Dependence: A New Year’s Blessing

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.

Nothing.

Except…

Except the strength to change.

I lack willpower, too.

I lack wisdom and understanding.

I often don’t know what to say or how to say it.

Relationships get stuck in ruts.

Patterns of unhealth

that lead to misunderstanding and disconnection.

I lack strength, willpower, wisdom, understanding.

Green pastures? Quiet waters?

I can’t see the road there.

I lack the vision.

Lacking everything like a sheep

completely dependent on a shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.

Maybe sheep alone are lacking.

Like me.

Maybe the path to abundance from lacking

doesn’t require more:

more strength, more willpower,

more wisdom, more understanding,

more vision.

Maybe the journey to green pastures and quiet waters

requires more of the Shepherd.

More of the Shepherd leading the sheep

and more of the sheep living in dependence on being led.

May in this year 2026 you be blessed with more of the Lord our Shepherd who wants to lead you – the dependent sheep – into His presence that restores your soul.

Kyle Magstadt

Associate Superintendent for
Church Multiplication