Almost all of us here today know some, if not all of the 23^rd Psalm. We either learned it in elementary school; we rehearsed it in Sunday school; or we articulated it during children’s hour.  I now know why this psalm is so popular and why people like these verses so much.  David; the writer of this Psalm uses the personal pronouns, I, me, my and mine 17 times in these six short verses.  And we like David enjoy talking about ourselves; preferably we like to use the words I, me, my and mine.  I know there are some witnesses that will agree with me that we use these words a lot?  We say things like, I sure look good today.  I really have it going on.  I don’t have time for you today it’s all about me.  This purchase is just for me.  We say things like, this is my car. Or something like, I have my own bank account and he has his own.  And some of us have the nerve to say, my money is mine and his money is mine.  We just love to use those personal pronouns.   Sometimes it sounds selfish when we use them over and over, but it’s alright to use them when we read the 23^rd Psalm because it really is a personal thing.

In order for your walk with Christ to be personal there are three things that David did and there are three things that you must do:  David acknowledged God as his Shepherd. David had himself been a keeper of sheep and understood both the needs of the sheep and the many cares of the shepherd.  He takes God to be his provider, preserver, director and his everything.  You need to acknowledge the Lord; it’s a personal thing.

David walked.  True joy comes from knowing God personally.  Wherever you find David you find God woven into the fabric of his life.  This valley experience was personal for David.  His own men disowned him.  The Amalekites robbed him.  The Philistines almost stoned him.  His wife betrayed him.  Yet he got through the valley and I stopped by to tell you that you can get through your valley.  Listen church you don’t walk IN the valley but THROUGH the valley. He learned to fight, to wait on God, to take care of himself and keep on keeping on.  You need to learn to wait on God for yourself.  Wait on God for your deliverance.  Wait on God for your sanctification.  Wait on God for your blessings.   It’s a personal thing! 

David didn’t want.   David made a statement that a lot of us have probably never taken the time to analyze.  David said I shall not want.  David didn’t want because he realized that with the Shepherd leading him he had all that he needed.  When you have all that you need; you don’t want for anything.  It’s a personal thing.  God doesn’t make me lie down in green pastures for you.  He doesn’t lead me beside still waters for you.  He doesn’t restore my soul for you.  He doesn’t lead me in the path of righteousness for you.  He doesn’t allow me to walk through the valley of the shadow of death for you.  He doesn’t prepare a table in the present of my enemies for you.  He doesn’t anoint my head for you.  It’s a personal thing this morning.  You have leaned and depended on others long enough.  It’s time for you to lean and depend on Jesus for yourself.  Mama won’t be here always.  Daddy can’t be here all the time.  Grandma is going to close her eyes in death one of these days.  You need to make this thing personal with Jesus.