R. Scott Rodin: You Have All That You Need

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The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

“David is saying that because the Lord is our shepherd, we shall NOT be decreased, deprived, empty, lack anything, made lower, experience need, know scarcity, have want. Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall increase, have everything I need, be full, be satisfied, lifted up, have abundance, be provided for, know no scarcity, be content. This leads to my translation of this verse as, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and in Him, I have everything I need.”

If this is true (and it is) it must lead us to four powerful convictions.

1. Having enough requires absolute trust. I know the Shepherd, and I trust He will provide for all of my needs…

2. Having enough reorders our priorities. I know the Shepherd, and what the Shepherd provides is all I need. That is an interesting and important twist. It says that it is our Shepherd, and NOT US, who defines what we need. If we are willing to let God define our needs, we can trust Him to supply them.

3. Having enough is a present tense reality. I know the Shepherd, and as a result, my needs today are met. The verse says, “I have everything I need”, not that we ‘hope to have’ or ‘might have’ or ‘plan to have’, but God’s provision is a present reality.

4. Having enough is a declaration of sacred contentment. I know the Shepherd, and therefore I am content. I have enough! Enough for what?

Enough to lay down in peace beside still waters. Enough to have my soul restored. Enough to walk through the valley of death without fear. Enough to trust God’s rod and staff and take guidance and discipline with joy. Enough to sit in the presence of my enemies with his anointing and an overflowing cup. Enough to live with hope all the days of my life. Enough to know whose I am and where my future lies.

This Psalm is but one instance of a preponderance of Scripture that calls us to a life of abundance, trust and contentment. What would it mean for you today if you believed, really believed that God has supplied all your need?

It would mean we would focus on what we have and not on what we think we lack, and the result would be thanksgiving and praise. It would mean we would seek God’s guidance for how best to steward all that He has given, since we believe it is enough to do the work He called us to do. It would mean we would drive away every fear of tomorrow, having faith that the God who supplied our need today in every area of our life will be faithful to do so again and again as long as He gives us breath and life.

I urge you to start this New Year with this one phrase flowing from your lips, “I have enough.” See if it is not the first step on a journey of freedom and transformation as a joyful, faithful steward.”

R. Scott Rodin in “You Have All That You Need” blog post for The Steward’s Journey. Take a few minutes to read Psalm 23 today. Also reflect again on the four powerful convictions Rodin notes above, and repeat “I have enough” over and over. Do this to help renew your mind.

As I think about the idea of “abundance” in 2018, I am realizing that those who don’t grasp it don’t experience a little less than abundance. They miss out on life according to God’s design altogether because their priorities are whacked, their present day reality is skewed, and their outlook is clouded by fear.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, and in Him, I have everything I need.”