Nancy's Notes

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have recited the 23rd Psalm when I am worried or stressed out about something. It is my go-to stress-reliever, and it’s far more effective than drugs. It’s hard to improve upon the 23rd Psalm and the calming effect that it can bring, especially when I reflect on a mental picture of, for example, the Flinthills: acres upon acres of rolling hills with green, grassy carpet, horses and cattle grazing peacefully, and a beautiful pond in the valley. Try it sometime — you’ll thank me for it later.

Over the past year and a half, we all have had plenty of reasons to stress over a variety of things. What we choose to do (or say) when we are pushed to the edge probably says a lot about our character. It would be interesting to sit down and talk to each other, get another’s point of view about where and how they find respite for their soul. You can write me, if you wish, and tell me what it is that saves you from going over the edge when you are at your wit’s end.

An online devotional that I receive every day recently suggested creating a “madlib” for Psalm 23, providing the format to insert different words in the psalm at various places to personalize it. There’s not a thing wrong with the wording in Psalm 23 as it is; but often, things that are so familiar to us might lose their meaning or value. I don’t see any harm in making my own version, using words to express the moment or the situation; the possibilities are endless. Here is a completed psalm that I worked on, as an example:

“The Lord is my caregiver; I shall not worry. You make me go outdoors for a walk; You lead me to listen to Selah. You restore my feelings of peace within. You lead me to the way of love, for Your name’s sake. Yea, though I find myself in periods of spiritual darkness, I will fear no isolation or loneliness, for You are with me; Your guidance and quiet assurance / pacifies me. You prepare an ice cream sundae before me in the presence of negative people. You wrap your arms around me; my cup runs over. Surely grace and forgiveness will bless me all the days of my life, and I will sing of your praises for ever. Amen.”

Now it’s your turn. Below is the format with blanks where you get to enter your own words, from your lips to God’s heart. But first, lie down, right now, wherever you are. If anyone asks why you are doing it, just say the Good Shepherd is making you. Close your eyes. Take three good, slow, deep breaths, and when you’re ready, sit up and open your eyes, pick up a pencil and fill in the blanks to create your own peaceful psalm. “The Lord is my _____; I shall not _____. You make me

“The Lord is my _____; I shall not _____. You make me __________; You lead me to __________. You restore my __________. You lead me to __________, for Your name’s sake. Yea, though I __________, I will fear no _____, for You are with me; Your ________ and ________ / ________ me. You prepare a ________ before me in the presence of __________. You __________; my cup runs over. Surely _____ and _____ will ________ me all the days of my life, and I will _________________ for ever. Amen.”