A sheep lifts its head at an unfamiliar sound. A dog appears at the edge of the field, and the whole flock moves away. Sheep are prey animals, and watchfulness keeps them alive. A good shepherd knows this and handles them with care.
You may know that watchfulness from the inside. A short message arrives, and you wonder whether someone is angry. The phone rings late, and you expect bad news. You check the locked door again or send one more work message at eleven at night. People depend on you, and you hope enough preparation will make you feel safe. By night you are tired from worrying about a day that has not come yet.
Psalm 23 begins with a relationship. David does not describe his circumstances. He says who is looking after him. You still have responsibilities, and some situations will stay hard. You can do today’s work and leave with God what is beyond your strength. Begin with the need you keep trying to manage alone. You were never built to be your own shepherd.
Hebrew insight
Ro’i (רעי) means “my shepherd.” It comes from ra’ah, the verb for tending and feeding a flock, and the ending makes it personal: this shepherd is mine. Lo echsar (לא אחסר) means “I will not lack.” The weight of the sentence is on the Shepherd who provides. The sheep makes no claim to be self-sufficient. David can admit real needs because he trusts the One who meets them. When you pray today, stay with the word “my.” The Shepherd’s care reaches your particular life.
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Jesus told His disciples not to worry about food or clothing, and He gave them a reason: your Father knows that you need these things. Then He gave them the picture David had used for himself: He called them a little flock, told them not to be afraid, and said the Father is pleased to give them the kingdom. Jesus did not shame anxious people. He told them who was looking after them.
Talk it over
What need do you keep trying to manage alone?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Read the second paragraph of the opening thought again. Which sentence sounds most like your week?
Jesus told his disciples that the Father knows what they need. What is the need you have not said out loud to him?
What would it look like to do today's part and leave the rest with the Shepherd?
One way someone answered
The need I manage alone is money. I check the account most nights, and I run the numbers again in my head when I cannot sleep. Nobody else in the house knows how often I do this. Today's verse says the Shepherd provides, and I have been acting as if that were my job. I want to tell him about it tonight before I open the banking app.
Write the need in one sentence and pray about it. Take any practical step that cannot wait, then set the paper aside. If the worry returns, bring it to God again.
Add a noteNeed a nudge?
Try asking yourself
One sentence is enough. If no practical step is needed today, skip that part and set the paper down.
One prayer
Lord, You are my Shepherd, and You know the need I have been managing alone. Help me do today’s work and leave the outcome with You.
Tomorrow: green pastures, quiet waters, and why rest is hard for anxious people.
I used to be proud of how tired I was. For seven years I delivered newspapers at 3 a.m. and sat down at a finance desk by 8 a.m. I planned to rest when the work was done. The work was never done, and I became irritable, anxious, and numb.
A shepherd does not wait for the sheep to finish. A green field looks peaceful from a distance, and the shepherd looks closer. Is there enough good forage? Are harmful plants growing in the grass? Can the flock reach water safely? Sheep can swim, but strong currents and steep banks can kill them, so he chooses a still place for them to drink. The pasture is inspected before the sheep lie down in it.
Rest can become something you postpone until every concern is settled. Meanwhile, your body tires and patience runs short. You may need sleep, a meal, practical help, or ten minutes of prayer without a phone. Sometimes the obstacle is outside you: a shift no one can cover, a child who cannot be left alone, an employer who expects an answer at night. Rest may need someone else’s cooperation. Your limits matter to God.
Hebrew insight
Menuchot (מנחות), from menuchah, means rest or resting places. The phrase mei menuchot can be read as “waters of rest.” Yarbitseni (ירביצני) means “he makes me lie down.” The verb is causative: the Shepherd causes the rest. The devotional picture is of care that makes rest possible. Consider what would help you receive that care today.
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.
36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42 They all ate and were satisfied,
43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
The disciples came back from their work so busy that they had no time to eat. Jesus said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). A crowd followed them anyway. Mark says Jesus had compassion on the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He had everyone sit down on the green grass, and He fed them. Anyone who knows Psalm 23 will recognize the scene.
Talk it over
What are you waiting to finish before you let yourself rest?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Finish this sentence honestly: “I will rest when…”
In Mark 6 the disciples had no time to eat. Who told them to stop?
Is the obstacle inside you, or does it need someone else's cooperation?
One way someone answered
I will rest when the inbox is empty, which means never. I used to call that a work ethic. When I read about the author's newspaper years, I recognized myself. In Mark 6 the disciples did not decide to rest; Jesus told them to. I think I need someone to tell me, so I am going to ask my wife to hold me to fifteen minutes tonight.
