The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 NKJV)

How will I pay these bills with the layoff? How will I buy my groceries plus this new prescription? I haven’t heard from the kids. I wonder if they’ve been in an accident. What will we do if the country shuts down? I worry about my aging parents’ health. I am afraid of losing my husband.

American women worry, and we are good at it. As I linger upon any of the above scenarios, my mind sets flight into time travel. It’s a time where the situation is real and I am picturing myself in a circumstance that might never exist. Truthfully, it probably won’t happen, but it worries me.

Unless we were raised in a strict Christian home with parents who demonstrated a life of trust in God, we have learned to worry. It’s the one skill we have perfected. But did you know worry is a sin?

When David wrote Psalm twenty-three, he reflected on the life of the sheep, like the ones he shepherded for his father. David didn’t know Jesus would declare Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). David recalled his years of shepherding. He remembered God’s faithfulness through his many trials. He began to pen the words of a song.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 NKJV)

The shepherd has control over his sheep. If one sheep starts wandering in the wrong direction, the shepherd brings him back to the flock. His control comforts the sheep, and our Lord’s sovereignty should comfort us too. We feel comfort in darkness. We feel comfort during storms. Jesus is in full control, so we have absolutely no reason to worry, unless we stray. That’s when we place ourselves in the position of shepherd.

A sheep can’t shepherd itself.

Do we want our lustful flesh as our shepherd, only seeking self-gratification? Do we want the world who doesn’t love us as our shepherd? Do we want the devil who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy as our shepherd?

We desire the Good Shepherd, loving and faithful, who knows us intimately.

God created man in His own image, so He has ownership over us, but we are twice bought. Not only did He create us, He redeemed us with His precious blood.

Since Jesus has double ownership of His flock, we never want. A better translation of “want” is “lack” according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. We will never lack our basic needs, even in times of trouble. The Good Shepherd carefully inspects His sheep, seeking for parasites and injury. He tends to their wounds. He creates green pasture for them to graze on. He provides unpolluted water for them to drink.

Friend, we control our concerns, but worry controls us.

Wouldn’t it benefit us to place our complete trust in our Good Shepherd and never fall under the control of worry again?

Lord, we praise You as our Good Shepherd. Forgive us for worrying and wandering from You. Help us remember we can trust Your sovereign hand. Amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read Matthew 6:25-34.

HIKING THE TRAIL

What creates worry in your life? How can knowing Jesus as our Good Shepherd alleviate those worries?

RELATED RESOURCES

Abandon boring prayers as you build a strong prayer life using the names of God, such as Jehovah Rohi (The Lord my Shepherd). Get this life transforming devotional now! Incense Rising: 60 Days to Powerful Prayer

Originally posted on January 11, 2021 @ 3:06 am