Psalm 23:2 sounds peaceful, and it is. But it is also more intentional than we usually realize. David says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” That phrase “He makes me” is strong, because most of us do not naturally lie down. We keep moving, producing, thinking, and carrying the weight of what’s next.

In this episode of Formation to Transformation: A Worship Devotional, we talk about how a shepherd does not just take sheep somewhere pretty. A shepherd leads them into safety. Sheep only lie down when they feel secure. So Psalm 23:2 is showing us a God who creates the conditions where rest becomes possible, sometimes gently, and sometimes by bringing us to the end of our striving as an act of mercy.

We also look at what “green pastures” and “still waters” mean. Pasture is not just scenery. It is provision. It is nourishment. And still waters are not only poetic. They are practical. Fast water can be dangerous for sheep, so a good shepherd leads them to a place where they can drink without fear. This verse is not only describing God’s goodness. It is revealing His care for the whole person, body, mind, heart, and soul.

This is worship formation. Worship is not only what you do in loud moments. Worship is learning to receive, learning to be led into stillness, learning to trust without grabbing for control. Rest is not only recovery. Rest is trust. Stillness is not emptiness. Stillness is attention.

Question for today: Where am I resisting rest and stillness, and what might the Shepherd be trying to feed in me there?

If you'd like to get these episodes in your inbox and support my work head over to my substack