God, my Shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to Your word, You let me catch my breath
And send me in the right direction.

Even when the way goes through Death Valley
I’m not afraid when You walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd crook makes me feel secure.

You serve me a six-course dinner
Right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
My cup brims with blessing.

Your beauty and love chase after me
Everyday of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
For the rest of my life.
© Eugene H. Peterson, 2002, Psalm 23, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Thomas Nelson Inc.

I recall Psalm 23 as one of the collections my parents made us memorize as kids. Much later, when life was taking me through some really rough rides, I remember falling back on that Psalm and the Lord coming through one of the days to assure me specifically based on those inspired words. Since then, from over a decade ago, I pray that Psalm every day and probably will pray it to the grave. And in the course of these years, I have lived knowing the Shepherd side of the One who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ever imagine or ask, according to His power that works in us.
May be you have been pulling it off by yourself or depending on some able and capable hands. Life is not the same when we let go of everything and everyone and allow Abba to be our Shepherd in truth and indeed. Of course He will use the rod but each time we look back at the instances where He used it, like David we would agree, “It is good that I have been “scourged” …,” that is one of the privileges of our sonship.
That is not all; deliverance, divine direction, and supernatural provision are special attributes of this Scripture that we need to hook up with. From this day onward, may you know Abba as your Shepherd; the One who delivers from death’s valleys, the One who directs in life’s paths, the One who provides more than enough, amen.

Glory!