, worn down, and discouraged with the challenges facing us each day. We long for days to be easier, happier, more peaceful, and “normal”.
The psalmist knew exactly this emotion well and in other psalms gives us the remedy: we need to talk to our souls. Take a peek into his conversations with his soul on various occasions:
- “Why, my soul, are you downcast? “Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:11, NIV)
- “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” (Psalm 62:5, NIV)
- “Bless the Lord O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1, NKJV)
David had shepherded sheep long enough to know they wander and often find themselves in a precarious position ”“ cast down.
Won’t you join me at Woman to Woman Ministries HERE as we look at what it means to be cast down, and how the Shepherd renews our strength.
Photo by Mark Fletcher-Brown on Unsplash
Today I am joining … Inspire Me Monday and Remember Me Monday .
I so appreciate this connection between strength and the state of my soul. I know the truth of it, but seeing it here motivates me to pay attention.
loving your approach to psalm 23. thank you for sharing this. your words in W2W bless me!
Learning a little more about sheep and shepherding has given new meaning to many of the scriptures for me.