April 9.

Talk to God, not just about Him.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me, Psalm 23-4.

The form of the 23rd Psalm is instructive.

In Psalm 23-1-3, David refers to God as He.

The Lord is my shepherd, He makes me lie down, He leads me, He restores my soul.

Then, in verses 4 and 5, David refers to God as You.

I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they come from me.

You prepare a table before me, you anoint my head with oil.

Then in verse 6, He switches back.

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord.

The lesson we can learn from this form is that it is good not to talk very long about

God without talking to God.

Every Christian is at least an amateur theologian, that is, a person who tries to understand

the character and ways of God and then put that into words.

If we aren't little theologians, then we won't ever say anything to each other or to God

about God and will be a very little real help to each other's faith.

But what I have learned from David in Psalm 23 and other Psalms is that I should interweave

my theology with prayer.

I should frequently interrupt my talking about God by talking to God.

Not far behind the theological sentence, God is generous, should come the prayerful

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