After focusing on God’s abounding, pursuing love, David had reached a climactic realization of how the Good Shepherd cared for him. His was a life overflowing with joy, hope and love even the harshest storms and trials of life. For God shone forth in him and through as his provider, his protector, and his victory. Through the dark and treacherous valleys, the shepherd had carried him to the pastures on the mountaintop. David knew that his cup runneth over with God’s love, mercy, grace and love. It is no wonder he now proclaimed, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). There was no doubt left in his mind. This was reality. Of a certainty, beyond any shadow of doubt, it was and would always be God’s mercy and goodness that followed him. Do you know God’s Mercy and Goodness follows you?
You can know of a certainty; thereby, living a life with your cup overflowing with joy, hope, and love.
God’s Mercy and Goodness Follows You How?
And this goes forth beyond God’s Mercy and Goodness which surrounds you, filling your cup to the overflowing. It also pours out to others you meet. As the Christian looks back over his or her life, there should be a trail of mercy and goodness that has overflowed to people along their path. Sometimes, this is a miraculous outpouring. I have come to learn that whatever goodness or mercy that has spilled over to touch other lives; it has been His overflowing through me when I have emptied myself of all the selfish pride that would hinder its flow. The hardened rocks of self-centered desires at times block the fresh springs of living water. Yet, the Shepherd comes and clears away those rocks and boulders of my heart.
There have been times when He has had to break my stony heart, so through the holes; His mercy and goodness might overflow through me. When I focus on Him and all that He has so willingly, sacrificially done for me, then God’s Mercy and Goodness overflows to a world so desperately in need of Him. It often requires I pick up my cross and carry it up the mountain trail, where I then nail my pride and selfishness on that cross. It is through dying to self, that I can live abundantly in God’s Mercy and Goodness. Once I have allowed Him to take the throne in my heart and life, then God’s Mercy and Goodness follow me, leaving a legacy of Him.
Through the Shattered Pieces of My Failures
Sometimes, it is despite my foolish failures. I cannot tell you how often, I look back and know I have failed to display God’s Mercy and Goodness. My words were too harsh, my anger to raw. However, when I run to the Shepherd’s arm with a sincerely broken and contrite heart, He finds a way to still shine forth His Glory through the cracks and chips of my life. Through the Shattered Pieces of My Failures, He can still shine.
Certainly, and of a surety, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; because He is with me. Do you know Him? If so, God’s mercy and goodness follows you every day of your life. However, if you don’t know Him, my prayer is that you come to know the Great Shepherd. The only way to know God’s mercy and goodness is by believing and accepting His gift of salvation, purchased for you by His Precious Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see Him in all His splendor, to then desire to be His. Humbly repenting of your sin, you ask Him to come into your heart to become Lord of your life. He will do the rest. He will save you and He will take the responsibility of transforming you into the image of His dear Son.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?
If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here
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Books Available
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Previous Posts from series on Psalm 23
Is Your Life Overflowing with Joy, Hope, and Love?
How Does God Protect Us from Evil Thoughts
What is the Table God Prepares for His Sheep?
Do You Know the Comfort of the Shepherd’s Staff?
What is the Rod of God that Comforts Me?
Fearless in the Darkest Valleys
How to Follow the Shepherd as He Leads
Have Your Soul Restored by God
How to Surrender as He Leadeth Beside Still Waters
When God Makes His Sheep to Lie Down. Why?
I Shall Not Want. What Can It Mean?
Do You Know and Trust the Good Shepherd?
Previous Poem:
I Turned and Saw the Face of God
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Footnotes and Credits
Photo by Martin Jernberg on Unsplash