What are you waiting to finish before you let yourself rest?
One action
Choose a period of rest you can keep today: an hour if possible, fifteen minutes if that is more realistic. Identify what would make it possible, and ask for any help you need.
Add a noteNeed a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Fifteen minutes counts. If even that needs someone's help, asking for it is today's step, and the rest can come tomorrow.
One prayer
Father, You know how tired I am. Lead me to the rest I need, show me what help to ask for, and teach me to trust You while I rest.
Tomorrow: what the Shepherd does when you cannot get back up.
Sometimes a sheep rolls onto its back and cannot turn over. Shepherds call this a cast sheep. It may kick with its legs in the air for hours and go nowhere. Left alone, it can die. Someone has to notice, roll it upright, and hold it steady until its legs work again. Its own effort is not enough.
You may know what that is like. Grief interrupts familiar routines. Exhaustion makes small decisions feel impossible. Failure leaves you embarrassed to face people who relied on you. Telling yourself to try harder can add shame when you still cannot get up. Illness, too few resources, or an unsafe relationship may leave you needing help you cannot provide for yourself.
The Shepherd’s care makes room for asking. Help may come through prayer, rest, a truthful conversation, or a doctor or counselor. Tell God where you are stuck, then consider who could help with what you need.
Hebrew insight
Yeshovev (ישובב), from the root shuv, means to restore or bring back. Nafshi (נפשי) means “my soul” or “my life.” Its base word, nephesh, refers to the whole living person, body and mind included. When David says that God restores his soul, he means all of himself. The cast sheep is an illustration of needing help. The Hebrew does not describe a rescue technique. Let this phrase widen your prayer to include the physical and emotional needs you have been treating as unimportant.
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Religious leaders criticized Jesus for welcoming sinners and eating with them. He answered with a story. A shepherd with a hundred sheep loses one of them. He leaves the ninety-nine, searches until he finds the lost one, and carries it home on his shoulders. Then he calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate. Jesus explains the story Himself: there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
The parable is first about God’s joy in bringing back people who have wandered from Him. Exhaustion is not a sin, and neither is an anxiety disorder, so do not read your tiredness as something to repent of. The story still shows you the character of the Shepherd. He goes looking. He carries the sheep home. He is glad to do it.
Talk it over
Who could you tell this week that you cannot get up alone?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Think of the cast sheep. What have you been kicking at without getting anywhere?
In Luke 15 the shepherd goes looking and carries the sheep home. Who in your life would come looking for you?
What stops you from telling them: shame, not wanting to be a burden, or not knowing what to say?
One way someone answered
I have been flat on my back since my father died, going through the motions at work. The person I could tell is my brother. He has asked twice how I am doing and I said fine both times. What stops me is that I am the one people lean on, not the other way around. I am going to write the message today, even if I do not send it until tomorrow.
Who could you tell this week that you cannot get up alone?
One action
Send one message to a trustworthy person, saying what you need in one sentence. If you are not ready to send it, write a draft and choose whom you might contact.
Add a noteNeed a nudge?
Try asking yourself
A draft counts. If you cannot name a person yet, write the sentence anyway and leave the name blank for now.
One prayer
Lord, restore me where I have lost strength and hope. Give me courage to ask for help, and patience with the pace of recovery.
Tomorrow: guidance for the next step, whether or not you feel restored yet.
Anxiety makes uncertainty feel urgent. You want to see the entire route before you take one step. You review each option and imagine every consequence, hoping that enough thinking will remove the possibility of regret. Often it only keeps you standing still, even when the next responsibility is clear.
Picture a flock crossing unfamiliar ground. A patch of grass draws one sheep aside; a narrow gap in the rocks draws another. The shepherd must consider more than what is nearby: the route, the terrain, and where the flock will find water by nightfall.
You cannot settle the whole future today. You can tell the truth, keep a commitment, ask for sound advice, or make the phone call you have been avoiding. Following the Shepherd takes willingness as well as reassurance. There may be a habit to change or a wrong to admit. Ask for wisdom about the decision in front of you, then act on what you already understand.
Hebrew insight
Ma’gelei tsedeq (מעגלי צדק) is usually translated “right paths” or “paths of righteousness.” The word ma’gal means a track, such as the marks left by cart wheels, and the Bible often uses it for the course of a person’s life. Tsedeq adds the idea of what is right. Shem (שם), “name,” carries the sense of character and reputation. God guides in a way that is consistent with who He is.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Jesus described how a shepherd leads. He calls his own sheep by name and brings them out. Then he goes ahead of them, and they follow because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. Following Jesus depends on knowing His voice, and you learn it from His teaching. When the next step is unclear, begin with what He has plainly said. Tell the truth. Keep your word. Forgive. Leave tomorrow’s trouble for tomorrow.
