Psalm 23 Archives - Sharla Fritz

How did you take care of yourself today? Did you care for your body? Did you care for your soul?

How did you care for your body? Did you eat yogurt and fruit for breakfast for the probiotics and antioxidants? Did you run a couple of miles to keep your heart in shape? Did you get seven or more hours of sleep? Maybe you did all of those things (or something like them) to take care of your body.

But how did you care for your soul? Maybe you didn’t even think about that part of you. After all, our stomachs growl when they’re hungry, our eyelids droop when we’re tired, our muscles get stiff if we sit too long. Our bodies demand attention.

But the soul? The soul keeps quiet. It doesn’t scream in pain or announce a problem with a 102 degree fever. We may neglect the soul for a long time before it demands attention.

So why should you care for your soul?

I can think of four reasons:

Your soul is the most important part of you. John Ortberg, author of Soul Keeping, writes, “The soul is the coolest, eeriest, most mysterious, evocative, sacred, eternal, life-directing, fragile, indestructible, controversial, expensive dimension of your existence.” Jesus pointed out to His disciples that the soul is important when He said, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Nothing in the world is more important than my soul. Yet how often I neglect this crucial part of me.
Your soul is the part of you that is eternal. A good haircut lasts about a month. A fashionable new outfit stays stylish for about a year. But your soul lasts forever. God created this part of you to be with Him now and in heaven. Caring for the soul will reap eternal benefits.
The state of your soul affects the rest of your life. My soul may not announce it needs care, but when it’s tired I feel pulled apart inside. I may be able to paste a smile on my face, but inside I’m dying. I may be able to carry on a conversation, but I’m not really listening. I may go to church and mumble through the songs, but my heart is far from worship. Life loses joy and meaning when my soul is worn. I’m not able to live life well.
A healthy soul will enable you to love and serve the people in your life. When our souls are weak, we crave attention. We may become self-centered, even self-obsessed. But when we spend time with the Savior and allow Him to fill our souls with His love, we are then able to look beyond our own needs and care for others.

Don’t neglect your soul. Care for it by spending time with the One who loves you. Sit in silence. Read God’s Word. Listen for His voice. Ask Him to care for the most important, most fragile, most indestructible part of you.

Next step: Read Psalm 23. Let the words sink into your heart. As you read and pray, visualize the green pastures and the Shepherd who promises to restore your soul.

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 paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever

original photo source

For more information on caring for your soul, check out my new book Soul Spa: 40 Days of Spiritual Renewal. This Bible study devotional teaches you how to find rest for your weary spirit. Come to the Soul Spa where spiritual practices refresh you, where God is eager to meet with you and care for your spirit. Using spa analogies, this resource guides the reader to engage in the holy habits such as Bible study, Scripture meditation, sacred reading, prayer, and more! Check it out here.

When I was a little girl I loved hearing the twenty-third psalm read in church. But I always sensed a mystery of Psalm 23.

It was easy to picture Jesus as a shepherd because in the sanctuary there was a huge stained glass window of Jesus holding a staff in one hand and a snow-white lamb in the other.

However, there was one thing about that psalm that always puzzled me. To me, the mystery of Psalm 23 came when the pastor read, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The last part sounded like the guy who wrote the psalm didn’t want Jesus to be his shepherd.

And that just didn’t make any sense.

Finally, one Sunday I asked my mother to explain that verse. She told me that the writer was trying to say that because Jesus was his shepherd he didn’t want anything else.

Well, that made a little more sense, but how could that be?

I mean, how could you not want chocolate ice-cream cones? Or Barbie dolls? Or sleepover parties?

Even now–all grown up–I want Jesus to be my Shepherd. But sometimes it’s hard not to want other things. Like family to be close. Like friends who don’t move away. Like health for my loved ones.

But maybe having Jesus as my Shepherd, doesn’t necessarily mean automatic contentment here on earth.

Look at the way the NIV (1984) translates that verse:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” Psalm 23:1

This take on the verse assures me that Jesus my Shepherd will give me what I need. I won’t be in a state of want. I might not have everything I desire, but I will have everything I need.

The rest of Psalm 23 tells us everything that God provides:

food and water (v. 2)
rest (v. 2)
restoration (v.3)
guidance (v. 3)
protection (v. 4)
His presence (v. 4)
goodness and love (v. 6)
eternal life (v. 6)

What do you most need today? Where does it fit in the list above? Look up that verse now.

Maybe you no longer yearn for Barbie dolls or sleepovers. But life is hard and we often have unfulfilled longings.

Take all your desires to the Shepherd. Trust that He will carry you in His arms today and give you exactly what you need.

Background information for Psalm 23: Psalm 23 is in the first book of Psalms (which includes Psalms 1-41). The psalm is a psalm of trust. It was written by David who grew up tending sheep. He knew firsthand the duties and responsibilities of a shepherd. Read the psalm here.

Next step: Write down your greatest need (or desire). Look up the corresponding verse in Psalm 23. Write it on a card to carry with you today or on sticky note to post it where you can see it often. Picture yourself being carried like a lamb in the arms of Jesus.

4 Reasons To Care For Your Soul

So why should you care for your soul?

The Mystery of Psalm 23