Shepherd of My Soul - Rivers & Robots

scripture and prayer reflection

---

Click HERE to listen to the song on Spotify

Lyrics

Lord of the mountains and sea

You are treading a path set for me

God of the seasons and sky

You have always been holding my life

And Lord, You are the shepherd of my soul

So I lay down my plans, I give up my rights

And let You take control of this surrendered life

So I put my trust in the one

Who created the stars and the sun

You are eternally kind

Always faithful and endlessly wise

And Lord, You are the shepherd of my soul

So I lay down my plans, I give up my rights

And let You take control of this surrendered life

You comfort, You sustain

In shaking You remain

Unmoved and unafraid

Forever and always

You lead me by still waters

Lead me through the valleys

Lead me in Your wisdom

Shepherd of my soul

Through valleys of shadow and death I am not afraid

By my Father's breath every star in the sky was made

And who can I fear when You're standing right here by my side?

Always leading, protecting and guarding my left and my right

Father You make all things new, great God of creation

Father You will always be my rock and salvation

Psalm 23:1-6

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

4 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.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

John 6:60-61, 66-69

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Reflection

Following involves surrender. Walking alongside someone out of convenience or as a means to an end is not the same thing as following. We see this clearly in the pick-and-choose society around us - the culture that says “I’ll tag along with Jesus when what He says lines up with my ideals, but once He says something I don’t really like, well...no thanks”.

This isn’t a new reaction to Jesus, however. In His time there were plenty of people who followed Him around and listened to His teachings, only to turn away when He began to say some hard things. They had been traveling along with Him because He was an expedient way to get what they wanted, not because they really trusted Him. Once He didn’t line up with what they were wanting Him to be anymore, they left.

But God calls us to follow Him in dependence, trusting that He is leading us somewhere good even if we must travel through the valley of the shadow of death to get there. The disciples didn’t necessarily like what Jesus was starting to say any more than the others who had left. Jesus’ predictions of His own death didn’t fit with their idea of the Messiah either. But they trusted Him, because they were convinced He alone held the truth. And their rhetorical question, “Lord, where else can we go?” shows that, for better or worse, they knew they had to stay with Him. Whether the question was asked with firm resolve or with a bleak almost-hopelessness, their trust held them fast to Jesus, even if it meant surrendering their hopes and expectations.

Take some time to reflect on God’s leading in Your life. Where has His guidance been evident? When has it been difficult to surrender and follow or accept where He was leading you? What was it that made that so challenging? How do you wish you had responded? If guilt creeps in as you think back on your life, remember the rejoicing of the shepherd in Jesus’ parable at the restoration of his lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7). If you are currently in a season of wrestling, sit with the disciples’ question for yourself. Talk with God about what comes up.