March 22: The Shepherd Leads
Everyone knows Psalm 23. Have you ever noticed who’s doing the work in it?
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness.
Count the verbs. He makes. He leads. He restores. He guides. The sheep’s part is to follow.
That’s a beautiful picture of Step Three. You decide to let the Shepherd lead. Your job becomes simpler. Stay close. Follow. Trust that He knows where the grass and water are.
Sheep are not known for their sense of direction. Left alone, they wander into danger, get stuck, overeat, or walk off cliffs. That’s not an insult. It’s just how sheep are. They need a shepherd. And honestly, so do we. Left to our own direction, many of us wandered straight into the bottle.
Notice the phrase “He makes me lie down.” Sometimes the shepherd has to make sheep rest. They won’t do it on their own. In early recovery, God sometimes slows you down in ways you don’t choose. A quiet season. Fewer distractions. Time to heal. It can feel frustrating. But green pastures are for resting in.
And look at verse three. He restores my soul. That echoes Step Two’s promise of restoration. Step Three is how you receive it. You let the Shepherd lead you to the places where restoring happens.
The psalm goes on, in verse four, to the valley of the shadow of death. Following the Shepherd doesn’t mean avoiding every dark valley. It means you’re not alone in it. His rod and staff are there. So is He.
If you’d like a guide as you think about what following looks like day to day, Jimmy and Sarah in the Steps & Scripture app can help you work it out, alongside your meetings and your church.
One thing today
Read all of Psalm 23 slowly, out loud. Underline every verb that describes what God does. Thank Him for each one.
A prayer
Lord, You’re my Shepherd. I’ve wandered on my own long enough. Lead me. Make me rest. Restore my soul. I’ll follow.
Being led is the heart of Step Three.
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