Psalm 23:1: I shall not want.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1 (NKJV).

The best known Psalm in the bible and a widely known and memorized passage of scripture. Starting off so simply and sending the perfect message for our tired and weary souls. If we read through the whole of Psalm 23 we find lots of truth and comfort within. However, if we simply focus on verse one we find all the truth and comfort we need as well. The Lord is my sheperd; I shall not want. We could split those into two seperate sentaces. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Both have power within themselves.

The Lord as our shepherd is a common analogy, but maybe its less of an analogy and more of an allegory. Years ago, when shepherds were much more common, the sheep would recognize the shepherd certainly and graze close by. There were always those curious sheep that went astray though and the shepherd must go and find the missing one. Likewise there where timid sheep that never strayed far from the shepherd, try as he might to get them to go out and graze witht he flock, the clung to him close and tight until he would walk with them to the field to graze. Each sheep needs the shepherd in a slightly different way. Each sheep sees the shepherd in a slightly different way. We are not so different. Certainly we all see the shepherd as the protector, or the savior. Many of us find him to be our provider, our guide, bringing us to the later described green pastures and quiet waters. He also forces us to grow. Just as the shepherds would sheer the sheep when they wool grew long, so must we sometimes be sheered, to shed off the old and grow. Grow in our faith, love, and understanding and shed off the old ways that day by day we try and put behind as we seek Christ.

I shall no want. Something tricky to say and believe as at any given time we always want something. The NIV translates this as, "...I lack nothing," Taking a moment to let this sink in. To lack nothing seems even more far fetched than to want nothing. But in truth, when we have the Good Shepherd to guide us, provided for us, protector us, help us grow, what is left? What more can we need? To honestly say and believe that I lack nothing is a difficult task. I'm not certain I am there myself, but I hope to be someday. I want to confidently kneel before the Lord and pray, "I am yours, and you are mine. I lack nothing," and to truly believe it in my heart. To get there I look at what I need the shepherd to be for me today. Do I need a provider, a savior, a guide, or maybe I need his sheers. The Lord isn't something or someone you just will into being what you want, but if we evealuate ourselves and see where we are we can pray for the Lord to help us in a specific way and he will. He will answer our call just as a shepherd would answer the bleating cry of his sheep in need.

Today I would ask all to pause and prayer, "Lord, I want to lack nothing as I have you." I pray that someday my prayer along with all others maybe, "Today, I lack nothing for I have the Good Shepherd."