THE LORD is my Shepherd.......

You've no doubt spoken it silently to yourself,
read it in the Bible or hymnals, sang it, and
know it by rote, BUT DO YOU REALIZE WHAT
YOU ARE SAYING/CLAIMING?
Of course, this is the beginning statement of the
23rd Psalm, or the "Shepherd's Psalm" as it is
known.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
Repeat that line a couple of times and meditate
upon it. What are you hearing from it? Who is
your shepherd? What is a shepherd? What does
the shepherd provide for his flock? STOP and
think about the answers to these questions before
going on.
"The Lord is my shepherd". "The Lord is my...".
"The Lord is.......". "The Lord......". Following me?
WHO is your shepherd? Your parents? Spouse?
Teacher? The government? A spiritual advisor?
WHO?
THE LORD!!! None other than the God of the
universe, the Creator, the Upholder of all that is,
the Sustainer, He who holds the earth in the palm
of his hands!! HE is your shepherd!
Is He capable of taking care of you? Is He in any
way limited? Does He know who you are and
where you live? Did He not form you in His own
image and likeness? Is He not a very personal
and personable God? He knows your every
inclining, need, trait, want, and thought!!
HE IS YOUR SHEPHERD!
What does a shepherd provide for his sheep?
Shelter. Food. A place of rest. Assurance of
his presence. Protection. Individual and
personal care. It's said that a shepherd knows
every member of his flock and can identify each
one by name. HOW MUCH MORE DOES GOD
KNOW YOU AND ME!!
And..................He knows what each one of us needs!
Do you "want"? What? If we are truly HIS, we
must "learn to be content" with what He provides
for us. A sheep or lamb that leaves the fold takes
the risk of "getting lost" or of losing their life to
a predator!
Another scriptural principle is that of accepting
our lot in life: called in poverty? Seek not to be
rich; called in riches? Seek not to be poor; called
as a slave? Seek not to be free; called as a freeman?
Seek not to be enslaved.
IN OTHER WORDS - God has you where He wants
you, and if He desires something else, a better job,
more income, better health, close friends, peace of
mind, success by whatever measure, HE CAN SEE
TO IT THAT YOU GET IT!
I'm not saying that you should wallow in abject
want, but if you will just praise Him for himself,
be an obedient flockmember, and live for Him
in your present situation, one of two things will
occur: You'll be a LOUD witness of His sustaining
power in your station in life; or He will see fit to
trust you to be put into a different position for
HIS GLORY!
Say it with me, "The LORD is my shepherd, I
SHALL NOT WANT" Trust Him, friend. Keep
yourself in the fold and be obedient - He alone
knows what a glorious future is in store for you!!