Talk it over
What decision have you delayed because you want certainty about every outcome?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Name the decision in one plain sentence.
In John 10 the sheep follow because they know the shepherd's voice. What has Jesus already said plainly that applies here?
What is the smallest responsible step, and what would you need to know before taking it?
One way someone answered
I have been putting off telling my manager that I cannot keep the current hours. I have imagined every version of the conversation and none of them ends well in my head. The plain thing Jesus said is tell the truth. I do not know how it will go. The step I can take is asking a friend who has had that conversation what she said.
What decision have you delayed because you want certainty about every outcome?
One action
Choose one small, responsible next step in that decision. If you need information or advice before acting, make asking for it your step today.
Add a noteNeed a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Small means small. If the decision itself is still too much today, asking one person one question counts as the step.
One prayer
Shepherd, give me wisdom where the way is unclear and willingness where I already know what to do. I will take the next step and trust Your character with the rest.
Tomorrow: the path goes through a dark valley, and David begins speaking to God directly.
The valley is in the same psalm as the green pasture. Being led by the Shepherd does not mean every part of the road will feel safe. A diagnosis, a funeral, a lost job, or a relationship in crisis can change an ordinary day. Sometimes the fear is harder to explain. It follows you even when everything looks manageable from the outside.
In the picture David paints, the shepherd goes into that ground with the sheep. He carries a rod to protect them and a staff to guide and steady them. The sheep are comforted because the shepherd is near and knows how to use both.
David turns his confidence into prayer in the middle of the valley. You can speak to God without hiding your fear: ask for protection, guidance, and the support you need. You may not know how long the valley will last, but you can speak to the One who walks through it with you.
Hebrew insight
Tsalmavet (צלמות) describes deep darkness, and it is traditionally translated “shadow of death.” Then comes attah immadi (אתה עמדי): “you are with me.” Until now David has been speaking about God; here he speaks to Him. The shift from description to conversation gives the prayer its intimacy.
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
On the night before He died, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. He told His closest friends that He was deeply distressed and asked them to stay near and keep watch. He asked His Father for the suffering to be taken away, then entrusted Himself to the Father’s will. Jesus spoke openly about His anguish and asked friends to stay close. You are allowed to do both.
Talk it over
What feels like a dark valley in your life right now?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Is your valley something you could name to another person, or a fear that is hard to explain?
In Mark 14 Jesus told his friends he was distressed and asked them to stay close. Who have you let stay close?
What would you say to God if you said it to him directly, the way David does?
One way someone answered
My valley is waiting for test results. Everyone tells me not to worry until I know, which does not help. What struck me today is that Jesus said out loud that he was distressed and asked his friends to stay near. I have been telling people I am fine. I want to say to God, you are with me, and then tell him I am scared.
A shepherd’s care includes small things. A tiny fly can torment a sheep. The female deposits larvae in and around the nostrils, and the animal sneezes, shakes its head, and cannot graze in peace. A good shepherd notices the distress, comes close, and treats it. Some of the worst suffering in a flock comes from what is small enough to overlook.
Then David changes the picture. Verse 5 moves from the field to a table. The host prepares a meal, anoints the guest’s head with oil, and fills the cup until it overflows. He does all of this while the enemies are still watching. The threat has not been removed. The meal happens anyway.
You may keep functioning while pain goes unattended: damaged trust that makes relationships feel risky, a worry that wakes you at three in the morning, a hurt you thought too small to mention. Tell God where it hurts. Ask for healing and wise help, and receive the care available now. Receiving care during conflict does not require staying in danger. If a person is unsafe, keep your distance and seek help.
Hebrew insight
Dishanta (דשנת), from dashen, is the verb translated “you anoint.” It describes refreshing the head with oil, a gesture of honor and welcome offered to a guest. Revayah (רויה), used of the cup, means fullness, more than enough. Together these words describe generous, personal hospitality. They do not name a medical remedy or promise instant recovery from every illness. They do insist on the setting: the enemies are present, and the cup overflows. You can be cared for, and you can give thanks, while some things remain unresolved.
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.
23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.
