The council of the ungodly entices me. I consider the way of sinners. I’m offered a seat with the scornful. Clothed only in the thin filthy fleece of my own self-righteousness, I wander off into this darkness. Suddenly cold, frightened, and alone I bleat desperately into the night. Bleeding hands encircle and draw me out of a darkness that seeks to devour me.

Gloriously clothed in splendor and unapproachable light He reaches into my darkness. I shield my eyes and crumple before a cross that rises into the heavens. The cross dissolves into light and becomes a doorway through time and space. I find myself in the Holy of Holies. A river of blood washes me clean and I stand in the pure, white robe of His righteousness. His glory fills me with light through and through. He gathers me into His arms—now so clean and pure with nothing between my soul and the Savior…nothing. Here I rest.

I hear the pounding of His heart within me—through me. Like a light, His Voice moves through my mind and heart: “I AM.” With indescribable tenderness He speaks…not in sound, sight, or touch, yet He speaks into my heart. My Creator and Sustainer—Shepherd of my life, so gentle His love, yet terrible, powerful, and jealous!

Nothing compares to this security, significance, satisfaction, or sufficiency. How can I, creature of dust, even seek to love Him? Only because He loves through me and for me and I rest in what He has done and will do. Reconciled by His death, I live through His resurrection and exist for Him. I must decrease—He must increase. His breath of life flows into me and our hearts beat as one.

Day and night I delight to hear His voice and consider His words. My roots grow deep into the water of life and in season my branches bear fruit above. Even my leaves do not wither in the heat of day for His life flows through me with renewed courage and strength. I prosper only because I put my trust in Him.

The ungodly, however, will blow away like chaff in the wind. Therefore they will not be able to stand in the judgement or be included in the gathering of those washed in the blood of the Lamb. The Shepherd knows those who are His own purchased possession, but the ways of the ungodly will most certainly perish.

He has been my shepherd all my life to this day. Therefore, my spirit remains steady, my heart strong and pliable and I lack nothing. He will carry me forever. He hears me, Shepherd of my heart, who sits enthroned between the cherubim and listens to my prayers.

He tenderly cares for His own. He gathers us into His arms and carries us close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. Yet, He scattered Israel because they forsook Him for other gods. But He gathers them again and will watch over His flock. We too scatter to our own destruction, but He searches for the lost and brings back the strays. He binds up the injured and strengthens the weak, but the self-gratifying, self-righteous, self-worshipping, and self-sufficient He will destroy. He shepherds us with justice.

He will stand despite all resistance and shepherd His flock. On that Day He will save those who trust in Him as a shepherd saves his flock. We will sparkle in His hand like jewels in a crown. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him, hear His voice, and follow Him. He brought us into His sheep pen through the blood of His eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.

We were all like sheep going astray, but now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. When the Chief Shepherd appears, we will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. The Lamb at the center of the throne will ever be our shepherd; He will lead us to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

(Psa 1; Gen 48:15; Gen 49:24; Psa 23:1; Psa 28:9; Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 31:10; Eze 34:5; Eze 34:8; Eze 34:16; Mic 5:4; Zec 9:16; Jhn 10:11; Jhn 10:14; Jhn 10:16; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 1Pe 5:4; Rev 7:17 personalized)