Listen

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff— they protect me.

Psalm 23:4

Think

Isn’t it hilarious how the most popular psalm in the Bible is mostly written from the perspective of a sheep? Certainly talking animals have always been a hit; ask any Disney executive. Yet, I imagine Psalm 23’s popularity originates from more than cuteness.

Perhaps the human experience resonates with the life of a sheep. After all, while we have achieved so much in our short existence on this planet, we still are quite small compared to the world in which we live. We still butt heads over things that don’t matter. We are still lazy. We still eat until we get sick and make dumb decisions all the time. We still wander off from the safe path, and we are still quite helpless to the dangers that hide in the shadows. Maybe our identification with Psalm 23 comes from realizing that we too are sheep. And we always will be.

While others cling to the idea of becoming shepherds, masters of their universe — accept your sheep-like state and trust your Good Shepherd will provide.

Matt Andrews

Pray

Good Shepherd, even in the darkest valleys, you always look out for me. You are my eyes. All I have to do is trust in you. Amen.

Go

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that Thou art:
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

from “Be Thou my Vision,” traditional Irish hymn

Even now, God is giving you a new vision. What do you see?

What journey must you take to make God’s vision a reality?