The Lord is Your Shepherd

Mar 11, 2026

If you’re the leader of your life… read this today

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The Good Shepherd is the best

Let’s slow down with one of the most well-known Bible verses and let these words settle in: “The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.” This can be both the most familiar and distant verse at the same time. Do you actually know a shepherd? How does God being a shepherd have anything to do with you lacking nothing? 

A shepherd leads, protects, corrects, and provides. Sheep simply cannot lead themselves. They need someone to guide them. It’s humbling, but we’re more like sheep than we would like to admit. We try to be the leaders of our own lives, and each of us will eventually realize… we can’t. 

Thankfully, God’s leadership is worth following. He’s not controlling. He protects. He’s wise. He doesn’t want to restrict your life, but give you the life you’re made for. Perhaps this is why Jesus calls Himself a “good shepherd.” 

The question is not whether God is leading. It’s are you following? Take this one thought with you: the Good Shepherd is the best leader for my life, and He gives me everything I need. If you want to let the Good Shepherd lead you today, we have a prayer waiting for you below.

A Prayer for Surrendering Control

Jesus, You are the type of leader worth following. 

You’re faithful, reliable, strong, wise, and kind. 

I want to surrender to You, today. 

I want You to lead me, and I want to follow. 

Correct me where I’m drifting

Teach me to follow Your voice above all others. 

Amen. 

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Related Thoughts

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    There’s a difference between being physically still and actually being at rest. Your body can stop moving, but your mind keeps racing. You can be calm on the outside, but on the inside, your thoughts, fears, and pressures don’t show any sign of slowing down. 

    Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” What’s so special about remembering who God is? There’s simply something powerful, maybe even supernatural, that happens when you remember this: God is God. And I am not. 

    That is good news. You don’t have to pretend everything is fine. God knows what’s best for us and it is good for us to pause long enough to remember who He is. Join us in prayer at … as we be still and remind ourselves that He is God. 

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  • Giving Control Back to God

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    Trying to control everything is exhausting…but why is it so tempting to control or manage life? 

    Isaiah 26 says, “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him.”

    Peace doesn’t come from controlling more. It actually comes from giving that control back to God. That’s what trust is. Giving the right to control to God. 

    So, the next time your mind starts racing, or your heart gets worried — Trust the One who is safe. The One who is reliable. The One who’s faithful. Gently bring your heart back to trusting God. Because on the other side of trusting Him, there’s peace. 

    You can take this ONE step further and pray this with us…

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  • God Gives You What You Need to Keep Going

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    More often than not, God calls you to things that are bigger than yourself. Bigger than your strength. More responsibility. More faith or love than you think you have to give. Is this kind of obedience even worth it?

    2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

    What God asks of you, He will provide. He doesn’t call you to more and then leave you empty-handed. If you sense God leading, don’t wait for him to bless you before you take that step of obedience. Trust His promise to provide for you. In all things, at all times, you will have all that you need.

    If you want to pray for what you need today, read and pray through the prayer below:

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    Are you a fan of “new?” New things can be exciting and unsettling at the same time. Is there anything new in your life? New school, new job, new relationship, new responsibilities, new challenges? Everything new brings a certain… uncertainty. Sometimes the hardest thing about anything new is the fear of facing it alone.

    In Exodus 33, God invited Moses to do something new and wildly outside of his comfort zone. Moses is unsure and anxious. He goes back and forth with God a couple times but each time, God assures Moses, “I will be with you.” (v.12) 

    God may be sending you somewhere new but He’s not giving these instructions from a distance. He goes with you. 

    So, if you’re stepping into something new today like a conversation or decision, God walks with you. Not standing behind you, pushing you forward or yelling from a distance. God goes with you. 

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    You’re not crazy for being worried about tomorrow or the future. In Exodus 16, after God saved and delivered the people of Israel from Egypt, the Israelites became anxious. They’re free from slavery, but now what? They feel so unsure of the future. Big questions like: Is God going to keep us free? Will He provide? Even down to the question of “what are we going to eat tomorrow?” 

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    God is teaching His people dependence. He wants us to depend on Him one day at a time instead of living in fear of tomorrow. And Jesus echoes this when He teaches us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread.”

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  • God Invites You… And Others

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    There’s a quiet belief many of us carry… ”I can do faith on my own.”

    We listen to podcasts, read books, pray privately, and keep our real struggles mostly to ourselves. And while your personal faith matters, Scripture reminds us that personal faith isn’t a solo journey. 

    Have you noticed how the Bible describes the church? Not a crowd or a building. A body. And bodies only function when every part is connected. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another. “ 

    Faith grows in community. This community looks like encouragement, sharing life, confession, worship, and showing up for one another when you don’t feel like you want to or need to. There’s believing and belonging involved in this faith. Here’s your one thought today: God doesn’t want you walking alone. 

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    Thankfully, God goes before us. Your future isn’t empty or as uncertain as it may seem. God is there preparing the way. Whatever lies ahead of you this week, God isn’t surprised by it. We hope you’re comforted by today’s one thought: God is already ahead of you. 

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  • God is Always Working

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    Faith isn’t easy. Sometimes the hardest part of this journey is waiting. Waiting for change. Waiting for answers. Waiting for God. 

    But Scripture reminds us that God isn’t idle. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” Romans 8:28. 

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    God wants to be known by you. He tells us who He is in the Scriptures, and one of the most repeated descriptions of God says, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” — Exodus 34:6 (NIV). When God defines Himself, He begins with compassion and grace. 

    God’s mercy is not reluctant. His love is not sparse. His patience is not temporary. Thankfully, God’s compassion is rooted in who He is, not in what we do. Take this one thought with you today: God’s mercy comes from His character, not your performance. If you want to thank Him for His compassion, pray with us through the prayer listed below:

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    Growth rarely feels comfortable. Growing pains are called growing pains for a reason! Either literally or figuratively, growth is stretching and sometimes slow or frustrating. When growth happens in a difficult season, you can wonder, “is anything good actually coming from this?” 

    James, one of the authors in the Bible, tells us that followers of Jesus can have joy whenever you face trials because these tests can strengthen your faith and actually produce perseverance. God doesn’t waste a single moment in a difficult season. (James 1:2-4)

    When we avoid difficult things in life, we might be avoiding something God is leading us towards. He uses these things to form you into who He’s calling you to become. When you go there with Him, be confident He’ll create in you resilience, character and faith. Take this one thought with you: God uses challenges to shape something good in you. 

    If you’re feeling these growing pains with God, we’ve created a prayer for you below:

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    How often do you look in the rearview mirror? Hopefully you do! It’s good to look back from time to time. The Christian life can feel slow at times. We look ahead and see just how far we have to go, and that leads to discouragement. Am I getting anywhere, Jesus?

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    He is not halfway committed to you. He is faithful to finish what He started. There is a prayer for trusting God with this at ..

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