Learn the Voice of the Shepherd
Jesus Christ Knows How to Lead You
There are a lot of voices trying to tell you where to go.
Some come from people you know.
Some come through social media.
Some come from culture, trends, influencers, friends, or even your own fears and insecurities.
Each voice may promise something.
Follow me and you’ll fit in.
Follow me and you’ll be happier.
Follow me and people will like you.
Follow me and life will be easier.
Psalm 23 begins with a much quieter declaration:
“The Lord is my shepherd.”
That one sentence changes everything.
A shepherd leads the flock to places where they can be nourished and safe. He watches for danger, stays close when the path becomes difficult, and helps the sheep find their way.
Jesus Christ described Himself in the same way.
He said:
“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).
He also taught that His sheep learn to recognize His voice.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
Learning to follow Jesus Christ is partly about learning to recognize His voice among all the others.
You hear His voice in scripture.
You hear it through the Holy Ghost.
You hear it in the words of living prophets.
You may hear it through faithful parents, teachers, leaders, or people who genuinely love you and point you toward Him.
The more often you listen and respond, the easier His voice becomes to recognize.
Psalm 23 describes what can happen when we follow the Shepherd.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”
“He leadeth me beside the still waters.”
“He restoreth my soul.”
“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.”
Those phrases describe peace, nourishment, healing, and direction.
Then the psalm changes.
The path leads through “the valley of the shadow of death.”
Following the Shepherd did not mean David avoided every valley.
It meant he did not have to enter the valley alone.
David said:
“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
There may be times when following Christ takes you somewhere difficult.
You may have to make a choice your friends do not understand.
You may have to walk away from something you want.
You may experience disappointment even though you were trying to do what was right.
The Shepherd’s promise is not that every path will be easy.
His promise is that He knows the way.
And He will be with you.
Scripture
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. …
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. …
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
—Psalm 23:1, 3–4
Reflection
What voices have the greatest influence on your choices right now?
How can you become more familiar with the voice of Jesus Christ?
Today’s Challenge
Before making one decision today, pause and ask:
Which choice helps me follow the Shepherd?
Then listen.
Think about what Christ has taught in scripture, what His prophets have taught, and what the Holy Ghost is inviting you to do.
Choose His voice.
Christ-Centered Thought
Jesus Christ does more than point toward the right path.
He walks it with you.
He knows where the green pastures are.
He knows where the still waters are.
He knows how to restore your soul.
And when the path runs through a valley you would never have chosen, He does not call to you from somewhere far away.
He stays with you.
The Lord is not only the Shepherd.
He can become your Shepherd.
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