In November last year, I wrote two blogs on Psalm 23 and now I want to continue with the truth of the Psalm. It is good to be reminded that “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”. Also, sheep were reliant completely on the shepherd for all their needs and followed the shepherd’s voice. Psalm 23:3 says: “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”. NLT “ He renews my strength, He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to His Name”. This verse is so encouraging and shows how much the shepherd cares for his sheep. Firstly the verse says that He restores – today there are so many programs on TV showing various things being restored. They all have one thing in common, they all try to bring back what they are working on to its original condition. This what God is doing in us He wants us to return to the relationship He had with Adam. It is so good to recognise that when Jesus died on the cross and rose again He broke the power of Satan forever. Unfortunately, there are times by our actions we do not believe this and we live a life that is not victorious and as such without joy. In this verse, it is good to be reminded of the authority of the good shepherd, note this verse is a statement of fact, not possibilities. While I choose to be His sheep He makes me new, another word that could be used is refreshed. This is something He does every day, He refreshes me. As I look at the meaning of the word ‘Soul’ most commentaries suggests it means ‘The whole person’. This is so encouraging for I understand that He, restores, refreshes, renews the whole of me so that I am complete in Him. Secondly, the next part of this verse shows the importance of our choices, this verse does not say He makes us but that He leads or guides us He shows us the way and it is up to us to choose to go that way when we do it brings such pleasure to the Lord. At times there seem to be so many distractions so it is a constant challenge to hear the shepherds voice and live God’s way. Something else we forget is that when we choose to live God’s way we honour Him. I am so glad that he provides for the best for me. Because He knows how I am made He provides that which pleases me and causes me to desire in an ever-increasing measure to live His way. It is good to pause and look over a lifetime and acknowledge how He has led and guided me through all aspect of life. I am so glad that the Lord is my shepherd.