Pray aloud or write "The 23rd Psalm for My Valentine" adding his or her name. 

The Lord is Mary's Shepherd

She shall not want.

The Lord invites her to lie down in green pastures. 

He leads her beside the still waters.

He restores Mary's soul. 

He leads her in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yes, though she walks through the valley of the shadow …

She will fear no evil; for You Lord Christ are with her.

Your rod and your staff they comfort Mary.

You prepare a table before her in the presence of her enemies.

You anoint Mary's head with oil; her cup runs over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow Mary all the days of her life:

And she will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” – (Psalm 23:1-6 KJV- mod).

Listed below are 11 blessings given to His "sheep" – metaphor for "us". The list below is a brief review of my 11 previous Beacon Columns.

1.   The Lord is my Shepherd (vs. 1) 

•    A shepherd is someone who loves his flock, cares for them when sick, and would lay down his life for them.

2.   I shall not want (vs. 2). 

•   "Oh taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! . . . Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing" (Psalm 34: 8-10).

3.   He makes me to lie down in green pastures (vs. 2a).

•    I can picture Jesus, sitting there on the grass watching me and enjoying my childhood activity of rolling down the beautiful, green hillside.

4.   He leads me beside the still waters (vs. 2b). 

•    I think my good Shepherd would have liked to be in an inner tube beside me that summer in Gainesville, Florida, as the river stream carried my friends and me several miles to a beach picnic.

5.   He restores my soul (vs. 3a). 

•    Soul is "nehfesh" in Hebrew. It refers to the psychological part of a human being: intellect, will, and emotions. If we should "back-slide" in our faith, we need soul restoration.

6.   He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake (vs. 3b). 

•    Our Lord also made provision for Believers to be empowered with the Holy Spirit.  We cannot live a righteous life without divine help.

7.   Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me (vs. 4a). 

• During the 1994 Rwanda holocaust, Immaculee llibagaza prayed through her many close calls with death, "God, I am really walking through the valley of death ­– please stay with me. Shield me ..." (Left to Tell, Hay House).

8.   Your rod and Your staff they comfort me (vs. 4b).

•    There is only one person who can restore fellowship with God and that is yourself, when you humble yourself before Him and repent. The rod and the staff of our Shepherd, comforts the Believer.

9.   You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (vs. 5a).

•    Though David was often pursued by King Saul's army, still he found time as a psalmist to fill his life with music. The Psalms he left are a banquet for our table.

10.                  You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over (vs. 5b). 

•     On the Day of Pentecost, the 120 disciples gathered in the "Upper Room" were anointed with the Holy Spirit. Their speech centers were so anointed, they praised God beyond themselves.

11.                  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (vs. 6).

•    "For the mountains may leave and the hills be removed, but My grace will never leave you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed, says Adonai … (Isaiah 54:10) (Complete Jewish Bible). 

Forgiven Believers can look forward to the reward of eternity with God – in His Home ­– with His family forever…  Amen.

Have a wonderful Valentines Day with romance and chocolates!

I'll see you next week as we explore more of God's bestseller.