I SHALL NOT WANT

The LORD is my shepherd, I SHALL NOT WANT – Psalm 23:1

After David pondered his intimate relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Ps.23:1). He knew that the result of having God as Shepherd is: I SHALL NOT WANT! The story has been told of how a young lad misread Psalm 23:1 as “The Lord is my Shepherd; HE IS ALL I WANT.” She might have quoted it wrongly, but her attitude was right: having JEHOVAH as my Shepherd is having all.

Psalm 23 declares from the sheep’s viewpoint, the many ways the Shepherd promises to care, provide for, and protect His sheep. In one simple stroke David expressed the ultimate result of having Yahweh as Shepherd. The LORD is my Sufficiency; therefore I lack nothing. All I will ever need is found in Him! I am content with the presence, provision and protection of my Shepherd. I need nothing more than what my Shepherd provides.

Let us meditate on and declare each of these precious promises into our lives and upon our destinies. In Jesus precious name I declare:

• I shall not want for REST
• I shall not want for REFRESHING
• I shall not want for RESTORATION
• I shall not want for GUIDANCE and DIRECTION
• I shall not want for COURAGE and BOLDNESS
• I shall not want for COMFORT
• I shall not want for SUPPLIES
• I shall not want for PROTECTION
• I shall not want for POWER
• I shall not want for JOY

Paul walked in the “I shall not want” reality; hence he declared, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content…And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil.4: 11, 19). Beloved, all fleshly struggles, futile striving, and profitless sweating cease when you know the Lord as “Your Shepherd”! How personal and how intimate our Shepherd’s care is! How detailed His attention and affection are towards me! How can I ever feel lack, with such a One-on-one love relationship with the Shepherd of my soul?