The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬, ‭14‬-‭17‬
[Jesus speaking]
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.

Interesting day today … I have had a few different calls from friends that are going through tough times, and Cherish and I also have some significant meetings on our plates too. These meetings are a culmination of months of work and have significant emotional energy attached to them. And so as I come to the Lord after saying three to four prayers over others, I wonder, what should I read to encourage me.

Last week, I had an interesting thing happen. In the middle of a 2-day sales training conference I was conducting, after the kidney stone in my right kidney had been there for years, just minding its own business, it decided to travel out at midnight on the first night. I was in pretty significant pain and then only got 2 hours of sleep.

As I arose, I prayed from my hotel room in Kansas, “Lord, I come to you weak and worn out. I don’t quite know how I will be able to train and engage to the level I want to, without your help. Carry me.” The day went great. I stood and taught until about 3:30, and after it was all complete, I went back to my hotel and slept for 14 hours. Praise the Lord!

So now I look to the Word of God to sustain Cherish and me today, without doubt or worry. I know my shepherd will guide us to quiet our souls and refresh us with his spiritual food and shelter. He will walk with us through the challenging times with our friends and family. And he will sustain us. Jesus gave up his life for us. He is the one who defeated sin and death.

My Good Shepherd is right by my side, and in the middle of multiple challenges he calls out to me to come close. To let him help me. He is calling me to walk with him through it all.

Lord, thank you for faithfully coming to my aid and remaining by my side. I love you and will follow you wherever you lead. Lead on, King Jesus, lead on!