I Shall Not Want

I shall not want what the world holds out as being sweet and precious.

For their food leaves me wanting, hungry and terribly frustrated for more but only widening the void in my soul and inching me over a hellish canyon of death. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12 NIV).

I shall not want what I want because I'll pursue short cuts or back doors or anything to avoid pain and suffering. I'd compromise and grab at nearly anything to satisfy my ambitions and fleshly desires. Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered, all because He desired only to obey the will of God, His Father. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered (Hebrews 5:8 NLT).

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalms 23:1).

I will learn to want only my Shepherd.

When I feel the weight of my needs press hard against my soul or when the nights seem so long and the break of day so far away, my Shepherd will lead me to His green pastures (not my own). He will give me peace beside quieted waters. Yes, even His rod will be to me my comfort and delight.

God will never leave me alone with my wants. He sends goodness and mercy to follow me all the days of my life (Psalms 23:6). When my wants want to remind me of life that I left behind, of days spent in wanton lust and recklessness, His goodness and mercy will satisfy me, overtaking my desires for the world and of my own flesh.

And so I'm never in want...except for more of Him.