Finished!
I want to share, encourage, and challenge you. Jennifer Rothschild’s in-depth bible study on Psalm 23 was a blessing, eye-opening, and so rewarding to dive deep into God’s word. Much understanding and wisdom was gained.
Allow me to quickly walk you through some highlights and encourage you to go do this study yourself.
We first replaced the pronouns my, me, and I with our own name. I’m telling you this so you can do the same. Read Psalm 23 this way and make it personal. His word is meant for you, and His blessings are meant to overflow your cup.
Jennifer had us analyzing almost each word in the verses. Discovering their meanings, Hebrew definitions (see blueletterbible.org), and exploring a plethora of bible verses to champion our understanding of the words even further. This was right up my teacher-ally.
I don’t want to give it all away, but I will share some insight to wet your whistle:
- The relationship between you and god is intimate, safe, and permanent.
- The Shepherd’s (God) role is to lead, carry, listen, gather, watch, protect, sacrifice for, and speak to His sheep. (And sooo much more!)
- Our Shepherd is both strong and gentle.
- He carries you when you can’t carry on.
- We are the sheep. We need to listen, acknowledge, recognize, follow, and know The Shepherd. We are helpless with our Shepherd.
- In week one, I discovered that my strength is also my weakness…confidence. Some may be surprised to hear that, but it is so true! Yet…with God I lack nothing. I don’t lack confidence. This is something I must remind myself.
- When we make Jesus all we need, then we discover that all we need is found in Jesus.
- The Lord is mine, and I am His!
This is only a glimpse of week one of the six week bible study.
Throughout the study you will discover that following Christ is freeing. God can use our valleys to create everlasting good for and in us. (Please visit “You are just passing through your valley”). You will realize how valuable you are to God, and the “we don’t have to know the path; we just need to know the Shepherd.” When you are going through the darkest valley, remember that “nothing you fear is more powerful than your God.” Friend, you are invited to the table God prepared for you…not Satan. God wants to bless adn celebrate YOU!
Here’s a one minute video I posted on the Soaking Up The Son Facebook page and my instagram regarding a little insight from a verse Jennifer had us search…live full of life…https://www.facebook.com/545394265803431/posts/871625226513665?sfns=mo
To say I was encouraged each day is an understatement.
For those of you who have no idea who Jennifer Rothschild is, I want you to visit https://www.jenniferrothschild.com/about/ and discover this sweet sister in Christ for yourself. She may be physically blind, but she is not spiritually. Jennifer definitely walks by faith and not by sight.
I remember doing her first bible study, Walking By Faith: Lessons I learned in the Dark back around 2002, and seeing her speak at a women’s conference. I fell in love with her honest, funny, and compassionate self.
I would LOVE for you to come meet and hear Jennifer live at my church in September 13-14, 2019. She will be joining us along with author Angie Smith, Karen Abercrombie (Miss Clara from the movie War Room), and worship leader Michael O’Brien. Please visit https://www.fbcpc.com/fresh-grounded-faith for tickets. This will be a time of refreshing, regrowth, and much encouragement through worship.
A couple of activities we did at the end of the study were to rewrite (so-to-speak) Psalm 23 while also combining each verse with another given verse in the Bible, and to draw an outline of the world and fill it with words gathered from a variety of verses to help us see how we are always in God’s presence.
Here’s my rewrite (page 189 of the study):
With God I lack nothing. No matter what the situation may be, God is protecting me and providing for me. I trust in Him.
I am free and at peace because I know God is always with me. He guides and refreshes me. He is God.
Y’all, God is so good! When I am confused as to where to go, He will always show me the path He wants me on. It’s so comforting!
Even in times of trouble, God is in front of, behind, beside, and in me. He’s got me! His love protects me from danger. I am safe.
When my enemies stand before me, God shields and fortifies me. My cup overflows with God’s goodness that He provides. I am honored and full of hope.
I am comforted in knowing that God is with me forever! That includes the now. He surrounds, protects, dwells in, and loves me always. Amen.
Words I used to write all over my world outline (page 196 of the study) were:
- Happiness
- Calming
- Sing with Joy
- Answered prayers
- Beauty
- God’s power
- God created
- Shows me the path
- He gives life breath, and all our needs, We can trust God
- Truth and grace
- Rest
- God is right
- He dwells IN me
- We need to show respect
- God is amazing
- We are chosen
- Fertile land
- Joy
In Psalm 23 we read, “my cup runneth over”, friend, YES IT DOES! You will overflow with love, joy, thanksgiving, hope, rejoicing, and praise. This study confirmed a few things for me, gave me confidence to know that God is with and in me and to live that way, and reminded me of my true Happy Place…with God.
I mentioned that I wanted to challenge you. If you have never done an in-depth bible study, or you feel that you’re just worn out in life, or you need to find rest, or you need to stop listening to the lies you hear about yourself…do this study. Now, I will say that out of all the studies I’ve done by Jennifer, this on is definitely NOT as “light” as the others. This study actually came out of a mishap experience (more than one) in her life, and I’m so grateful that God crashed her computer (sorry, Jennifer) so that she would write this one.
Maybe I’ll see you in September…oh I hope so!
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
This is the version I memorized Psalm 23 in when I was young. What about you?
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23:1-6 KJV
Here it is in the Message translation:
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. Psalm 23
#psalm23study