Anoint My Head With Oil

This morning I read Psalm 23.
One line stuck out at me and as I read and I realized I didn’t know what it meant.

Verse 4- “You honor me by anointing my head with oil.” To be honest I always thought of it as God blessing me but for some reason this time it just didn’t sit right with me.

So I took to the Internet to investigate.
One blog I read said “There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death.
Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace.”

This is particularly meaningful to me.
Earlier this week verse 5 had stuck out at me. “you prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies”. I realized then that the enemies that the psalmist was talking about (for me) were my thoughts. Particularly thoughts that I battle from my childhood. Old tapes that play in the background that I don’t even realize fuel my emotions or responses at times.

Periodically I feel like that sheep struggling except I struggle against anxious or fearful thoughts.

This morning I am reminded that God is the oil that acts as a barrier to protect my thoughts and my mind against fear and lies.

He protects. He is present. He sees our struggle. He anoints our heads with oil.

God is with us.

Author: Erica Petrowski

Married for over 15 years and a stay at home mother of 4. I have a bachelor's degree in Interior Design, an associates degree in fine arts and years of experience in customer service. I rededicated my life to Jesus in 2000, & hail from Long Island New York. My Husband and I moved to Arizona in January of 2011. View all posts by Erica Petrowski