The LORD is My Shepherd

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 honor to his name.

Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
    forever.

—Psalm 23:1 (NLT)

Gracious and Loving LORD,

You are my Shepherd.  I have all that I need, because I have You.

As long as I follow after You, You refresh me along my journey with rest, peace and strength, and You guide me along right paths—so that my life might bring honor to You.

Even when I have to go through the darkest of valleys, I don’t have to fear, because You never leave my side.  You are right here to protect and comfort me—as You guide me safely through all of my trials and struggles in unexplainable peace.

Even though I am pressed by evil on every side, when I come into Your presence I find that You have already prepared a feast of blessing for me, and You treat me as Your honored guest—so much so, that the blessings You pour over me overflow from me to bless others.

Because You are my shepherd, I can have the confident hope that Your goodness to me and the mercy of Your unfailing love will follow after me—persistently and passionately pursuing my heart—all the rest of my days here on earth, until that time comes when You take me home to be with You, forever.

You are my Shepherd.  I have all I need, because I have You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Knowing When To Run, So That I Can Pursue

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

—2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to know when to run, so that I can stay away from those things of this world which pull me into desiring that which is not of You—things that keep me from the righteous lifestyle, faithfulness, love and peace that You have planned for me.

Keep me from chasing after what this world counts as important, desirable, or even necessary—knowing that it only acts to conform my thinking to the ways of this world, and causes me to lose the love and peace that I find when I am faithful to chase after a righteous life through Christ.

Help me to pursue that path that You have for me—setting aside the things that distract me from Your plan, and keeping at a proper distance those people that would hinder me from remaining in Your best plan for me.

Help me to seek out the best relationships that You have for me—making most of the companionship of those who call on You with pure hearts—those who are in that same pursuit of the very best You have for them.

Help me to know when to run, so that I can stay away from those things of this world which pull me into desiring that which is not of You—things that keep me from the righteous lifestyle, faithfulness, love and peace that You have planned for me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.