The Upper Room Devotional 21 May 2026, Thursday Message
Our Shepherd
Navamani Peter* (Karnataka, India)
Today’s Reading
Ezekiel 34:11-24
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. – Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
My husband and I used to travel to villages in south India to visit rural churches during our ministry. Some villages had no proper roads, so we had to travel by jeep or oxcart on rugged terrain. This caused me severe neck pain that eventually developed into spondylitis.
A pastor from our church visited and saw my neck brace, so he prayed for me. He encouraged me to repeat Psalm 23 daily and meditate on it. This began my daily practice of meditating on this beautiful psalm. The pain in my neck eventually went away, but my practice continues.
Psalm 23 is a beautiful expression of trust, dependence, and assurance of God’s care and provision in all circumstances. David was a shepherd and knew what it meant to care for his sheep and protect them from harm. He led his sheep to green pastures and beside still water. Like every good shepherd, he knew his sheep and they knew his voice.
God is our shepherd. God not only cares for our physical well-being but also for our spiritual health. God brings healing and wholeness to our innermost being. Even through life’s most challenging moments, we can be assured of God’s presence and protection.
Thought for the Day
Today and every day I am grateful for God’s presence in my life.
Prayer Focus
People with chronic pain
Today’s Prayer
Loving God, thank you for nurturing us with your word and blessing us with your gracious presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 21 May 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
