The Lord IS Our Shepherd
Most of us are very familiar with the 23rd Psalm, but we probably haven’t taken enough time to study it so we can fully understand its awesome promises, and rely on them during the difficult times experienced while standing for marriage restoration. Therefore, it’s a good idea to go through Psalm 23 verse by verse to see how it applies to us as we stand for our marriages. That way we’re more likely to rely on it and claim it’s power when the devil comes to convince us that marriage restoration is not possible, or that we can’t do this anymore, which is one of his FAVORITE lies!
Psalm 23:1 (AMP)
THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
The Bible is filled with verses confirming that the Lord is our Shepherd, and that He will ALWAYS guide and protect us, and meet every need. But since this is a difficult time to rest in the confidence and assurance that our needs will be met, it’s very important for us to read and BELIEVE the following passages of scripture so we WILL rely on Him:
Hebrews 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jeremiah 31:10
“Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
Jeremiah 23:4
I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Psalm 3:3
But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 5:12
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
2 Samuel 22:31
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Isaiah 31:5
Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 140:7
O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle-
Isaiah 63:11-14
Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people—where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
Nehemiah 9:20
You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Psalm 23:2 (AMP)
He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
Sometimes the Lord has to MAKE us lie down, because we get so busy fighting the battles of life that we’re too busy to hear Him, or we won’t let Him be the Lord of our lives, especially when we put other things or people before Him. But once He gets our attention and we turn to Him, He is faithful to give us rest, and to protect and bless us, as the following verses assure us:
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Deuteronomy 12:10
But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.
Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 23:3 (AMP)
He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
When we turn our hearts back to the Lord and allow Him to be the Lord of everything in our lives, He will strengthen, restore and refresh us with blessings that overflow, as confirmed in the following verses:
Jeremiah 31:25
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Acts 3:19-20
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
Isaiah 55:6-13
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.”
Psalm 23:4 (AMP)
Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
Most women agree that standing for marriage restoration, especially when their husbands want nothing to do with them, is the most difficult thing they’ve ever done, so it’s not unusual to experience moments of fear or doubt, and to feel like we can’t go on. That’s when we REALLY HAVE to put our faith in the Lord and rely on the awesome and powerful promises in the following verses:
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 35:3-4
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
Hosea 2:15 (NLT)
I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
Psalm 23:5 (AMP)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
The Lord is more than able to deal with our enemies or anyone or anything that comes against us, our husbands, and our marriages. By asking Him to anoint our heads with oil, we are asking Him to consecrate and anoint us for the purpose to which He called us. And when He does, He WILL provide ALL that is necessary to perfect His plan and purpose in our lives, and bless us abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine, as we see in the following verses:
Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Psalm 143:12
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
1 Chronicles 17:8
I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.
Zephaniah 3:20
At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.
Exodus 40:9
“Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy.
Ephesians 3:16-21
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Psalm 23:6 (AMP)
Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
The Lord will NEVER leave us or forsake us, and His UNFAILING love will always endure forever, as the following verses tell us:
Psalm 6:4
Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 21:7
For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Exodus 15:13
“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 136:3
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
And whenever the devil tries to make us doubt our loving Shepherd’s amazing power and faithfulness, we can read Psalm 136 for a quick reminder and reassurance!