Psalm 23 (KJV): The LORD is my shepherd...He restoreth my soul

Psalm 23
A David Psalm

¹The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
      he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³He restoreth my soul:
      he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
      for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
      thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
      thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
      all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Today I am taking a break from The Message.  With the kind of gaps that I have in my blog it's not like I need any kind of break from psalms.  Nevertheless, Psalm 23, probably the most popular psalm there is only sounds right in its most original form.  Other translations don't seem to do it justice.  And so I meditate on this version of Psalm 23 in the midst of temptation surrounding me.

It is with huge gratitude that I have God's word at this time.  I am unable to sleep.  I am travelling by myself.  Usually for me this is a prime situation when I fall into the traps of my sexual addiction and scan all aspects of the internet for porn and sex.  To think this is my proverbial valley of darkness now, compared to what it once was, or what it could have been, is pretty amazing.  His shepherd's crook is a comfort to me, especially of the possibilities my life now has.  Surely I have gifts of God's giving and my cup runneth over.  I pray that I can continue to dwell in His house forever.

It is often at this time that I pray for the addicts that still suffer.  Today, however, I'd like to recognize that addicts aren't the only victims of addiction and pray for all of the victims of addiction.  Especially the parents, friends, children, and loved ones who are abused by the addict, sometimes physically as well as mentally.  I'd like to pray for their wisdom, love, strength and courage in the face of an addict in their life.  God, I was recently told me that addiction is infinitely patient, waiting for the right instances to strike.  You've taught us that love, however, is the more patient.  And so I pray for this kind love for the victims - that can help them separate the disease of addiction from the person they love.  That they have the courage to stand-up to the addiction while loving the person.  I pray that God, you can give them the wisdom to know the difference.  For this is even a hard distinction for, we, addicts to make.  So I pray these things for all addicts to have as well, the love of oneself, and the courage and endurance to fight the addiction within us.  This is important, because regardless of the success we've had in the past it is a struggle that will always be one we face.  And I pray that we addicts remember that we are not our addiction - and that we remember that You, God, have a bigger and better plan than what our addiction would have of us.  All of these things I pray in Jesus' name - AMEN.

Thanks for letting me share.