Our everyday life is often a collection of ups and downs, highs and lows. Our lives are marked with times of stress and heartache to season of joy and serenity and all the different times in between. Yet through it all, God is every present, relentlessly attentive and gracious towards, wanting to journey with soul. “The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not be in want”, is more than just something we recite, but an invitation to a way of life that is enjoyable, unhurried and full. What would your days look like if this was really true for you? How would your life be different – you anxieties, joys, confidence, freedom – if you truly lived in the reality of this Psalm? Come and experience this journey for your soul.

Read Psalm 23:5-6 and 2 Samuel 17:27-29

• What do these passages tell us about God?
• What do these passages tell us about you and your life?
• How would your life be different if Psalm 23:5-6 is true?

Wei shared three insights of how we can experience a life of overflow when demands and consequences of life can drain our energy, resources, and life away:

1. See God’s provision, not your problems
2. Let God protect you
3. Let God fill your cup

Discuss one or more of the following relevant questions:

• What does an ‘overflowing’ life look like for you? What are some of the challenges you face in living a life that is overflowing?
• Rate your opinion on a scale of 1 to 5 (1= Strongly Agree, 5= Strongly Disagree) of the following statements:

___ Pursuing pleasure tends to lead to wasted time or even harm.

___ I think a lot more about work than about play.

___ I’m uncomfortable if I think I appear overflowing with happiness or joy.

___ Life is hard; now and then I get a little relief.

___ Life is great, though sometimes I need to be more serious.

___ My friends consider me a joyful person.

___ I have less fun now that I’m a Christian.

What do your answers tell you about your personal tendencies toward joy and pleasure?

• Describe a time when you experienced God’s provision in the midst of your problems. What are some of the practical things you do to see God’s provision instead of your problems?
• Grab a sheet of paper and pen. Spend 5-10 mins in prayer by yourself asking God to show you His provision at this time in your life. List those things down on the piece of paper. At the end of 10 mins, gather everyone together to share. Get each person to read out their list with a short prayer of thanksgiving at the end.
• Psalm 23:6 describes a life where we are ‘actively being pursued’ by the goodness and mercy of God. How convinced are you that no matter what occurs in your life, you are being followed by goodness and mercy? Do you leave goodness and mercy behind me as a legacy to others, wherever you go?
• Spend some time praying this prayer out loud together. Follow it with 5 minutes of silence and allow God to speak to you through it.

“No matter what occurs in my life, I am convinced that I am being followed by goodness and mercy. So much so that I will leave behind peace instead of turmoil, forgiveness instead of bitterness, contentment instead of conflict and joy instead of frustration. The presence of hardship and difficulty does not mean You have abandoned me. Your gracious presence is with me wherever I go.”

1. Is there a truth that God wants you to obey?
2. What will you do to obey this? I will…