Check out all the previous Christmas readings here.

Christmas Reading Plan | Week 5 | Day 3

Prayer

Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.

Bible Reading: Psalm 23

Read these verses three times slowly.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will 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 your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Reflection & Questions

Psalm 23 is a great place to land on the last day of the year. December 31 is an opportunity to look back and look forward. As we take stock of what has happened and what might happen going forward, there is one crucial constant: “The Lord is my shepherd.”

The Psalm expounds on what it means to have Jesus as your Shepherd. It means provision, peace, guidance, protection, justice and ultimately eternal goodness and love. There is no one and nothing else in this world that can provide you with the things that. This doesn’t mean life with Jesus is easy. But “even though [you] walk through the darkest valley”, He is right there with you.

As we finish the year, read this Psalm again slowly, personalizing it with your name substituted in for the pronouns.

The Lord is ____’s shepherd, _____ lacks nothing.
He makes ______ lie down in green pastures,
he leads _____ beside quiet waters,
he refreshes _____’s soul.
He guides _________ along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though ______ walks
through the darkest valley,
_______ will fear no evil,
for you are with ________;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort ________.

You prepare a table before ________
in the presence of ________’s enemies.
You anoint ________’s head with oil;
________’s cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow ________
all the days of ________’s life,
and ________ will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

1. As you personalized Psalm 23, what word or phrase stuck out to you? What is God’s invitation to you through that word or phrase today?
2. Look back on 2023. What are ways that you can see that Jesus has been your Shepherd? Thank Him for that. What encouragement do you draw from Jesus being your Shepherd as you walk into 2024?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?