The psalmist wrote, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies."
-Psalm 23:5 (KJV)
A popular hiking mountain by the village of Camden, Maine, has a trail called "Tablelands Trail" -- named for its many "tables" or plateaus. Every summer, shepherds everywhere take their sheep up to graze in cool tablelands like these.
Before a shepherd leads sheep up to these summer grasslands, the tableland has to be prepared. Shepherds scout out areas free from dangerous ridges where sheep might wander into trouble. Areas with poisonous weeds have to be avoided, for sheep are known to eat things not good for them.
Psalm 23 was written by one with the heart of a shepherd, someone familiar with the practice of making the pasture ready for grazing. "Thou preparest a table before me" might well refer to this age-old shepherd's act of preparing the way for the sheep.
In the same way, God prepares a way for us. Uncharted territory can make us feel anxious and unprepared, but when we trust the Lord as our Shepherd, we can move into the future with confidence. God has already gone ahead of us to prepare the way.
PRAYER:
Dear God, our shepherd, help us to relax, knowing that our future is in your hands. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Our shepherd has prepared the way before us.
PRAYER FOCUS:
For trust in times of change
