Text: Psalm 23
Memory verse:
”Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Most believers still fear the devil because they believe that he still has authority and power to harm them. No, satan is like a dog in its kennel, still looking fierce and intimidating but can’t harm you.
This Psalm is often chosen as a favorite text during funerals, especially verse 4, which is our memory text. Pay attention to the use of the phrase, the ‘shadow of death’. The ‘shadow of death’ here does not literally mean physical death. The psalmist didn’t picture a dead person but someone very active because it says, ‘I walk through’. A dead person doesn’t walk anymore. Also, a dead person doesn’t feast, but here a table is prepared before him. When he says ‘goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord’, it means he is still alive and serving God. The dead doesn’t praise nor serve God (Psa 150:6).
The Hebrew word for the ‘shadow of death’ is translated ‘darkness’ or ‘dark shadow.’ Some also translate it as ‘the valley of the deepest darkness.’ Though ‘darkness’ contains the same root as the Hebrew word for death, yet it has a different meaning. Remember that satan is the god of this world and the ruler of the darkness of this world (2 Cor 4:4; Eph 6:12). Thus, the shadow of death talks about spiritual death and the deepest darkness in the world. We may walk through the valley of the darkness of spiritual death, darkness of evils, darkness of sickness and disease, darkness of poverty and all the darkness around us but we won’t be afraid of them. They won’t come near us because we have victory over them. In the midst of this thick darkness, God shines on us. “The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.” (Isa 60:2 MSG).
Even in the midst of the darkness, God prepares a table before us. Hallelujah! We shine in the midst of darkness. We are fruitful in the land of affliction. Satan has been incapacitated and has no authority, power, dominion, or influence over us. The wicked only barks but can’t touch nor harm us (1 John 5:18-19).
Friends, focus on the table that God has set before you and no more on the gross darkness around you. You are immuned from them all. Glory!

Prayer points
1. Father, thank You for giving me immunity and victory over the darkness of the world, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, help me to always focus on the victory you have given me rather than the darkness all around, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of darkness, I shall fear no evil.
2. As I walk through the valley of the shadow of darkness, I focus on the table set before me and not on the darkness.