In His Image Testimony: Jennifer

Here is how I used to interpret the famous Psalm 23: The Lord is a shepard who can help me when things are not going my way. I will try not to excessivly want because that doesnt look good to others when you are excessivly greedy. When I get to heaven I will live in green patures and be at peace in my soul but for right now, I am kind of at the whim of my emotions and thoughts. That all depends on what is going on around me and how people treat me. God wants me to walk on perfect paths of righteousness because that is what He requires to restore my soul in the end. If I am super righteous I will avoid the valley of the shadow of death and if I go there, I should feel fear because I shouldnt have put myself in that position. If I fear, I will cry out to God and He will, if I "pray it right" fix all the circumstances so that I will have comfort. I will have a great feast in heaven with my Father, yet my enemies may end up getting away with what they have done to me because things just are not "fair" so accept it. I deserve to have wealth and happiness here on Earth because I am Gods child so if my cup does not overflow or I am not annointed with oil, I must have done something wrong or someone around me screwed up. Surly goodness and love will follow me around (because that is Jesus) but He will follow me at a distance because I truly only draw near Him when things are not comfortable or I am scared. I will dwell with Him forever because I am a Christian but obeying Him in every little thing is not THAT big of deal. NOW, this is how I interpret this passage: The Lord is my only shepard and I do not look to anything or anyone else (including my flesh desires or logic) to lead me. I shall not be in want for pleasing the flesh or my emotions if it does not glorify God. If I am running ragged or bowing my knee to the false idol of food, body image, fear or co-dependancy...in His love, He will allow me to do so until I collapse and come back to Him (making me lie down in surrender) so that He can restore my soul. His word is lifes instruction mannual and He tells me specifically how I am to live a righteous life. The key is that I cannot live this life without the power of His Holy Spirit working within me. He tells me to live this way, in complete surrender to Him, for my own good and ultimatly to bring Him great glory. The valley of the shadow of death will come whether I am walking righteously or not because this is how I grow and have opportunities to reflect Christ. God does not leave me in these valleys but walks right beside me, comforting and encouraging me. I will not fear because He is in control of of my circumstances. He has prepared a table, a great feast for me. Eating and enjoying food is written into His plan for me and is a reflection of me feasting on Him and His goodness. It is okay and good for me to enjoy the tastes and pleasure of eating as long as I do it with the proper perspective and thankfulness to God. I do have enemies,spiritual and fleshly... that is real. I can place them in the hands of God, knowing that in the end they will pay for what they have done to wound my heart, attack my family and nearly destroy my life. Their payment will come in the form of either heart wrenching repentence or eternal damnation for their selfish acts. All of that is in Gods hands and not mine to mind. I need to focus on the blessings of my life and how God has caused my cup to overflow in the form of provision, purpose and protection. The Lord will never, ever leave me. He is faithful and reliable and sure to bring goodness and love and comfort into my existence. This entire life with its strife, sacrifice, surrender and exausting race is well worth it because soon I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!!! Amen!!