The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23

In my estimation, peace may be the most fleeting Fruit of the Spirit in our world today. Many of us are overbooked, overworked, overextended, or overwhelmed. We either forget or don’t feel as if we’re able to be still and feel God’s presence. But only then do we become fully aware of the peace that the Lord is capable of bringing to our lives.

That’s why I love Psalm 23. It’s a classic verse that paints such a vivid picture of the comfort and peace we experience if we learn to lean on God, especially when peace feels like the farthest thing imaginable.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Many people would like me to believe they have all the answers to life’s problems. But I know that when I feel lost, confused, or in need of wise counsel, I only need to turn to God. He will guide and protect me when I listen and obey His commands. And because His Word has existed since the beginning, it is never-changing. Therefore, I know that no matter what I go through, I can rely on His word—always.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

When my soul is overwhelmed and in desperate need of rest, I know that by intentionally seeking God, his Spirit will provide calm, satisfaction, and renewal. This verse is a favorite reminder of the comfort God provides when we run to Him, not just in times of trouble but always.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

If I merely listen, believe, and obey, He forgives me and helps me grow to be more like Christ. I will never be perfect, and God doesn’t expect me to be, but with his guidance, I will be better tomorrow than I am today.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

When the darkness of my brokenness consumes me, Satan waits in the shadows with lies and temptations. But my faith in the Lord and His Word gives me hope, comfort, and lights my path out of the valley.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

God never promised that bad things would never happen, but He does protect us from the spiritual death that comes from sin. Satan and our enemies are powerless to prevent us from enjoying God’s goodness, mercy, and grace, and the assurance that by living a faithful life, we will be with Him for eternity.

If you’re in desperate need for peace, I encourage you to fill your head and heart with the Word of God. And take comfort that He is our shepherd who will guide and protect us when we listen and obey.

Today’s author: Mark Henderson—Founder of The Inspired Legacy

Mark is a creative professional with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of web design and advertising. He also serves as the chief content officer at The Inspired Legacy, an online ministry dedicated to shining a light on God’s gift of parenthood. The organization aims to inspire and equip fathers to boldly lead their families, love their kids unconditionally, and leave a legacy of grown children that carry on these same traditions. Mark resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with his wife, Kimberly. Together, they have three children, two girls, and one boy.