Click for audio: The Lord is My Shepherd
Part 1 of 6
The lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…
The 23rd Psalm has served as a source of comfort to millions over the years. It is a profound series of affirmations that, in challenging times, reminds us that there is a higher Presence working in and through us, and that we can trust this Presence to guide us to the right thing.
The Psalmist does not say, The lord wants to be my shepherd, and if I will love and promise to obey Him, He will take care of my wants. He says, “The lord is my shepherd…” He is stating a changeless relationship that we often forget, especially in our trying moments.
A shepherd is a caretaker, a protector, one that guides his or her flock to the best and least dangerous grazing spots. Isn’t this a wonderful image to hold of our relationship to God? Right now, you and I are being guided into the best and highest, the most bountiful place in life, the richest environment in which to learn and grow.
Pause for a moment to remember this. Allow yourself to let go and trust that you are in the right place at the right time, that unseen good is now unfolding through your experience. Get the feeling that you are being guided, that your unfulfilled longing is being satisfied in every way.
Affirm often: The lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, then listen for the quiet, gentle guidance that is calling you to trust, that is leading you to a deep, inner satisfaction. Know beyond all doubt that you are being lovingly guided through uncertain times, and through territory that may be unknown to you. Nothing is unknown to the lord of your being, to God, your unfailing source and protector.