Lord, You are my Shepherd.

You are my Keeper, my Defender, my Guardian—my Protector. When I am living under the umbrella of Your care, when I am following You, there is nothing that I lack.

There is nothing that I lack.

When the world pulls me in so many directions, I look to You.

I look to You.

You take me gently by the hand and lead me to a lush, green pasture. It’s only us—the grass is cool and soft, it’s peaceful and quiet here.

You invite me to sit here and rest with You.

You invite me to sit here and breathe with You.

I take it all in, the beauty of it all, the life in it all. The life You breathe into it all—the life You breathe into me.

I take in Your Presence.

After a while here, You lead me on to a place where the water is quiet and still. (How quickly I forget that the waters, they listen to You. At Your command, they are calm.)

You know me so well.

You know that my soul is tired of the noise. You know that quiet waters are the balm to heal my weary soul.

Sitting with You beside the waters of rest—with You, the source of Living Water, my soul is quenched and filled.

In these places, You nourish and repair my war-torn soul. You know well what it’s like out there, because You walked here, too. And You had to get away, too. You know what my soul needs, because Yours needed it too when You had spent every last drop of You, when You were soul-tired and world-worn.

With my strength renewed and my soul healed, You lead me on, along the Way. Along Your Way. You lead me along the paths that You cut for me to walk down with You, long before I ever got here. The paths of righteousness.

I follow You gladly; I know that Your ways are safe. I know that with You I am safe. As we travel, I can’t help but make much of Your name to the hurting ones, the tired ones, the broken ones, there beside the way. You call on them tenderly to follow You, too.

In the dark and fearful death-like valleys, I am not afraid, because You comfort me.

You know that I long to feel You near me, need to feel You near me, here in the dark places.

I feel Your rod and staff in the dark, leading me through, reminding me that You are there, reminding me that You have not left me.

You whisper, “It’s only a shadow! Fear not, beloved.” And Your Light burns bright in me—because the darkness cannot extinguish it!

When we journey on through enemy territory, You prepare a feast for me, and we sit at the table right there, in the presence of my enemies! I break bread with the Bread of life. With You, I never hunger, and with You, I never thirst.

Here, even in the presence of my enemies, You remind me that my safety depends on being close to You—not on how far I am from the enemy. You are my Shield and my Protector.

In Your Presence, I find comfort and joy—(even here!)—instead of fear. Instead of running, You invite me to come, sit, and feast! You honor me by anointing my head with oil, and my cup cannot contain what You so generously pour into it!

I know that Your goodness and Your unfailing love will pursue me, every moment of every day of my life! Such goodness, such love. You revive me with Your perfect love.

Lord, I will dwell in Your house all of the days of my life. (To whom else would I go?)

You are my Shephard, the Living Water, the Way, the Truth and the Life. You are the Light in the darkness and the Bread of Life, my Shield and Protector. Your love is unfaililing and true.

I will abide in You and follow You all of the days of my life.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Blessings,

Nicole

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16