30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
At His last meal before the cross, Jesus knew that one of the men at the table would betray Him. He got up, tied a towel around His waist, and washed His disciples’ feet. Judas was still in the room. John says Jesus was troubled in spirit when He spoke about the betrayal, yet He loved His own to the end. His distress and His love were both real. For you, love on a hard day may mean accepting help, resting, or keeping a boundary with someone who is unsafe.
Talk it over
What hurt or repeated worry have you been dismissing because you can still function?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Think of the nasal fly: small, constant, hard to graze through. What is that for you?
What have you told yourself about it: too small, not the right time, other people have it worse?
At the last meal Jesus was troubled and still loved his friends. What care could you receive today without the problem being solved first?
One way someone answered
The worry that wakes me at three is about my daughter. She is an adult and I cannot fix her choices, so I decided it does not count as a problem I am allowed to have. Today's verse says the cup overflows while the enemies are still there. I have not let myself receive anything until this is settled. I want to tell God where it hurts and then eat dinner without checking my phone.
What hurt or repeated worry have you been dismissing because you can still function?
One action
Before your next meal, thank God for three specific ways you are being cared for, even while the difficulty remains unresolved.
Add a noteNeed a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Specific is the point: a person's name, a meal on the table. If you cannot find three today, thank him for one and mean it.
One prayer
Father, You know where I hurt, including the places I have called too small to mention. Teach me to sit at Your table while my enemies are still in view.
Tomorrow: what follows you into the days ahead, and where the psalm ends.
A shepherd’s work does not end with one good day. Tomorrow the flock will need fresh water, a checked pasture, and attention to injured animals. Care is daily work.
This week you have looked at six needs: provision, rest, restoration, guidance, presence, and close attention. Tomorrow will bring one of them back. You may return to the prayer from Day 2, or ask again for help you hoped you would no longer need. Needing help again does not exhaust God’s patience.
The psalm ends with a home. David expects goodness and love to follow him, and he expects to live in the house of the LORD. The Shepherd does more than supply what you need. He keeps you with Him. You belong to God before you are useful to anyone, and His care for you does not depend on what it produces.
Someone may depend on you: a family, a team, a classroom, a congregation. Anxiety does not disqualify you from caring for them. Notice whether worry is shaping a habit you want help with: repeated checking, a short temper, a delayed decision, or difficulty accepting support. Bring that to God and someone you trust. You do not have to finish this study fearless. Choose the line of the psalm you want to carry into tomorrow.
Hebrew insight
Chesed (חסד), translated “love” in this verse, is faithful, loyal, covenant love. Yirdefuni (ירדפוני) comes from radaf, “to pursue.” Many translations say “follow,” but the verb is more active than that. A sheep spends its life watching for what might be chasing it. David says that what is chasing him is God’s goodness and faithful love. Carry that into tomorrow: whatever else is behind you, His care is closer.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
In John 10 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Christians read Psalm 23 in that light. The Shepherd David trusted has a face and a voice. Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice, that He gives them eternal life, and that no one can take them out of His hand. He has walked into death for you and risen again. “All the days of my life” is safe with Him.
Talk it over
When you imagine what is following you into tomorrow, what comes to mind first?
Need a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Be honest about the first thing, even if it is a fear. Then read the verse again.
Of the six needs this week, which one do you expect to come back tomorrow?
In John 10 Jesus says no one can take his sheep out of his hand. What does that change about tomorrow?
One way someone answered
The first thing that comes to mind is Monday's meeting and the feeling of being behind before it starts. That is what has been chasing me. The verse says goodness and love are chasing me too, and the Hebrew note says they are the ones gaining on me. I am still anxious about Monday. I am going to put verse 6 on the mirror and see what it does.
When you imagine what is following you into tomorrow, what comes to mind first?
One action
Choose one line of Psalm 23 and put it where you will see it tomorrow morning.
Add a noteNeed a nudge?
Try asking yourself
Any line, in your own handwriting or on your phone's lock screen. If you cannot choose, take verse 1.
One prayer
Lord, thank You for caring for me through repeated needs. I place the days ahead in Your care. Teach me to walk with You one day at a time.
Keep bringing your fears to the Shepherd. His care reaches the days you have not yet lived.
How to use these seven days
7 days · about 15 minutes a day. If you miss a day, continue from the day you missed. Practical notes are at the end of this page.
Welcome
My name is J. A. Tomlinson. I wrote this study for people who are tired from being responsible, and I have been one of them. On Day 2 you will read a little of my own story. I am also the author of The Cross of Selfless Leadership, and the last page of this study explains how the two fit together.
