shepherd | Thoughts About God

The Lord is my Shepherd

Devotionals — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 07:03:28 +0000

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” Psalm 23: 1

My husband stood up in the middle of our conversation, opened the back door, walked onto the landing and yelled, “Taylor, come home for supper.” Reasonable perhaps, except that I was only six months pregnant with our first child! When Bill came back in the house he announced, “Yes, the name works. I like it.”

My husband knew that someday he would be shouting out that same name to a child who really did need to come home – to a boy who would respond to the voice of his dad. In the same way our Heavenly Father, also called Jehovah-Raah or The Lord my Shepherd, beckons us to Himself. Do you know the voice of the Great Shepherd?

A shepherd knows his sheep intimately and will go to great lengths to find a lost one, nurse a sick lamb back to health and protect and care for his flock. The Lord does the same for us. He leads by still waters. He restores weary souls. He feeds and guides along the right paths – all for my good, my safety and my well-being.

My role as His sheep is to listen and follow. God knows my name and is calling me to fullness of life in His fold where He provides and watches over. The Lord is my Shepherd.

Father, please help me to recognize, obey, and be comforted by your voice today.

Thought: Read and meditate on Psalm 23

By Shelaine Strom
Used by Permission
Read: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller

FURTHER READING

Psalm 23 Reflection by Kathy Cheek

Psalm 23 by Alec Niemi

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He Lets Me Rest

Devotionals — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:03:45 +0000

“The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything that I need.
He lets me rest in green pastures.
He leads me to calm water”
Psalm 23:1,2

Looking out for number one. Be in control. Make yourself look good. Be at the top, or least near the top. This attitude seems to be a plague with which we are all afflicted.

We see it early with children in the playgrounds and sand boxes. We see it in homes, in schools, churches, organizations, at our work place and in the corporate world. Even in senior’s homes. When my husband’s father was bedridden in a hospital or in a wheelchair, we would notice how these older people would jockey for a position at the dinner table and in front of the television, pushing the wheelchairs of others. Pecking order until the day you die.

Phillip Keller, in his book, A Layman’s Look at the Twenty Third Psalm , writes about sheep and their “butting order.” One of the ewes is number one and she attains that position by butting the others into submission. The second in control ruthlessly butts the others into submission and so it goes right down the line to the last sheep. They all become fearful of each other and they can’t graze or lie down to rest because they are afraid.

Phillip Keller was a shepherd for years and knowingly explains that when the shepherd enters the field, the sheep instantly stop butting each other, calm down and relax. They know He is in control and will take care of them.

I reflected on the fact that the Bible often likens His people to sheep, and Christ the good shepherd. If Christ’s presence brings peace to a situation or place can we then conversely conclude that when there is friction, fighting, criticism and striving that Christ’s presence is not there? Or at the very least, we are not yielding to His control?

Think about it. Are you at rest today?

Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd. We pray for Your people today. There is so much competition, gossip, criticism and division in your flock. We pray for Your Presence to be in control. We pray for unity in your flock. In your precious name, amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Knowing Jesus’ Voice

Devotionals — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:01:35 +0000

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Before the invention of call display, you could identify some voices on the telephone by a single word. Familiarity allows us to recognize certain people instantly.

In the same way, using a story about sheep, Jesus says we can know His voice. Those who know Jesus’ voice, listen to Him and follow Him.

In John chapter 10,Jesus describes Himself as a shepherd and people as sheep:

• His sheep listen to His voice (10:3)

• He calls His own sheep by name (10:3)

• His sheep follow Him because they know His voice (10:4)

• He knows His sheep (10:14) • His sheep know Him (10:14)

• His sheep listen to His voice (10:16)

We can know God’s voice.

God reveals Himself through His Word. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for us — the sheep (John 10:14-15). When we surrender to Jesus and trust Him as our Savior, we know Him and we know His voice.

Followers of Jesus listen to God’s voice.

Just like sheep listen to their shepherd, believers listen to what God says. And hearing is implied in listening. Not only can we know God’s voice, we can hear Him speak! God speaks to our hearts through His Word, with the quiet whisper of His Spirit to our spirits, through our consciences, through wise advice, and even circumstances.

Listening to Jesus means doing what He says and going where He goes.

Followers listen and listeners follow. The two actions go hand in hand.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this incredible truth: that I can know your voice. I want to follow you, so help me to listen and respond to everything you say. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission