Our Shepherd Supplies Our Needs

Day 44: Psalms 23:1-3

            Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd.

            Lord, You are perfection, beauty and strength. You are the perfect Lord, the perfect Father, the perfect Man, the perfect Lion, Lamb, Sacrifice, Warrior, and more. You are the perfect Shepherd. All that the shepherd does in wisdom and compassion for the sheep You do for us. Jesus, You have revealed Yourself to us as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

            But it is also a personal matter. You are my Shepherd and I have seen it and felt it and know it in the core of my being. You care for me. You have not abandoned me, nor neglected me, nor truly exposed me to unneeded harm. I am Yours and You are mine. You are mine not as a possession, but as a child claims that this one is his father or mother, so You are mine. As the student claims this one is his teacher, so You, O Lord God, belong to me. Oh, the wonderful, powerful words of the Bible: He shall be their God and they will be His people. The Lord God Almighty is my God. He is the God of gods, the only true and living God. It is He that has made us and not we ourselves. I belong to Him by virtue of His plan and His promise. I belong to Him by virtue of creation. I belong to Him because of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that has been shed for my sins to redeem me from the guilt and the power of my sin and to bring me safely to my heavenly home.

            Psalm 23:1a I shall not want.

            Because You, Lord Jesus, are my shepherd, I shall not want. Because You know all things, care for all things, provide for all things, but especially because You have committed Yourself to the wellbeing of Your children, I shall not want anything I need to walk with You, to stand before You. I shall not want anything that I need for eternal life with You.

            But it does not stop there. Lord, You give me not just what I need for eternal life, but You supply all that I have. 

            Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

            Lord, You provide me with all the food and drink I need. You command me not to worry about what I eat or drink or what I will wear, but to seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to me(Matthew 6: 33). You have added to me more than I need, but Lord, please help the cares and the riches of this world not to choke out my love for you. May I hold all things loosely except for my love of You. Thank You for the cool refreshing water when the desert is dry. Thank you for the food to eat when I am famished. Thank You for the rest at the end of a long and weary day.

            You do restore my soul. You have seen me through dark times when I felt all hope was gone. Compassionate God, I cannot help but think of others in this their time of need. My family, friends, and others I have come to know that have gone for a long time with trouble at their doors. Lord, You know their need. You know what it takes to help and see them through their hard times. Give them hope. Give them help. Please let them know Your hand and Your peace upon them. Help them lie down in green pastures. Lead them beside the still waters. Restore their souls. Lead them in the paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake.

            I pray that You will lead all of us in the path of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Help us not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with the goodness that You supply. Help us turn the other cheek. Help us bless those who curse us and pray for those who despitefully use us. Help us be strong in the Lord and in the strength of Your might.  Do not let our enemies and Your enemies triumph over us. Help us resist the devil in the strength of the Lord and fulfill Your promise that He will flee from us.