“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 
Psalm 23:1-4 English Standard Version

We’ve heard, read and recited this sweet, familiar passage throughout our lives. The words are pressed upon our hearts, and we seek them out frequently. They are a soothing reminder that we are never without our Good Shepherd. Not only does He accompany us to the greenest pastures; He also guides us to unsurpassed places of peace and rest.

God inspired this Psalm, just like the rest of His Living Word. We see these words come to life as they transform us, providing the counsel we need and the comfort we desire. And in His time, He reveals new and different messages. In certain seasons, they are tailored to our specific needs; whether we need to be comforted, redirected, led to repentance, inspired, or all of the above. What a wonderful thing — to know that our God speaks directly to us through His Word and Spirit, with custom messaging.

As I meditated on Psalm 23 recently, I thought carefully about the still waters. This is a picture of the creek that runs through Vail Village. I see this photo, and I think about the quiet flow of the water, blue skies above, majestic mountains ahead, and bright green grass underfoot, displaying a canvas like no other. It’s all hustle and bustle on either side, but in that moment, serenity unrivaled. That’s exactly what we get when we spend time with God. He has so much to say to us. Even the most familiar and most recited verses will reveal exactly what we need to hear.

Thank you, Lord, for being our Shepherd. Thank you for continuing to teach, guide and provide for us through your Holy, Living Word. Amen.