![\"Bluebonnets](\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/bluebonnets-rut-to-runway-768x1024.jpg\")
Since we fall easily, it’s good to plan ahead for who will guide us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the shortest chapters in the Bible shows the way out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Everybody has a guide<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLife is a highway. Everyone\u2019s passing through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone\u2019s going somewhere, but not everyone has the best guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of Scripture’s most colorful writers brightens our direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.\u201d <\/strong>
\u2014 Psa 23:1<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot once in Psalm 23 does David focus on a rut like anxiety, depression, or loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He focuses entirely on the guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Runway](\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shepherd-with-flock-at-suns.jpg\")
Shepherd with flock at sunset\/Gina Pricope\/Getty Images<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If God isn’t our guide, we are like sheep without a shepherd, circling aimlessly in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose a guide who leads personally<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMartin Luther said the Bible’s unique message is found in its personal pronouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 23 has seventeen personal pronouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI, me\u201d or \u201cmy.\u201d \u201cThe Lord is my shepherd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is saying we have a personal relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not a religious, ecclesiastical, or liturgical relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A personal relationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Anselm said, we are talking about \u201cSomeone whom nothing greater can be thought.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a person places their life totally in the God of the Bible, they can confidently say, like David in Psalm 23…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- \u201cI lack nothing.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- \u201cI shall not fear.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Choose a guide who calms anxiety<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI have read Psalm 23 at many funerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God wants us to see three powerful images of His presence in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All three images are vivid scenes in the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scene #1: Leads me beside still waters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shepherds avoid rushing creeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They seek out calm lagoons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We need a calm lagoon every day.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"refreshment](\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Calm-lagoon-blog.steveblais-1024x768.jpg\")
The inspirational refreshment of still waters\/Lake Athens\/Steve Blaising<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.”
\u2014 Psa 16:7-9<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even sheep know how to survive a storm patiently, trusting their shepherd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scene #2: Lie down in green pastures<\/strong><\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn the way to calm water, the wise guide gives breaks in green pastures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He made them for our journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why I love spring wildflowers in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Transform](\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Bluebonnets-Highway-16-768x1024.jpg\")
Texas wildflowers on Highway 16 to Fredericksburg\/Steve Blaising<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their beauty reminds us of the ultimate source for nourishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObserve how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?\u201d <\/strong>
\u2014 Matthew 6 selected verses<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur problems persist when we refuse to see the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nourishment persists when we stay connected to the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scene #3: Paths of righteousness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGod doesn\u2019t hand us a map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He gives us his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe guides me in the paths of righteousness.” <\/strong>
\u2014 Psa 23:3<\/p>\n\n\n\nGod\u2019s reputation depends upon taking us the right way. . . \u201cfor his name\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right paths or right tracks lead to the right destination.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Runway](\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Shepherd-leading-sheep-blog.jpg\")
Sheep following shepherd in the South of the Netherlands\/Ineke Kamps\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe paths here are literally wagon tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good shepherd knows where they are and follows them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God never promises an easy path. He promises to be with us along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our darkest hours, He is with us.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not just for us. He stays with us. He is with us perennially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”\u00a0
\u2014 Psa\u00a0<\/strong>23: 4
<\/span>
My uncle, Melvin Craig, marched 330 days from Normandy in June 1944 to Berlin in May 1945.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI didn’t know why he always quoted Psalm 23 when he visited us as kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, at 71, I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never knew the horror he witnessed during those 330 days and nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But he told me he quoted Psalm 23 throughout that long campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He found a lagoon and the right path<\/a> in God’s Word every scary day.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWho’s guiding you out of your rut?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Psa 23:1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not once in Psalm 23 does David focus on a rut like anxiety, depression, or loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He focuses entirely on the guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n The Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If God isn’t our guide, we are like sheep without a shepherd, circling aimlessly in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Martin Luther said the Bible’s unique message is found in its personal pronouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 23 has seventeen personal pronouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI, me\u201d or \u201cmy.\u201d \u201cThe Lord is my shepherd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n God is saying we have a personal relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not a religious, ecclesiastical, or liturgical relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A personal relationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Anselm said, we are talking about \u201cSomeone whom nothing greater can be thought.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a person places their life totally in the God of the Bible, they can confidently say, like David in Psalm 23…<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have read Psalm 23 at many funerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God wants us to see three powerful images of His presence in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All three images are vivid scenes in the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shepherds avoid rushing creeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They seek out calm lagoons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We need a calm lagoon every day.<\/p>\n\n\n “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.” Even sheep know how to survive a storm patiently, trusting their shepherd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the way to calm water, the wise guide gives breaks in green pastures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He made them for our journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why I love spring wildflowers in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their beauty reminds us of the ultimate source for nourishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cObserve how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?\u201d <\/strong> Our problems persist when we refuse to see the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nourishment persists when we stay connected to the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God doesn\u2019t hand us a map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He gives us his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe guides me in the paths of righteousness.” <\/strong> God\u2019s reputation depends upon taking us the right way. . . \u201cfor his name\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right paths or right tracks lead to the right destination.<\/p>\n\n\n The paths here are literally wagon tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good shepherd knows where they are and follows them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God never promises an easy path. He promises to be with us along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our darkest hours, He is with us.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not just for us. He stays with us. He is with us perennially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”\u00a0 I didn’t know why he always quoted Psalm 23 when he visited us as kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, at 71, I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I never knew the horror he witnessed during those 330 days and nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But he told me he quoted Psalm 23 throughout that long campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He found a lagoon and the right path<\/a> in God’s Word every scary day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who’s guiding you out of your rut?<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoose a guide who leads personally<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Choose a guide who calms anxiety<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scene #1: Leads me beside still waters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Psa 16:7-9<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene #2: Lie down in green pastures<\/strong><\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Matthew 6 selected verses<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene #3: Paths of righteousness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Psa 23:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Psa\u00a0<\/strong>23: 4
<\/span>
My uncle, Melvin Craig, marched 330 days from Normandy in June 1944 to Berlin in May 1945.<\/p>\n\n\n\n