The Lord is my Shepherd
‘Tis the season for shepherds tending their flocks. And as I meditate on these shepherds, I can’t help but be led back to the ancient shepherd’s song of Psalm 23. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.” This most basic, foundational statement identifies both Divine presence and human response which is the essence of all prayer. It’s a prayer posture of yielding, trusting, and willingness to be led. This is the prayer Mary prayed as she responded to the Divine presence in her life and said, “Here I am…may it be with me as you have said.”
Yet, it’s not always so simple, is it? Along the way, we get frustrated, distracted, interrupted on our journey through life. We wander easily, we react to what we see or experience, and fail to hear the shepherd calling. We forget what Phillip Keller about this opening line to the psalm in his classic book, A Shepherd’s look at the 23rd Psalm, “…it immediately implies a profound yet practical working relationship between a human being and his Maker. It links a lump of common clay to divine destiny – it means a mere mortal becomes the cherished object of divine diligence.”
This basic statement, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” is about renewing this foundational understanding, preparing our hearts to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, to yield to the leading of our Lord, and to recognize and receive the “Divine diligence” of God’s care.
On December 29th, our annual year-end, mini retreat focuses on the 23rd Psalm as a template for prayer and a way to consider the year past and welcome the year to come. I invite you to join us for this prayerful pause on the cusp of the new year. If you can’t make it, consider meditating on these questions for your own personal reflection.
Questions for Spiritual Direction:
How content am I being under the care of the Good Shepherd?
If Jesus is not fully my shepherd, can I identify the forces, people, things, habits, or messages that claim their authority over my life at times?
Looking back over 2021, where have I experienced the “Divine diligence” of God caring for me?
Where have I felt a deeper unmet need or want? What do I want to say to God about all of this?
