Library
Psalm 23 - Sandy
Sermon Summary
Sandy emphasises that Jesus, our good shepherd, enters into our messy lives with love and scars, offering us renewal, abundant life, and the assurance that eternal life begins now when we trust in Him and renew our minds with His truth.
Read More
Psalm 23 paints a vivid picture of God as our shepherd—one who is not distant or aloof, but intimately involved in the mess and reality of our lives. The image of the shepherd is not just one of gentle comfort, but of gritty presence: a shepherd who smells like the sheep, who enters into our chaos and brokenness without hesitation. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, left the glory of heaven to step into our world, bearing scars that prove His willingness to enter our mess and offer us life. He specialises in meeting us where we are, not where we wish we were.
Yet, even as we follow this Shepherd, many of us carry around “garbage” in our minds—old failures, shame, and the persistent whisper of condemnation. These voices tell us we are unworthy, that the promises of Psalm 23 are for someone else, or for another time. But God’s word is clear: when we confess, He chooses to forget our sins, casting them away as far as the east is from the west. The enemy’s accusations are flawed and exaggerated, but God’s forgiveness is complete and liberating.
The mind is the battleground where these truths and lies collide. What we feed our minds shapes our hearts, and what fills our hearts overflows into our actions. Scripture teaches that our minds can be renewed and transformed—not by our own effort, but by the Spirit of God working through His word. This renewal is not a one-time event, but a daily process of choosing what we allow in, and what we meditate on. The life Jesus offers is not just for the future, but for now: abundance, peace, and satisfaction in Him, regardless of our circumstances.
Psalm 23’s “I” statements—“I shall not want,” “I will fear no evil,” “I will dwell in the house of the Lord”—are not just for King David, but for all who trust the Shepherd. They are invitations to live free from lack, fear, and the tyranny of the past, and to experience eternal life now, in relationship with God. The Shepherd’s goodness and mercy don’t just follow us—they pursue us with relentless love. The challenge is to surrender, to let go of the garbage, and to receive the life that is on offer today.
Key Takeaways
1. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, enters our mess without hesitation. He is not repelled by our brokenness or failures, but draws near, bearing the scars of His love. His presence in our lives is not sanitised or distant; He specialises in meeting us in the reality of our struggles and bringing hope and transformation.
2. The enemy’s accusations are persistent, but God’s forgiveness is absolute. While the devil may remind us of our past with half-truths and condemnation, God declares that confessed sin is forgotten, cast into the depths, and remembered no more. This liberating truth allows us to live with a clear conscience and resist the cycle of shame and self-contempt.3. The mind is the gateway to transformation, and what we feed it matters deeply. Our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions shape our inner life and actions. By intentionally filling our minds with truth—through Scripture, prayer, and focusing on Jesus—we invite the Spirit to renew us, breaking the power of lies and old patterns.
4. The promises of Psalm 23 are for the present, not just the future. “I shall not want,” “I will fear no evil,” and “I will dwell in the house of the Lord” are realities to be lived now, not merely hoped for after death. Eternal life begins in knowing God today, experiencing His abundance, peace, and presence in the midst of everyday life.
5. Surrendering to the Shepherd means letting go of self-sufficiency and embracing His guidance, correction, and love. It is an act of trust to lay down our garbage and receive the life He offers—a life marked by abundance, freedom from fear, and the joy of dwelling with God now. This is not always easy, but it is the path to true satisfaction and the experience of eternity in the present.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Subscribe here to get a weekly SMS link to the latest Daily Hope devotional sermon (Australia only).
