I shall not want.

Our church is doing this thing on Sunday nights called P-52.  I missed the first week and I don't have the book yet so I don't know all the details but the gist of it is this: The whole church studies one chapter of the Bible for a week, and we memorize one verse from that chapter.  Then on Sunday night at the end of that week, our pastor preaches on that chapter.  I don't know about you but I think there is something so beautiful about the church body all meditating on the same thing at the same time.  It just seems so powerful to me!

This week was Psalm 23, a passage that is usually quoted at funerals but is actually quite full of life!  I started reading it the other day, but I got stuck.  I couldn't get past the first verse:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

I shall not want.

It struck me in a new way.  I could picture God looking down at me, smiling that knowing smile, and saying, "I think she finally gets it."

You see, every time I've read that verse (and it's been lots of times), I've read it as "I shall not want.  God gives me so much stuff!  I will never be in need because He always provides.  Man, what a great God.  He is just so sweet to give me all this stuff!"  Now doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?  Enjoy that moment.  It's fixing to end.

This is where it struck me.  "I shall not WANT." Do you know how much stuff I want right now?  I want a new liner for our pool.  I want wood floors in my house.  I want new clothes.  I want a cute monogrammed phone cover.  I want trendy pinterest worthy items to fill up the empty shelf sitting in my dining room.  I want a caramel macchiato from Starbucks.  Y'all, I could keep going, but I think you're starting to get it.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."  Yes, He does give me all I need.  And he HAS given me all I need.  So instead of wanting more, I wonder what would happen if I lived in gratitude?  What if I just sat and dwelled in all He has provided?

I don't have to get caught in the "more" continuum that culture has created because "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."