One verse left, and it’s the one people put on cards.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Two halves. Read them as one sentence, because that is how David wrote it.
Psalm 23:1-6 · WEB
Tap a tool, then tap words. Highlight what gets your attention · underline what God is doing or saying · circle a repeated or unfamiliar word.
Read it aloud, then give everyone two minutes to mark it in silence.
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WEB Scripture quotations marked (WEB) are from the World English Bible, a public domain translation.
What stood out?
Go around the room. Each person reads one thing they marked. If you know why it stood out, say so. If you don’t, “it just stood out” is a complete answer. Nobody explains, nobody corrects.
Your markings are saved on this device and will be here when you come back.
Dwelling in God’s presence: the Shepherd who pursues
This final verse captures the relentless nature of God’s pursuit and the eternal invitation to dwell with Him. The Good Samaritan’s story (Luke 10:25-37) reflects how God’s mercy extends to us and challenges us to extend it to others. Just as the Samaritan actively pursued the well-being of the stranger, God’s goodness and mercy actively pursue us, inviting us to live daily in His presence and extend His love to those around us.
- The word “follow” implies pursuit. Goodness and mercy are the companions that God assigns to pursue us every day.
- Goodness and mercy don’t just trail behind us; they push us forward into the fullness of life He promises.
- Dwelling in God’s house is not just about a physical location but about abiding in His love daily.
- Living with an awareness of God’s goodness naturally leads to a life marked by generosity, gratitude, and grace.
God’s house is not confined to a place; it’s wherever His presence dwells within you.
Read this one out loud.
Discussion questions
- How do you see God’s goodness and mercy actively pursuing you in your daily life?
- What does it look like to dwell in God’s presence daily, beyond attending church or devotionals?
- How does the story of the Good Samaritan challenge you to extend God’s mercy to others?
Write it out.
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Let’s pray together
Read Psalm 23:6 aloud again, slowly.
Pray together: “Come, Holy Spirit. Let us notice what has been following us.”
In pairs or small clusters, pray for one another:
- Is there someone God is inviting you to pursue with His goodness and mercy this week?
- How can we pray for you to experience God’s relentless love in a fresh way?
Leave space for silence, listening, and Spirit-led prayer. If someone senses a word, a Scripture, or a picture for another, offer it gently and pray into it.
Let’s pray
Breakthrough is when God’s Kingdom breaks into your reality: His healing where there is pain, His freedom where there is bondage, His presence where there is loneliness. Jesus is King; His freedom, peace and purpose are available now. Pray from that Kingdom, not toward it.
Be still for a moment. Open your hands and simply pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Ask: “Father, where have your goodness and mercy been following me without my noticing?” Then: “What were you highlighting when I marked the passage?” Stay open to a word, a Scripture, a picture, or a prompting.
Pray boldly into what He shows you. Then pray for one person to be pursued the way you have been.
You can pray more than once. Stay present, and trust that God is at work. Take your time; there is no hurry.
Choose one. Say it out loud so someone else hears it.
Next time you gather, share what you practiced and how God used it, not for pressure but for encouragement.
The reminder downloads as a calendar event. Open it and it lands on your calendar for tomorrow morning.
Done.
Our desire to dwell in God’s house is not just about a future destination; it’s an invitation to a daily experience of His presence.