DAILY DEVOT IONAL 28
Alicia Juliá-Stanley
Psalm 23
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“I greatly disliked MRI’s” There, I said it. Notice that it says ‘disliked’. I don’t mind them any longer, but the Lord knows that the 1st time I went through that tube, I was terrified.
The newer models look very different, but you still have to lay still- but no mirror… yet…
Last year, I had to have 3 MRI’s on the same day. The total duration for all 3 was over 2 hours and 20 minutes… the techs divided the test in 3, because they needed to set up the scanner for the next area: neck & shoulder, elbow, knee. As the scanning continued, the pain and discomfort increased- and this was only in the midst of the 1st scan. Then I remembered to ‘get into the 23rd Psalm…
During the Pandemic year, I attended an online retreat on Breath Prayer. It is a power-full combo of Conscious breathing and using all your senses to let God speak to you, as we entered the Psalm, we were aware of the presence of the Shepherd, feeling the green grass between our toes, listening to the brook nearby while looking at ourselves in the calm waters… we found ourselves enjoying a feast of our favorite fruits (I so miss guava, acerolas, mangoes, and sweet lemons, and also sugar cane, sweet oranges and tamarindo)… we were invited to use all our senses to as we found ourselves walking through the valley of the shadow of death… and that’s when I got thinking that the Light of the World walks alongside us- and the darkness cannot overcome the Light!
I no longer dislike MRI’s… I welcome the space, the time, and the invitation to get inside the 23rd psalm- and the reminder that God’s got this!
Since then, twice each year, I invite my congregations to ‘get inside the 23rd Psalm during a healing service… a reminder that no matter what, we do not walk alone… especially when we are anxious about what we don’t know.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The One who knows and loves us best walks with us is the Light that darkness of any kind cannot overcome. He knows your name.
PRAYER FOCUS
For those who fear what they don’t know
HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
He knows my name