The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

                                                            Psalm 23:1 

We have already looked at three biblical reasons as to why any Christian can proclaim, “I shall not want.” Here are three additional truths pointing us to that same reality.

1. Jesus tells us to ask! 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

                                                                                                               Matthew 7:7-8 

It is a certainty given to us by Christ. If we ask, we will receive. The criteria for receiving is in the asking. “Everyone who asks will receive” is what the Lord is telling us. I often wonder how many times do we go without because we have substituted Jesus’ clear teaching on the subject of asking with some other theological viewpoint? Declaring, “I shall not want” comes from believing Jesus when He instructs us to ask.

2. God is a benevolent heavenly Father! 

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

                                                                                                                     Matthew 7:11 

If we were to compare the love, caring, nurturing, and benevolence between that of an earthly parent and that of God, it would not even be a contest. Jesus tells us that God is able and willing to give us what is good, but again, this is reserved for those who ask. “How much more” is the phrase that indicates the benevolence of God is superior to that of any earthly parent.

The word “good” indicates things that are useful, salutary, good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, and happy. These good things are favorable to or promoting health and are conducive to some beneficial purpose. Are those the things that we envision when we think of God’s answers to our prayers? This is what scripture is telling us is available for anyone who will ask. Declaring, “I shall not want” comes from believing that God is a benevolent heavenly Father. 

3. God is abounding in riches for those who ask. 

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him…

                                                                                                            Romans 10:12 

Are we seeing the repetitive nature of scripture as we compare the words of Jesus with those of Paul? Jesus tells us that those who ask will receive. Jesus tells us that God will give what is good to those who ask. Paul echoes those truths as he reminds us that God is abounding in riches for “those who call on Him.” There are times when we might be tempted to think that the blessings of God comes to us slowly and scarcely. But scripture paints a different picture. When referring to the blessings that are ours, the Bible uses words such as overflowing, abundantly, extraordinary, and abounding. Declaring, “I shall not want” comes from understanding that God’s blessings are abundant for those who call on Him.

Before concluding our look at what it means to declare, “I shall not want,” how about a bonus verse to solidify our understanding about God’s willingness to supply everything that we need? 

4. Delight in God and He will give you the desires of your heart. 

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.

                                                                                                               Psalm 37:4-5 

When we delight in God, He will give us the desires of our hearts. I believe that this is partly true for the obvious reason that if we are delighting in God, our hearts are focused on godly things, beneficial to our growth and effectiveness. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we can proclaim, “I shall not want” because He is everything that we need. Notice the certainty in the language being used by David in the Psalm: “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Likewise, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

There is nothing more rewarding than to know that the work we are doing is pleasing to God and allows us to fulfill His purpose for our lives. When we delight in Him and commit our way to Him, we can be assured that goodness, blessings, and effectiveness will flow from our efforts.

Can you proclaim, “The Lord is my Shepherd?” Are you living in a constant state of declaring, “I shall not want?” Why not commit your way to Him today and begin to experience what David knew, that the Lord is a wonderful and benevolent Shepherd!