Highlands
Hills & Valleys - Day 1
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
This is one of the most quoted and well-known passages of scripture. Throughout history, believers have found comfort, direction, and clarity about the character and nature of Adonai (God) through the words of this psalm of David. Believers in the western, eastern, southern, and northern hemispheres have prayed, memorized, and contemplated this song and how it pertains to their lives and those they lead and love.
As leaders, remembering that the Good Shepherd is leading us is pivotal to longevity and effectiveness. We meet the needs of others in many ways, going above and beyond for those we lead and serve. We pray for them, advocate on their behalf, design and develop programs and products, and create spaces of thriving and acceptance.
David reminds us that what we seek to do for others, God does for us. He sees us and knows what we need. He meets those needs with His love, grace, and abundant mercy. He creates space for us to rest and be refreshed. He even makes us “lie down in green pastures.”
I remember one time a team member came to work sick. They wanted to work because they had two kids at home and didn’t want to take the time off. That’s completely understandable. We have real responsibilities and people who count on us. But I saw that this person would be no good at work because they needed to rest, and they would be no good for their kids once they got home because they had pushed their body beyond its limits. So, I talked with them and said Go home, get some rest, we won’t count this day against you. They needed grace.
God does us the same way. He knows us and knows what we need. Sometimes, he forces us to lie down and rest because we can’t be good leaders or followers if we don’t allow our hearts, minds, and souls to be refreshed. He knows our responsibilities, all we have to do, and the many dreams and desires of our hearts, and invites us to rest in Him. Why? Because He desires to restore our souls.
Living and leading can cause pieces of our souls to be broken, crushed, and laid aside. The kindness of our Good Shepherd is that He restores our souls. Something does not need to be restored if it doesn’t get damaged. Jesus restores our damaged souls.
Our shepherd leads and disciplines us! He teaches us to follow Him and frees us from fear, reminding us that His presence provides both comfort and courage.
He marks us as His own and blesses us even amid our enemies. As leaders, sometimes we develop seen and unseen enemies. I wish this were not a reality, but it is a lesson I discovered the hard way. Not everyone we lead, serve, or work alongside is with or for us. Not everyone in the community wishes us well—some actively work against us, while others hope for our downfall. Our shepherd is familiar with enemies. He teaches us in both word and deed to pray for them, to give place to wrath, and to love them. He promises that He will prepare a table for us and that His goodness and mercy are chasing us down.
Friends, as you take time this week to seek the Lord, remember and meditate on this truth.
Prayer Points:
Ask the Lord to show you how to submit to His leadership.
Pray that God would restore your soul.
Pray that you would experience both comfort and courage from God’s presence.
Song: