God’s goodness to you

Pastor Rick Warren

Psalm 23 lists nine different benefits of God’s goodness to you.

1. He will meet your needs when you’re worried! Because God is a good God, He will meet all your needs when you’re worried. “The Lord is my shepherd, I will lack nothing”.

2. He will teach you how to relax when you’re stressed out. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me besides quiet waters.” This is a metaphor for peace and tranquility. He makes you lie down. He’ll teach you how to relax when you’re stressed.

3. He will replenish your strength when you’re empty! The Bible says, “He restores my soul.” Modern day translations say “He gives me new strength.” God gives sustenance, he meets your needs when you’re worried. He gives balance, he’s going to teach you how to relax. He gives resilience, because he restores your soul. He fills you up when you’re empty.

4. He will guide you when you’re confused! God gives you guidance. “He guides me in the right paths for his namesake”.

5. He will walk with you in your dark and fearful days! In dark and fearful days God is going to be with you. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

6. He will protect you when you feel insecure! “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff are the two tools of a shepherd in leading sheep. Those tools are given to a shepherd for the benefit of the sheep. He will protect you when you feel insecure. That’s God’s assurance.

7. He will publicly show his favor on your life! “You prepare a banquet for me in front of all my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.” God wants to put favor on your life. Favor’s another term for goodness or God’s grace. God is not just going to meet your needs, you’ll have abundance.

8. He will be good to you no matter what happens! “Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” God’s goodness and mercy will be with you, and you can handle anything if God’s goodness and mercy are with you. That’s his love, his benevolence.