The phrase “The Lord is my . . .” appears frequently in the book of Psalms. Poetic, yet always meaningful, these declarations teach us something about the character of God.
I recently read three of them together, and they reminded me of something else: the Lord is not simply the one who points out the covenant path. He is my companion as I walk it.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
“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 for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).
Notice what the shepherd does: He provides food and water for the sheep. He restores them and gives them the strength they need to continue on the path.
He doesn’t simply lead the sheep to where to go. He makes sure they have what they need to get there.
The Lord Is My Light
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
Light pushes back the darkness and gives us courage to move forward. We may not see the entire path ahead, but because He is our light, we can see enough to keep walking.
The Lord is My Strength and Shield
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him” (Psalm 28:7).
As we walk the path, there will be dangers and difficult stretches. But with the Lord as our strength and shield, we never face those battles alone. He strengthens us for what lies ahead and protects us along the way.
He Is the Way
What a great traveling companion!
He makes sure I have the nourishment I need. He gives me light to see the way forward. He strengthens and protects me when the path becomes difficult.
This reminds me that “it’s not the course alone that will exalt us; it’s the companion—our Savior. And this is the why of covenant relationship.”1
This is one of the most beautiful things about the covenant path. Jesus Christ doesn’t simply stand at the end, waiting for us to arrive. He walks it with us.
After all, it is His path. He is the way, and He has every intention of bringing us to the Father (see John 14:6).
And He intends to walk with us all the way home.
Grounded and Reaching High
- Main idea: The covenant path is more than a route to follow; Jesus Christ walks it with us, nourishing, guiding, strengthening, protecting, and leading us.
- Practical takeaway: As you walk the covenant path, look for the Savior’s companionship in the strength, direction, nourishment, and protection He gives.
- One question to ponder: As I walk the covenant path, which role of the Savior do I most need right now: shepherd, light, strength, shield, or the way?
Lead image by Ales Krivec for Unsplash+
- Emily Belle Freeman, “Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ“, General Conference, April 2023.
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