Alone Together (Again*)

Psalm 20, 21:1-7(8-14) • Psalm 23, 27
Isa 25:1-9 • Rev. 1:9-20 • John 7:53-8:11

If I make the effort, I will find some time to end this day with Psalm 23. I will pray like the psalmist. I’ll say or sing or whisper:

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
I shall fear no evil.
I will dwell in the presence of God.

I do want, though. I want lots of things. I want good things for myself and for others. I want other things, too; selfish things just for me.

And I fear evil. I mean, I worry about evil a lot.

So I will say the words again:

I shall not want.
I shall fear no evil.
I will dwell in the presence of God.

Sometimes saying the words out loud helps me mean the words. The 23rd Psalm has good words to say. It’s good for me to recognize and acknowledge how God shepherds me and gives me all that I need.

Not everything I want. All that I need.

I’ll say them again. Like I mean it.

The 27th Psalm has some good words, too:

The Lord is my light.
The Lord is my salvation.
The Lord is the strength of my life.
I shall not be afraid.
I will put my trust in God.

I will say these words. Maybe you will say these words, too. At the end of this day, at the end of this year, let us say these words with our bibles or prayer books or electronic devices.

We can say them alone together.

Until we mean it.

*Originally submitted on Dec 17, 2017

Written by Troy Schremmer

Troy works with preschool age children as an enrichment teacher in music and movement. He and his wife Jonny (who teaches older children) are both still at work. Many thanks for all the prayers for our family (and students and co-workers). Happy New Year!