Keeping animals, being a “keeper” as the old-timers called it, means providing food, shelter, and protection for animals. And as if that were not enough, after dark cowboys on the trail would sing to calm the cattle with their voices. Keepers love their animals. Even cattle ranchers develop a fondness for these huge beasts they will one day sell for the table. We love our horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats, ducks, rabbits—we’d love lions and bears if they would love us back, right?
And David, the shepherd-king-poet-warrior-songwriter, figured out that the Lord was His Shepherd. And He is. God feeds you, protects you, shelters you, leads you to clean water, and to pastures filled with green grass. He does everything for you—and on top of that, HE LOVES YOU. I’ve been working on a list of God’s personal, shepherd-like traits:
He made me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
He saw every day of my life before I was ever born. Psalm 139:16.
He examines me every morning. Job 7:17
He does not take His eyes off me. Job 36:7
He numbers my days. Psalm 139:16.
He counts the hairs on my head. Luke 12:7
He counts my steps. Job 31:4.
He establishes my steps and TAKES PLEASURE in my journey, and
He HOLDS MY HAND so I will not be overwhelmed. Psalm 37:23-24.
He HOLDS MY RIGHT HAND. Psalm 73:23.
He knows my thoughts and my words. Psalm 139:2,4.
He SINGS OVER ME, cheers for me, and calms me. Zephaniah 3:17.
He TREASURES my tears in a bottle. Psalm 56:8.
He LONGS for the creature He has made. Job 14:15.
He FULFILLS HIS PURPOSE FOR ME. Psalm 57:2
Today I found another:
“The Lord thinks of me” Psalm 40:17.
He THINKS OF YOU. Meditate on that. Is it not enough? Just to know God is thinking about you? Wow.
God, thank you for your incredible love for us. Help us to remember every day HOW VERY MUCH WE ARE LOVED!
ΑΩ
Household Words: 