Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our Reading titled Courage from the Shepherd was written by Lisa M. Samra.

The nearly 107,000 people in the stadium stood in anticipation as Texas A&M college football

kicker Seth Small took the field with only two seconds left in the game.

With A&M tied 3838 against the best team in the country, a perennial football powerhouse, a successful field goal would seal an epic upset victory.

Looking calm, small lined up to take the kick.

The stadium erupted in pandemonium after the ball sailed through the uprights for the winning score.

When questioned by reporters how he prepared for such an intense moment,

Small said he kept repeating to himself the first verse of Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.

When Small needed strength and reassurance, he drew on the deeply personal metaphor of God as shepherd.

Psalm 23 is a beloved Psalm because it assures us that we can be at peace or comforted because we have a loving and trustworthy shepherd who actively cares for us.

David testified both to the reality of fear in intense or difficult situations, as well as the

comfort God provides. The word translated comfort conveys assurance or the confidence and courage

to keep going because of his guiding presence. When walking into challenging circumstances,

not knowing what the outcome will be, we can take courage as we repeat the gentle reminder that

the good shepherd walks with us.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green

pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right

paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the

darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

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