Scripture Reference: Psalm 23; 28:9
The 23rd Psalms is a familiar passage often read at funerals. We are comforted with the knowledge that God is Jehovah Rohi (The Lord is my shepherd). In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares that He is the Good Shepherd. We can be confident that if Christ is our shepherd, then no wolf can snatch us from His hand.
We have this confidence and comfort in knowing that Christ is our Shepherd, but so often we do not access this great consolation because we don’t want to acknowledge that we are sheep in need of a Shepherd. We don’t want to be known as dependent or immature; rather we want to be identified as self-sufficient. We are busy running around trying to do everything in our own ability. In so doing, we rob ourselves of the peace it is to have a shepherd that cares for us and guides us to still waters for rest and refreshing.
Spurgeon said that before a man can truly say, "the LORD is my shepherd" he must first feel himself to be a sheep by nature, "for he cannot know that God is his Shepherd unless he feels in himself that he has the nature of a sheep." He must relate to a sheep in its foolishness, its dependency, and in the warped nature of its will. It is God that has made us and we are the sheep of His pasture. To experience the restoration of your soul, you have to recognize that you need Jesus to shepherd you.
When we recognize that we are sheep fully dependent on Jesus our Shepherd, He not only guides us to restoration, but He carries us. Psalms 28:9 states “Be their shepherd and carry the forever.” Shepherds don’t only walk alongside and guide their sheep, but when they are broken, fatigued, or unable to continue, a Shepherd will carry their sheep. Self-dependency can make us broken and tired and forfeit the opportunity to be carried by a loving Shepherd
During this time of consecration, embrace being sheep and receive the protection and provision of the Good Shepherd.