The title of this devotion is taken from a beautiful hymn in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. One of the lines in that hymn says, “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.”* In so many different ways, that is what is at the heart of this psalm. New life. Perhaps this is why it is often used at funerals.
Psalm 23 is filled with imagery of new life: green pastures, still waters, restored spirits, no fear, even repaired relationships. God has amazing hopes and dreams for us. This famous psalm is meant to inspire us to, as the hymn quoted above suggests, “move beyond our wants, beyond our fears.”
How do we live beyond our wants and fears? How do we live more fully into God’s hopes and dreams for us?
As you continue to live into God’s hopes and dreams for your life, may you look to this psalm for inspiration.
God of new life, continue to walk with us. Continue to have hopes and dreams for us. Amen. — RCW