Today Daily Devotional

He leads me beside quiet waters.

— Psalm 23:2

Water bottles are everywhere these days. Most of us know that our bodies need water and that dehydration can have devastating consequences.

A good shepherd knows that the dry air and relentless sun in a desert climate can dry out and weaken sheep quickly. And where might the shepherd find a good source of water for his sheep? Well, it’s important to know that sheep cannot drink from a fast-flowing stream. They can lose their footing and drown in too forceful a flow. A good shepherd will take his staff and make a hollow in the ground next to the stream where the water can pool and be safe for the sheep to drink from.

There are many times when life moves so fast that it can feel like we are drinking from a firehose. Many of life’s experiences can be very good, but there are times when even the good things can be overwhelming. The shepherd not only sets a sustainable pace for us but also helps us to slow down so that we can take in all the good that is going on around us, making it more manageable.

The Lord my shepherd provides me with two times of quiet waters each day. Every morning and evening I have a quiet time.

Where might the shepherd be inviting you to rest and reflect beside still waters that will refresh your soul?

Good Shepherd, we live in a busy, noisy world. Lead us to quiet places where we can be revived by your presence in our lives. Amen.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. . . .

— Psalm 23:2

It is a busy season as I write this short devotional message. My list of responsibilities has increased lately, and I have less open time than I would like.

Sheep have a difficult time pacing themselves as well. They need a guide who can provide them with a life-giving cadence. The psalm writer found that with the Lord as his shepherd, he was not driven but made to stop and rest.

Rest is a part of the Lord's kingdom rhythm. All who are within God’s care are invited to work diligently for six days and then rest in him on the seventh because that is the best way to live. While resting, we sheep are encouraged to trust that whatever tasks we haven’t accomplished or plans we haven’t completed will be covered by the one who promises that we will lack nothing.

Resting is one of those invitations that is also a command. Rest! Stopping our labor is a concrete way of showing that we trust the shepherd to make good on his promises to care for us. This is not easy in today’s work-driven culture, so the testimony of a rested sheep can actually be quite powerful.

Where in your life might you be invited to slow down?

Good Shepherd, help us to rest in you, trusting that you have us in the palm of your loving hand. Thank you for giving us this confidence. Amen.

I have learned the secret of being content in . . . every situation . . . whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

— Philippians 4:12-13

The apostle Paul was someone who followed the Lord as his shepherd through dark valleys of persecution and danger as well as to heights of church growth as new followers of Jesus became part of the Lord’s flock. Paul wrote this declaration of trust and contentment in a letter to Christian friends while he was in prison. He recognized the Lord's presence and provision through the gifts of other believers who supported him and shared in his troubles.

Paul found that he could rejoice. He could give thanks. He could be content because he was not alone in his suffering. He experienced the pursuing grace and mercy of God through the support of other Jesus-followers. When he received news of God’s continued work, that fed his soul.

In his posture of gratitude Paul was bolstered by recounting God’s continued goodness and mercy to him. And that led to contentment. Paul was assured that the shepherd who always led and guided him would continue to do so.

Paul’s testimony reminds us that the words of Psalm 23 are more than a beautiful word picture. They are a bold witness to the shepherd who supplies what we need when we need it most—and in ways that may be confusing to people who do not yet follow him.

How has the Lord your shepherd surprised you with his provision and care lately?

Lord, may we too learn to be content in any situation, that we may testify to your gracious care for us. Amen.

. . . I lack nothing.

— Psalm 23:1

This is a bold statement for the psalm writer to make: “I lack nothing.” Is this a statement that you can make too?

This psalm is attributed to King David, so we might think, “It’s easy for a king to say that he lacks nothing!” (David’s story is found in 1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2.) David wasn’t born into royalty, and he sometimes experienced a great deal of want and danger. He was also well acquainted with sheep because he was a shepherd when he was young. He even understood wandering firsthand because at times he had to be drawn back from paths that would lead to misery.

David is not writing here about having enough stuff. He is testifying to how deeply he trusts the Lord to guide him onto the right paths and to provide for him along the way. I imagine David recalling times when he was in danger and how God provided him with friends, allies, and spiritual care when he needed these things most. This was true when David’s life was in danger. It was also true when his very soul was in peril because he stole another man’s wife (2 Samuel 11-12).

David declares that the Lord his shepherd is worthy of his trust, and he does this with boldness because the Lord has never let him down.

In what ways has the shepherd provided for you in your journey with him?

Thank you, Good Shepherd, for your constant, loving care. Grow in me a deepening sense of trust in your provision. Amen.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way. . . .

— Isaiah 53:6

Sheep need particular care. They need to be led to still waters because they can’t drink safely from fast-moving streams. They can’t predict when the grass will run out and when they need to move to new pastures. Often there are holes in the ground that dangerous snakes can shelter in, and sheep do not suspect that they could be bitten.

We need special care as well. We can’t always predict the dangers and challenges ahead; nor do we always make wise choices. We don’t always pace ourselves well when it comes to managing our resources and our day-to-day living. We are prone to burning out and tuning out—both of which can lead us astray.

Of course there are other ways in which we are like sheep. We are easily distracted by anyone or anything besides the shepherd. So many shiny and alluring things draw our attention. Social media, TV, shopping, and other things can distract and lead us into pastures that may look inviting but don’t satisfy.

The psalm writer reminds us that when we follow the Lord our shepherd, we will lack nothing and that his provisions are soul satisfying. But we are responsible to follow.

In what ways might you have acted sheepish lately?

Forgive us, loving Shepherd, when we don’t keep our eyes on you. Push away any distractions that keep us from fully following you. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd. . . .

— Psalm 23:1

If the Lord is our shepherd, then the psalm writer is thinking of us as sheep.

