Day 3 Jesus, the Good Shepherd
Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
Bringing honour to his name.
In today's Scripture, the psalmist, David, who was once a shepherd boy, delights in God as his shepherd. He uses figurative language to evoke in our senses a place of rest with Jesus.
In our busy lives, we have demands from every angle: work, school, family, friends, etc. We can easily become consumed by the pressures that we face and forget to stop and quieten ourselves in the presence of God. We are often travelling along busy roads, interacting with many people, rushing from one task to the next and while God requires us to work (Genesis 2:15, Proverbs 14:23), it is also holy to rest. Just as God rested from his work (Hebrews 4:10), we need to do the same.
Practising 'quiet time' can be challenging to do in our own strength if we are consumed by our daily tasks and worries. Our minds and bodies can become so exhausted that we may slump down on the couch after a long day and scroll on our phones or watch our favourite TV series, but neglect receiving real, spiritual rest and relief from the burdens we carry.
We need a shepherd to lead us into a place of rest with God. Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:11) who leads us into good pastures (John 10:9). We learn from the psalmist to submit to the Lord as our shepherd and leader. In our everyday lives, we must find a time of the day to stop what we are doing, leave all distractions behind and accept God's leading into a quiet place with Him. In that time, alone with God, we can quieten our minds from the noise and be still enough to hear from our Heavenly Father.
He wants to refresh us, renew our strength and give us direction. We will find that the striving ceases, we are given direction towards the "right paths" (Psalm 23:3), and we are filled with his incomprehensible peace, protection, and comfort.
So today, as you have taken the time to pause and read the Word of God, I encourage you to surrender your burdens to Him. Allow the good Shepherd to lead you daily into a quiet time of rest. He wants to commune with you as he delights in you and “he will rejoice over you with gladness” (Zephaniah 3:17). Delight in Him today, knowing that you can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” so that you may “receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).
Family Discussion Questions
1. Share one thing God spoke to you about today during your prayer time?
2. Verse 3 promises that when we rest in God, he will guide us along the right paths. What does that mean for you?