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The Lord is a Shepherd to us all. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Like a shepherd, the Lord watches over us day and night. He feeds us, providing natural and spiritual nourishment. The Lord takes every opportunity to show us the way to heaven and lead our footsteps upward, but He also gives us the freedom to reject His love, His truth, and His leading. We can choose to go our own way, becoming lost or threatened by the serious problems we must face. But the Lord is always with us, always loving us. No matter how lost we become, the Lord reaches out to us, seeking to rescue us. He leads "as if by the hand...as far as a person is willing to follow in freedom" (Apocalypse Explained 1174:2).
How can we become like lambs or sheep, willing to follow where the Lord leads? First we must realize that all good and all truth are from the Lord, not from ourselves. If we really grasp this spiritual reality, then we will be more willing to trust the Lord's leading. And to know how to follow Him, we must read His Word and obey His teachings. For the Divine truths of the Word serve as a shepherd's rod and staff, guiding and protecting us.
The way in which the Lord leads us is called Divine Providence. Through His Providence, the Lord leads each individual in the best possible way, always leaving him or her in freedom to accept or reject His love and wisdom. When we follow the Lord's leading and cooperate with His Divine Providence then we are led toward the heavenly states of peace and contentment. Having confidence in the Lord, that He will save us, helps us to endure those dark valleys through which we must traverse.
This month our focus is "The Lord as our Shepherd" and His Divine Providence. We offer resources for spiritual enrichment, family activities, projects, Sunday School lessons, further reading, and more. We hope this month's website will help you look to the Lord as your Shepherd, seeking to lead you to green pastures and still waters.
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