Listen

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name.

Psalm 23:1-3

Think

Hearing these opening words of Psalm 23, I always pictured green valleys and flowing rivers as the psalmist states. Then I visited Israel. It’s hot. It’s dry. It’s a lot of scraggly, rocky ground. It makes you ask the question of just where these grass fields and streams of water are.

But that’s the point. This psalm is a prayer of trust from the sheep’s (our) perspective. Despite the lack of green pastures and still waters in the land, there is trust in the shepherd (God) that there will be food to eat and there will be water to drink and it will restore our souls.

There is peace in being able to trust, because even when we can’t see green fields and flowing waters, we know that the shepherd will lead us there.

We don’t need to panic or run off on our own, for we know God will stay with us, protect us, and lead us where we need to go.

Kris “Bubba” Brammer

Question to Ponder:

What are the “green fields” and “flowing streams” that restore your soul?

Pray

O Lord, my shepherd, I trust in you.

Even when the world says otherwise, I lean on you to guide me, to lead me, to show me the goodness of you and your creation.

Amen.

Go

May the peace of God surround you.

May the peace of Christ uphold you.

May the peace of the Holy Spirit sustain you.