I’m not so sure that I like being compared to a sheep. Sheep are not very bright. Humans are far more intelligent. For better or worse, we have more capacity for directing our own lives. So how are we like sheep?

I wonder if the psalm writer might be highlighting how vulnerable sheep are. They have few defenses from predators, for example. And sheep are not very good at finding their way or finding the best grazing areas. They need a shepherd to bring them to good pastures and to find good water to drink.

We humans are vulnerable too. We often lead hurried, distracted lives that wear us out and leave little room for the things that will refresh our souls. We don’t always choose what is good for us.

We can get confused about who our enemies are, and we often forget that our major enemy, the father of lies, will tell us anything to make us believe that we are unworthy of the shepherd’s attention and care. We fall for the lie that there isn’t enough to go around and that we need to get what we can before it is all gone. The deceiver makes us think that we are alone on the journey.

We are vulnerable, and we need a shepherd. In what other ways are we like sheep in need of a shepherd?

We need you, Good Shepherd. Help us to entrust our vulnerabilities to your wise care, knowing that we cannot manage our lives well on our own. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd. . . .

— Psalm 23:1

There are many times when I have needed the help of a guide: an IT expert to help me with my computer; a nurse to help me understand a diagnosis; a biking guide to help me set the pace on unfamiliar roads. Some of these guides have been more helpful than others. A lot depended on how much they knew me and cared for me as a person.

When I reflect on how the Lord shepherds or guides us, I am struck by two important things. First, the one who has made us and knows us intimately is the one who invites us to follow him as our shepherd. He knows our names. He understands our strengths and weaknesses. He knows where we will find the journey challenging and where we will find joy. This gives us comfort and hope for the journey.

Second, the Lord knows and cares for all of his sheep—every one of us. While some of us will follow similar paths, they will not be exactly the same, and many of us will follow quite different paths. But each one of us can say, “The Lord is my shepherd. . . .” because he is leading each one of us, and we will lack nothing for the journey he takes us on through life. Everyone who follows the good shepherd can have the same confidence that they are being guided well by the one who loves them best.

In what ways does the Lord’s guidance help you?

Thank you, Lord, for being our guide. We pray that you will continue to make your will and way plain to us. Amen.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

— Romans 8:38-39

Dana, 20, from Wisconsin, ended up on Chicago’s South Side after she stopped taking her prescribed medications. She began self-medicating with street drugs and eventually found shelter with us for a while. Tragically, Dana died alone in an abandoned building from a fentanyl overdose.

Each year we hold a service for people who couldn’t have a proper funeral or were unclaimed at death. Members approach the microphone, sharing memories of God's goodness in the lives of the departed. I’m reminded of a Jason Isbell lyric: “Hardly even know my name anymore/ When no one calls it out, it kind of vanishes away.” So, we say the names of these people, remembering we are saved by God’s grace and joined together by God’s Spirit.

After the names are spoken, we are reminded from Scripture that nothing in this world—neither death nor life nor anything else—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Near the front, Tyesha cradles her son Hakeem while Layla and Brooklyn sit beside her. Brooklyn’s eyes widen as I proclaim, “For you, Dana, Jesus Christ came into the world; for you, he died; for you, he conquered death. Dana, child of God, you are part of God’s family.”

For you, dear reader, Jesus Christ came into the world, died, and conquered death. You are part of God’s family.

Lord, thank you for making us part of your family, adopted in love forever in Jesus. Amen.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace. . . .

— 1 Peter 4:8-10

D’Near Scott, known as “Twin,” is actually a triplet—but that’s another story. Today he stands with us in a large circle before lunchtime. Twin has spent much of his adult life working odd jobs, staying in abandoned buildings, and trying to survive. At Roseland Christian Ministries (RCM), Twin has found something more—a place where he is valued. Like a member of any family, Twin takes on roles that help us function together. He’s quick to mop floors, take out the garbage, or shovel snow when necessary. Sunday through Friday, you’ll find him at RCM, smiling, helping with odd jobs, and sharing in the meals we serve.

Today, as 25 to 30 of us stand in a circle before lunchtime, tears well up in Twin’s eyes, and his voice quavers as he says, “You are my family.” As we go around the circle, each of us shares our name, gives thanks, offers prayer requests, and speaks words of encouragement. Then we pray together, lifting each other up to God in Jesus’ name, and we break bread as a community. In this way we remember that Christ calls us into a new family—his body, the church.

May we always see one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, bound together in his love and grace. We are family.

Father, thank you for the family we find in Christ. Help us to be united in your love. May we serve and uplift each other, reflecting your grace and compassion. Amen.

Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. . . . Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace. . . .

— 1 Peter 4:8-10

In the beginning, God created human beings in his image (Genesis 1:27). This foundational truth shapes how we view all of humanity. Unlike other creation stories, where only kings or rulers bear the divine image, the Bible teaches that every person carries God’s likeness.

This truth underpins the entire biblical social ethic: Do we truly recognize the image of God in all people, regardless of their status, background, or differences?

We need to see people correctly, as many moral philosophers and ethicists have recognized. In other words, if we fail to see someone as made in God's image, we reduce them to something lesser, even less than human. And if we dehumanize people, that can easily lead to mistreatment, marginalization, inequality, and injustice.

In contrast, when we learn to view all people—our neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies—with love and justice, we begin to recognize their inherent worth and dignity. (See Matthew 5:43-48.)

As believers in God, we need to see people as God does. May God’s Spirit work in us to see correctly all the people we are in community with, wherever we are.

Loving God, open our hearts to recognize the dignity and worth in each person. May we treat everyone with love, justice, and the honor they deserve. Amen.