Fear No Fear

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, MEV). The Hebrew word for ‘want’ here is ‘chaser’ (khaw-sare’). It means to have lack, to need, to be lacking, or to decrease. To cause to fail. To lessen. To be abated. To bereave. It means to be made lower. This is the exact same word Holt Spirit used when describing the waters of the Flood going down (Genesis 8:1-3). Because we CHOOSE to make the Lord our shepherd, because we humbly submit to His guidance, because we let Him be LORD over us, because of that position, we experience no lack. We are not made to fail by external things (Isaiah 54:17). We do not lessen, we GROW. We are not abated, we do not die down in force or intensity, but we increase, go deeper, our fire burns brighter (this is a TRUTH, not a FEELING), and we learn more and more about Jesus’ love for us (Ephesians 3:14-19). Shepherds guide, they do not abuse. Shepherds protect, they do not let their flock be vulnerable. Shepherds make sure their flock have good food and clean water. Shepherds guard their flocks, putting their own selves between the flock and danger. Shepherds keep the flock together. They search out members of the flock that have strayed and call them back – carrying them if need be. Shepherds pay attention to the health of the flock. Shepherds are willing to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to make sure that their flock doesn’t decrease, or lack, or abate in ANY way. That they are healthy, secure, content, and protected. The flock has a lot of leeway. They can go off and do things here and there. They form intense bonds within the flock, friends and family that they protect and look out for. They can pick what to eat and when it is needed (herbally treating sickness and minor wounds). But they know their shepherd. They trust their shepherd. They KNOW the LOVE their shepherd has for them and THAT is what causes them to follow him. Jesus is OUR shepherd (John 10:11) and He makes sure we do NOT suffer lack. All WE need to do, is obey and follow Him.