Sheep are anxious animals. They are prey, and watchfulness keeps them alive. Psalm 23 was written by a man who had worked as a shepherd, and in it he takes the place of the sheep.
Many of us live the way sheep do. We watch, we check, we prepare, and we are tired. This study does not promise that seven days will end your anxiety. It shows you, one line of the psalm at a time, where to take it.
Begin with the psalm
Before Day 1, read all of Psalm 23. It takes one minute.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
If you are not sure what you believe
Read it anyway. The psalm describes something every person knows: the need to be looked after by someone stronger. Pray the prayers as truthfully as you can, even if they begin with “If You are there.”
A word about anxiety
Some anxiety needs more than a devotional. If fear is affecting your sleep, your health, or your ability to work, talk to a doctor or a counselor. Asking for that help is an act of faith. This study is not a substitute for pastoral, counseling, or medical care.
About the sheep
The descriptions of sheep in this study come from modern sheep farming. I owe several of them, including the cast sheep on Day 3 and the nasal fly on Day 6, to W. Phillip Keller, who kept sheep for years before he wrote A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Zondervan, 1970). They are illustrations. The study does not claim that David had each of these practices in mind, and it tries to keep the meaning of a Hebrew word separate from the devotional thought built on it.
Suggested reading: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by W. Phillip Keller.
Practical notes
The rhythm
One day at a time, about fifteen minutes. Each day begins with the verse and one question about what the text says. Then come an opening thought, a note on the Hebrew, a Gospel passage to read beside that line of the psalm, and one question to talk over. The day ends with a Day Anchor: that same question, one action, one prayer. If you only have five minutes, read the verse and do the Anchor. That counts as the day.
If you miss a day
Continue from the day you missed. You do not need to catch up, and you do not need to do two days in one. Guilt is not a spiritual discipline.
If you do this with a group
Read each day on your own, then meet to talk about the Day Anchor questions. Anyone may pass on any question. Do not press people to share private struggles, and respect the privacy of what is shared. If someone says something that suggests they or another person may be in danger, help them reach a pastor, a doctor, or emergency services.
About the Bible text
The verse for each day, each day’s Gospel passage, and all of Psalm 23 are quoted from the New International Version (NIV) and work offline. Whole chapters are not stored in the app. A link in each passage opens the whole chapter in the NIV online, which needs an internet connection.
Keeping your reflections
Your reflections stay in this browser. In “My reflections,” choose “Download a backup” for a restorable copy or “Export reflections as text” for a readable copy. Keep a backup before clearing browser data or changing devices.
Where this study sits
Before you go on
You do not need to finish this study less anxious than you began. These three questions are for reflection, and no one is grading the answers. What did you notice this week? What is still difficult? Which one practice from the seven days do you want to keep?
You may stop here. If the most useful thing you can do now is read Psalm 23 again tomorrow, do that.
Your next study
The Cross of Selfless Leadership: A 10-Day Spiritual Reboot for Leaders, by J. A. Tomlinson. These seven days were about receiving care. The ten days of the book examine how you carry responsibility for other people: what you serve, whether you tell the truth, whether you rest, and whether you keep a promise when it becomes costly. It is written for the person everyone relies on. All ten days are in this app. Day 4, on rest, continues Day 2 of this study.
The book belongs to a wider body of work called the Load-Bearing Leadership System. Its idea is simple. How well a person carries responsibility depends on two things: the person, and the conditions that person works in, such as workload, clear roles, and support. Good people can break inside bad structures, and good structures cannot replace personal integrity. The system helps you tell apart what you need to change in yourself, what needs to change around you, and where both matter.
If you want a structured reflection
D.I.A.L. Community is a free self-assessment from Global Mission Support for churches, nonprofits, and lodges. It looks at how you lead and the structure you lead within. It is directional and nonclinical. It is not a validated instrument or a personality test, and its results are a starting point for reflection, never a verdict. One of its ten profiles is named The Shepherd. In that tool the word describes a pattern of leadership: care, safety, and trust under strain. It is not a spiritual office, and it is not the Shepherd of this psalm.
W. Phillip Keller’s A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 goes through the psalm line by line from the experience of a man who kept sheep. Several illustrations in this study come from his book, and it rewards slow reading.
Suggested reading: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller.
Other studies in this app
God’s Cosmic Calendar spends fourteen days on God’s timing, rest, and hope, for people whose lives are taking longer than they expected. From Aleph to Tav spends twenty-two days in Revelation, for people who have been afraid of the last book of the Bible. Built to Hold spends twenty days on the inner formation of people who lead in the church.
