“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalms 23:1-3 NKJV
When I read these words, I envision a vast, green expanse of land with a shepherd guiding me, allowing me to rest and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. It creates an image of rest and submission in my mind.
Scripture calls us to submit to God and trust Him as our shepherd. It’s a call to relinquish our desire to lead our own lives and let Him take the wheel. Many times, we struggle with submission, thinking we’ve surrendered to God’s will, but we often have our own backup plans—just in case God’s plan doesn’t work out, at least in our perception.
The psalmist reminds us that when we submit to God, we lack nothing because He provides for all our needs. We can approach Him with our desires, knowing that He cares for us as His own.
But submission takes work. We’ve been conditioned to be self-reliant, to solve problems independently, and to not burden others.
Obedience is the key to submitting to God. It’s a simple concept, yet only sometimes easy to practice. We must intentionally seek God’s word, be disciplined enough to make time for it, and learn what He says about our situations. It’s about recognising our dependence on God first before using the wisdom and intellect He has given us to navigate life’s challenges.
How can we ensure that we let God be our shepherd?
God’s word isn’t just a tool for specific prayers or requests; it guides every aspect of our lives. We can turn to it for wisdom in business endeavours, for refreshment when we feel weary, for guidance in relationships, and for emotional regulation in difficult situations. By submitting to God’s word, we experience His love, care, and the rest He offers.
Our independence can hinder our ability to submit not only to God but also to earthly authorities, such as employers, pastors, and spouses. Scripture teaches us that submission to one another is vital in relationships, yet it’s challenging to do so if we struggle to submit to God.
Letting God be our shepherd is not a call to be lazy or to simply wait for things to happen, but rather to seek His leading in every decision. When we surrender to Him first, He empowers us to use our resources wisely, guiding us to make the right choices and achieve fruitful results.
“I choose to submit to God’s word in obedience.”
By intentionally submitting to God’s word in obedience, we open ourselves to experiencing the rest and care that He offers.
As we embrace the call to be like children submitted to our shepherd, we can obey His leading, allowing His word to shape every aspect of our lives. By being intentional, we can experience the peace and provision that come from entrusting ourselves to the care of our loving Shepherd.
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