By Banji Ayoola
The Lord is my Shepherd. He ensures my wellbeing, my welfare, and He cares for me in all situations.
He leads and guides me towards abundance, towards goodness and what will benefit me. I shall not want.
This is one of the strongest affirmative, declarative and authoritative statements ever: I shall not want.
It is not I may not want, but I shall not want. By this authoritative declaration, I am affirming that I shall not want, or lack anything that I need for my survival and existence on earth.
And this declaration, by virtue of my humble and pure volition and striving, has already taken on form; has already been established in the spiritual world as a fact. It has already been stamped, sealed and confirmed there.
It is now being drawn to the earth by this affirmative declaration. It is now manifesting here. It is now being established here on earth: I shall not want. I shall not lack. I shall not suffer.
The Lord provides all my needs and ensures that I have all necessary provisions for my care, wellbeing, welfare, joy and happiness, all that I need for my joyful existence.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads and guide me to where there is an abundance of fresh food and all that I need for my joyful living.
To an oasis where I will have an abundance of food to feed and nourish me.
He makes me lie down in the midst of abundance. He leads me beside still waters. Where the water is calm, peaceful, and potable. Water whose pressure, speed, and movement are adjusted to levels I can cope with, relate with and draw for my needs.
He restores my soul. Not only does He take care of my physical needs, He cares for my soul, which cloaks my spirit, the real me on earth.
He replenishes and refreshes my soul from weariness. He comforts me deep within.
Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For He is always with me.
Even at that time in history, when David composed this beautiful song, there were life threatening dangers. Yet he feared no evil.
Today, we live amid more terrible life threatening dangers. The dangers of buildings collapsing and crashing down over the occupants; of being hit and killed by stray bullets and accidental discharges from security operatives or even criminals.
The danger of assassination; of falling victim to violent attacks by armed robbers, bandits, and criminals amid the high level of insecurity in the land; of road crashes, other accidents or fatalities.
Yet in the midst of all these, and any other life threatening dangers, I fear no evil. For Thou art with me.
Thy presence alone by me, and standing by me amid all these insecurity, amid these life threatening dangers, is enough protection for me.
This alone gives me confidence and trust that no evil shall befall me. That evil may roar, yet I fear no evil. Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.
Thy rod and Thy staff Thou use to guide me, and at the same time to clear dangers off my path; to attack, smash and destroy whatever dangers that may threaten me.
And as the tools for guiding me on to the right path whenever I try to stray away.
This is connected with the petitions in The Lord’s Prayer: “And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil.”
Thy rod and Thy staff descend on me heavily in loving severity whenever I go astray, to force me back in line on the right path. To make me fall in line at all costs.
Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou prepare a table for me to feed me, to feast me even in the presence of my enemies.
Showing them that Thou care for me despite their wishes; telling them that they are powerless and they cannot do anything to stop Thy continuous care for me.
Thou anoint my head with oil. Thou go further to single me out of the multitudes as Thy servant; as one who belongs exclusively to Thee.
My cup overflows. Thou pour into, and fill my cup to the brim that it overflows out of the abundance flowing from Thee.
Such that I have more than enough, that I have a surplus supply of food and drinks, of whatever provisions to meet my needs
To use to advance Thy Kingdom on earth; to give to help and serve others; to help wherever my help is needed.
To enable me to stand firmly on my feet on earth; to ward off like with like; and live in dignity as Thy servant. And still have left overs.
Again, I declare and affirm authoritatively that Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
I am sure, I am confident that Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
That wealth and riches, abundance and prosperity, joy and happiness shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the House of the Lord forever.
With this last statement, I hereby commit myself to live in Thy House, to work, strive honestly to live and swing in Thy Laws, walk in Thy Way and Will forever. Amen.
