“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” Psalm 23 :1

If the Lord is indeed my Shephard and I am not supposed to want, why do discontentment and anxiety nip at me?

 As I was eating my lunch today this question popped into my head, so I asked my Lord why this is. Should not all discontentment and anxiety be a thing of the past?

 I was reminded, there are some things in life that need to be daily practices. If we don’t want to get hungry, we eat. If we don’t want to be tired, we sleep. No one can do it for us. We have to do it for ourselves.

 In the same way, there are truths the Lord invites us to receive repeatedly because we are by nature “ sheep”. I have been reading a wonderful book in preparation for my ‘Oma’s Sunday School’ I put on for my grandkids during our summer vacation; the book is called “The Lord is my Shepherd” by Robert J. Morgan. What a life-giving book. Robert was a shepherd and is familiar with sheep. Sheep are skittish by nature. We are reminded in scripture in many passages that we are like sheep. One of the many things that has stood out to me, is this: sheep, unlike most mammals in the world, cannot manage without care. They need a shepherd. They can also be slow to trust, and stubborn. Maybe it sounds familiar?

 When I discussed my question with God, I was reminded that each day we need to remember who God is and receive what is needed from Him throughout the day. We walk along the way with Him, step by step. This Shepherd of our souls who sees all and knows all things, is more than able to give us what is needed in this moment. He has everything we need, and even more wonderful than this... He does not hoard it; He offers us everything we need. We must simply be willing to receive it.

 The other day, I was especially grumpy. Do you have days like that? I felt a bit sorry for Bill having to put up with me. Finally, I could not even stand my own grumpy pathetic thoughts, so I did the “name 10 things to give thanks to God for” and I asked God to dust me off. After that, I was able to receive what the Lord had for me at that moment.

 I love that we have a Shepherd who promises to never leave us or forsake us. This promise is not only for the good days but the dark days as well. I think we all have those from time to time.

 Dear Father,

Thank you for being my Good Shepherd. I come to you today in need of your peace that calms my fears and quiets the anxious thoughts that seem to rise when I am quiet. Thank You for giving all that I need today.

 In Jesus Name,

Amen