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I’m always inspired by these words from Melissa Helser: “Get to know this kind Father.”

Last summer I spent time diving into different characteristics of God and then blogging about them. The Father who hears, cares, and sees. He is also the Father who heals, restores, and loves unconditionally.

In this season, as I dig in to the Bible to get to know Him better, God has been highlighting the word “shepherd”. Every time I read “shepherd” my soul finds so much reassurance.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23

God is my Shepherd, and He is with me. In Him, I find all that I need. Provision, rest, leadership, restoration, guidance, comfort, victory, favor, goodness, love, eternity.

“Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” – Psalm 28:6-9

He is our steadfast Shepherd who faithfully carries us.

“He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.” – Isaiah 40:11

He tends to us like a shepherd – He gathers us in His arms, carrying us close to His heart. He leads us gently, kindly, so that we’re motivated by grace, not guilt.

“‘I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the Lord.” – Jeremiah 23:3-4

He gathers the remnants of His flock and brings them back to pasture. He places shepherds over them who will tend them – no more fear or terror, and no one left behind.

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” – Ezekiel 34:11-16

He will search for the scattered and look after them; He will be with His beloveds. He will rescue and gather; He will overcome the clouds and darkness. He will bring us into good pasture and take great care of us. He will seek and save the lost; He will bring back the broken. He will bind up the injured and give strength to the weak.

“‘I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 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 used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.'” – John‬ ‭10:1-18‬ ‭

We follow Him because we know Him and His voice. We have proximity with Him, and we trust His intentions for us. He will be our Good Shepherd. Blueletterbible.org unveils some truths about shepherds: “A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, defending the sheep from attackers, healing the wounded and sick sheep, finding and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, and sharing their lives and to earn their trust.” It also states that the root of shepherd is “to protect”. In the Greek, the word for good is kalos (G2570); it means “good, beautiful, pleasing, excellent in its nature and characteristics; competent, able.” Jesus is our excellent Shepherd; He is able to protect us from our enemy, and it pleases Him to share abundant life with us.

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:24-25

He is our Righteousness and our Healer; He is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

Instead of looking to those who left me or didn’t look after me, I want to keep my eyes fixed on God, my true Shepherd. He is more than enough.

When I start to get caught up in the things of this world, I can lose sight of my Shepherd. In moments like this, it’s helpful to remember that I have the grace to stop in my tracks, to stop turning away, and to look on Him. To fix my attention, to reset my gaze, to behold His beauty. To really see. To recall His faithfulness, and ponder His provision.

Once I’ve stopped and turned to see Him, I can start drawing near again. To seek His face and come close. To discover another layer of His heart and catch another glimpse of His character. And to understand that He is already searching me out. In my imperfection and stumbling, when my heart grows weary and my soul begins to wander – it’s crucial to know He’s already pursuing me – in love. A shepherd knows where His sheep are, and He goes after any that drift off. But it’s done in a way that reflects His deep love; His rod and staff are comforting. I want to fully grasp that He’s not harsh with me. He really is so patient and kind.

We stop and see, then seek, so that we can savor. As I continue to work through 2020 with my #oneword, I want to savor God as Shepherd. I want to tarry in His presence. Stay near to hear His voice. Delight in His care. To believe that I belong to Him. To rest in my identity as His daughter.

This week’s song suggestions:

• Lean Back by Maverick City Music (covered by Jon Wright)
• Shepherd by Amanda Cook
• You Alone by North Point Worship

Two book recommendations:

• A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller
• The Way of the Shepherd by Dr. Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak