Psalm Friday

Keep Walking Through

Psalm Friday
Psalm 23, continued

* Pray. Ask God to give you an open heart and mind to learn new truths from His Word. Read Psalm 23 through three times. Record any thoughts or questions you have in your journal. If a verse stands out to you, write it on an index card and begin committing it to memory.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
Psalm 23:4a, NKJV

During the summer a shepherd will begin driving his flock to the “summer range”, by way of the valley. It here that they will spend the next few months steadily climbing to the tops of hills and mountains so that they are able to enjoy the rich pastures found on the mountaintops. The valleys the flock will travel through can be dark and dangerous, but in order to receive the prize of the lush, sweet grass the shepherd must drive his flock through these valleys.

So it is in the life of the believer. We all want to enjoy those mountaintops experiences with God, we all want to go to that next level in our relationship with the Lord, we all want that very deep and intimate relationship with Him, but in order to get there, there will be valleys that we must cross through. Our valleys may be cold, dark, and extremely difficult to get through, but my friends, going through those valleys deepens are relationship with the Lord and prepares us for the ministries He has called us to.

My marriage went through a horrible valley of dishonesty, anger, bitterness, lack of trust, hate and malice. For several years my husband and I pitched our tents in this valley. Our marriage was knocking on the door of death, but our God drove us beyond that valley so that we could experience His victory and will for our lives. Because we chose to continue walking, today we are able to share with others our victory over the valley of death.

My friends, it was at the top of the mountain where Yahweh provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in place of his beloved son (Genesis 4); it was at the top of the mountain that Moses encountered the Lord (Exodus 3); it is at the top of the mountain where the LORD’S house will be established (Micah 4:1); and it was on the top of Mt. Calvary where our Savior was crucified for our sins (Luke 23:33). None of these individuals reached the top of their mountains except by way of the valley. Yes, the valley may hold the shadow of death, but we are not to fear, nor are we to lie down and die. We are to walk on through into the Promised Land that He has waiting for us on the top of the mountain.

Maybe you are in a valley today; sweet one, know that your valley experience will lead you to His throne of grace. Keep walking through.