"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1

Our verse today is the first verse of what is known as the Shepherd's Psalm. Only nine words, but incredibly rich in meaning.

The LORD

(when written in the Bible in upper-case letters) is the self-Existent, Eternal God, Jehovah. He depends on no-one else; His creatures (that's us) depend on Him for every breath we take.

The shepherd, in the Middle-East is everything to the sheep. He comes to get them at the start of the day. He calls them from the sheepfold, where they have spent the night in safety. They hear his voice and follow Him instinctively.

David wrote this Psalm. He knew every aspect of shepherding sheep. He noticed how dependent the sheep are of the shepherd - for food, water and safety. He saw himself as one of God's sheep, and, in the light of that fact, wrote the Psalm about himself. He had learned by experience that God had provided for him, and would continue to do so. All he had to do was follow as God went before, leading him.

We can put ourselves in his place, applying the words to ourselves. Because the LORD is my shepherd, I will not lack anything!

You can go into this new day, confident that nothing is going to come your way, except as it is providentially directed by the Shepherd!