The Lord is my Shepherd I will never be in want or need, He makes a way for me to lie dawn in green pastures, He leads me beside the stillness of the water, He brings restoration to my soul He leads me to the paths of righteousness for the very sake of his name. Even as I walk through the valley of the unknown the darkness and pain, I will not fear because He is right beside me; He leads me with His staff and prepares a banquet before me in the presence of the ones who want to harm me. He pours oil on my head and calls me His anointed, I know that goodness and mercy will follow me the rest of my days, and I will dwell in His presence all the days of my life! Psalm 23 (Heather's version)

I was reading this the other night and it hit me… Words jumped out with a different meaning, not the usual feeling you get when this is read at a funeral or hearing it for the hundredth time being read to the sick, no this time it was for me… He was talking to me as my shepherd and showing me how the shepherd leads his flock, how he cares and looks ahead, how he plans out the path he will take us on… the gentle way he allows us to lie down when we need rest, or the favor he shows as he feeds us before our enemies. The staff is used to ward off the enemy and to bring safety to His flock, how he allows us to walk through the valley, not carrying us but leading us through and protecting us all the way. That is how I know that mercy and goodness is with me, that is His very character… He is goodness and He is mercy!

I am soaking in His goodness today, knowing that the fear and doubt that we face are so small to our Shepherd… if I would only allow Him to lead!