Devotional Reading: Psalm 23

Text:  The LORD is my shepherd. (v. 1a)

At the end of the day, when I lay in bed and close my eyes, I say a silent prayer to myself. I then mentally review the day now finished. I don’t dwell on any one moment, I just do a quick review, kind of like watching a home movie. Often, before falling to sleep, I will begin to recite the 23rd Psalm, an evening psalm. I may not finish the psalm before “the sandman” carries me off but one of the last words I silently say to myself are, “The LORD is my shepherd.”

The LORD is with me in all of the day’s events. I frequently, silently ask for help; wisdom, courage, strength. At the end of the day I know that the LORD watches over me as I sleep. And the LORD will be there when I close my eyes one last time–whenever that will be.

My baptism was a confirmation that I am a child of God. God claimed me as a child even before I was aware of God’s existence. God claimed me as a child even if I denied God’s existence. God’s claim on my life is not based on me but upon God.

There is comfort in knowing this. I hope that you have this comfort, too.

Whenever we celebrate a baptism at the church I serve, we sing “Borning Cry.” The composer of the hymn recently experienced “one more surprise” as he passed from This Reality into the Eternal Reality. I close this devotion with his lyrics as a prayer.

“I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell.”
“When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk ’till rising sun.”
In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise.”
“I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.”*

*John Ylvistaker, 1937-2017