Psalm 23 - The Shepherd With MeSample

Hey, my fellow lamb! I’m thinking about my day as I sit at my computer writing this. My mind wanders to all I need to get done today, and planning how I will fit it all in! I know you can relate. But as I was thinking about my list, I then thought, "Sheep don’t have daily planners. Sheep have daily needs." Hmmm. 

Sheep wake up in the morning with probably just a few things on their simple minds. First, food! Second, who will get me food? Third? Ah yes, the shepherd. He will make sure I have food. Right? So as we sit here together now, I’m trashing my to-do list and focusing on my Shepherd, not my needs. 

Can you do that too? He cares about us and for us so we can cast our cares on Him right here, right now. If you need to pause and do that, take a minute to refocus in prayer. 

Let’s go back to the sheep’s daily needs for a moment. Sheep learn to associate the shepherd with their needs being met. When that happens, the shepherd becomes their focus, not their needs. They “shall not want”—not because they have an all-you-can-eat buffet set before them, but because they have their shepherd with them. It is the same with us. We shall not want because we have all we need in our Shepherd. 

So let’s study this! 

Look at different translations of Psalm 23:1. Did you notice the different ways “I shall not want” is translated? The Message paraphrases “I shall not want” into “I don’t need a thing.” I love that. The New International Version translates it as, “I lack nothing.” That word "lack" shows up in other places in Scripture too. Some Scriptures tell us what happens when we lack knowledge, judgment, or wisdom. And oh, it ain’t pretty! Other passages describe how we lack nothing when we seek God or follow Him. And that is beautiful. 

Get honest with The Lord about what you may lack or think you lack and how it affects your life. Settle back to spend some time with your Shepherd, and listen to His voice. 

Oh Jesus, thank You for being our Shepherd. We shall not want.

To read more of Psalm 23: The Shepherd with Me, visit LifeWay.com/Psalm23. There you'll also find teaching videos and other resources from Jennifer Rothschild.