The LORD, My Shepherd, Part 2

Psalm 23:3 He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. . .

do you ever feel so overwhelmed by life that you want just a small time of quiet to "recharge your batteries?" I know I had those moments often as a mom of 3 in 4 years (which also meant 2-3 pre-adolescents and 3 teenagers at once) when I would chant the commercial banner, "Calgon, take me away!!!" I still have those times; being an "empty nester" does not mean that life stops, or that stress ceases. My All-Sufficient Shepherd knows this, and He knows me. When I choose to quiet my heart and pick up His Word, and listen to Him (more than just whining about how stressful my life is, etc.) my soul is restored, or brought back to the point of departure.

Was my "departure" worry? He reminds Me that He knows the end from the beginning, and
He is Sovereign;

fear? He is my constant Shepherd, and will never leave me.

anger/bitterness/desire for revenge? He is my Avenger; my job is to let
Him be in control;

disappointment? He gives me everything I need, and He knows best what
that is.

". . .He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake . . ."

I love to read the stories of God's relationship with the children of Israel in the Old Testament. One of my favorites (and there are many) is the picture of God guiding His people through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. . .

(Exodus 13:21,22 NIV)

That same constant Guide, leading from the front (not from the sidelines by remote control) is my Shepherd! He guides me in the right way, the way that is for my best. And the reason or purpose? It's for His name's sake. All this guiding, leading, restoring, providing, is so that my life will bring glory and honor to my Shepherd, and so that others will desire to be His sheep, too. "It's not about me. . ." really isn't a deprivation; it's a liberating, freeing concept. My life is not mine, it's God's; my purposes are not mine, but God's. He gets the credit for everything that I have and everything that I am. He is the ultimate Provider, and I'm so grateful!