Thanks to the encouragement of my teammates, I’m going to share with y’all something God has been laying on my heart week after week since launching. Hopefully by the end of each month (but probably before) I’m going to post an update about something very personal to me. I didn’t realize God had given me a special chapter of the Bible but as the months have gone by it has become abundantly clear that Psalm 23 is my life verse. He has strategically placed this chapter in my life over and over again since the Race has begun and now it’s something my team notices and points out to me.
Part One
It all started right after one of my friends took their own life back in October. Psalm 23 appeared for the first time being that it is probably the most used part of the Bible when it comes to death. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4. The day after he passed, my daily devotion contained scripture from Psalm 23 (check out Jesus Calling, it’s what’s up). Then the episode of Lost that I was watching that day was also titled Psalm 23. I know, I know, that all seems coincidental. You may be thinking the Lost reference is reaching. But it gets better, promise!
Part Two
After we left Costa Rica, we had a five day debrief in Granada, Nicaragua where we got to relax and explore but we also had some sessions where our leadership staff poured in to us. During one of those nights, our squad coach, Jimmie, brought the word about how when he thinks about love, he thinks about a table. The scripture he referenced for his talk was Psalm 23:5 which reads: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” At that point I figured God had a thing or two He wanted to say to me so I decided I’d do some studying of my own. For the next few weeks, I read Psalm 23 every morning and each morning I would focus on one specific verse. (Seven verses, seven days, talk about perfect!) I’d read the verse and journal about what I felt the Lord was saying or how it applies to everyday life. After about two weeks I decided I had heard everything I needed to from Psalm 23 and put it aside. But that didn’t keep God from bringing it up during various door to door visits and other talks done by our leadership during the month at our ministry site.
An honorable mention is also that Jordie and I decided to watch this movie called The Number 23 and Psalm 23 is in the beginning. Weird? I think so.
Part Three
By the time we got to Honduras you would think I would have caught on to something here but alas, I had not. Our first Sunday in the country we went to church with our ministry host and what do you know, during the service Psalm 23 was discussed. As we went to leave, there was a huge banner with Psalm 23 on it hanging above the door. If that wasn’t enough, the following Friday in devotion Psalm 23 was part of the scripture used. What. The. What.
It’s become sort of a joke to my team but they never fail to point out the glory of what the recurrence of Psalm 23 means: God loves me. He wants to talk to me and He wants me to notice Him pursuing me. Isn’t that awesome? Not only does He pursue my quiet time, not only does He pursue the TV shows and movies I watch, but He pursues me in front of the people I do life with. I am so not worthy of that kind of favor.
As the Race progresses I pray that God continues to bring up Psalm 23 and continues to chase after my heart. I pray that I have eyes to see His preference. I pray that at the end of the day I can live in a way that points directly back to the cross in everything I do.
Today I’m thankful and so deeply loved.
KM
