The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Questions
1. Before you read each day, pray to God and invite God to be present in your study and reflection. What is God showing you today in the psalms? Is there a specific verse or word that stands out to you? How will you carry this through your day in thought, word, and action?
2. What are ideas and themes that appear in the “introduction” to the Book of Psalms (Psalms 1 and 2)? Write these down.\ As we read in the coming weeks, take note of when they appear in other psalms and categories.
3. As you begin your Lenten devotional, try different ways of reading that will make it easy to reserve time for daily exercise. Try reading the devotional at different times of day to see what you enjoy and works in your life. You can read the psalm out loud, silently, or listen to an audio version. Invite a friend or family member to read with you and discuss what it says to you. You can use these throughout Lent.
4. When we read scripture that is very familiar to us, there is a temptation to glance at it or read it quickly. Take extra time to read these psalms and their words to us today. Try reading the psalm in a different translation or read it out loud to yourself.