Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want.
The Lord is our good Shepherd who feeds us, guides us and protects us, just like a good shepherd would do for the flock of sheep. A good shepherd will provide food for the sheep by leading them to luscious pastures to feed and to rest—and will protect the sheep from ferocious wild animals seeking to devour them. A good shepherd would also go and look for a lost sheep and bring it back into the fold.
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will:
• Feed us: He makes sure we are fed, not only physically, but also spiritually. He wants us to be nourished—body, soul and spirit. This is why it’s so important to spend time at His feet each day to learn from Him and to hide His Word in our hearts and minds.
• Guide us: He guides us in all our decisions. We must listen to Him, being attentive to Him when He tells us where to go and when to move forward. Timing is everything! If we need to wait, we must do so with hope and expectancy. He will lead us and guide us at the right time.
• Protect us: He protects us from harm—especially from the enemy! He will fight for us. He has already won the battle and is victorious—and He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ. God can be trusted to protect us and shield us—He’s got our backs!
As we live in this kind of relationship with God, knowing He is our Good Shepherd and, more importantly, allowing Him to ‘shepherd us’, we will live in contentment—we shall never be in want for anything. We will be fully satisfied and filled to the full. God provides nourishment (body, soul & spirit), He provides guidance and He provides protection. He is fully trustworthy, and He is our Good Shepherd.
