The Starting Point

I recently had the opportunity to sit still for two hours on the shores of Lake Rosseau, right on the border of the Muskoka Woods property. It was the fourth day of our seco

residential (a weeklong intensive learning experience) in the Arrow Leadership Program

and this day we were focusing on soul care, an area often neglected by Christian leaders.

Our task for these two hours was very simple. Find a quiet spot, then pray and

meditate/reflect on the passage our leaders gave us – Psalm 23. Many of us were using a more contemplative form of scripture reading with the hope that the Holy Spirit would

guide our minds and hearts.

I thought I knew what God was going to tell me, before I even opened my Bible. My mind raced as I tried to “figure out” what I needed to learn. However, I eventually remembered that I was there to pray, to listen, and hopefully to meet with God.

I began to read Psalm 23. I read it, then read it again and again. My racing thoughts began to subside, and I eventually came to see the passage as a journey; a journey that mirrored my own walk with God and the questions He was asking me.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1)

Psalm 23 begins with “The Lord is my Shepherd”. This is the author’s declaration of the

character of God. In the book of John, Jesus calls himself “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:10.)

Jesus is good, faithful, true, and beautiful. In Him there is no darkness. He is the one who would leave the 99 just to save one sheep (Matt 18:12-14). Our culture teaches that the only one you can fully trust and rely on is yourself. The truth is that Jesus is The Good Shepherd in whom we can fully place our trust. When we place our trust in Him, we lack nothing as Christ makes us complete (Col. 2:10).

He makes me lie down in green pastures, (Psalm 23:2)

When we choose to trust Christ, the first thing He makes us do is lie down. The funny thing about lying down is that when you are on your back you can’t carry anything. Picture a backpack. It simply doesn’t work to lie down with a backpack on. It is uncomfortable!