When did you last lie down in the middle of the day and not feel guilty about it?
The psalm’s first picture of being shepherded isn’t marching. It’s resting.
“He makes me lie down.” Mark who does the making.
Psalm 23:1-6 · WEB
Tap a tool, then tap words. Highlight what gets your attention · underline what God is doing or saying · circle a repeated or unfamiliar word.
Read it aloud, then give everyone two minutes to mark it in silence.
1
2
3
4
5
6
WEB Scripture quotations marked (WEB) are from the World English Bible, a public domain translation.
What stood out?
Go around the room. Each person reads one thing they marked. If you know why it stood out, say so. If you don’t, “it just stood out” is a complete answer. Nobody explains, nobody corrects.
Your markings are saved on this device and will be here when you come back.
Rest and renewal: the Shepherd who restores
These verses highlight God’s care in guiding us to places of rest and renewal, reflecting His understanding of what our souls truly need. This mirrors Elijah’s story in the wilderness (1 Kings 19:1-13), where God provided rest, food, and His gentle voice to revive Elijah after a season of exhaustion and despair. The green pastures and still waters symbolize God’s invitation to slow down, find peace in His presence, and be restored holistically: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- God guides us to places of rest and renewal, knowing what our souls truly need.
- True restoration is holistic: renewing us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Green pastures and still waters aren’t just idyllic scenes; they’re God’s invitation to rest in His presence.
- The image of still waters represents a sacred pause: a space where God’s voice can be heard more clearly, inviting us into deeper trust.
Read this one out loud.
The same truth across Scripture
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Discussion questions
- How does the story of Elijah highlight God’s ability to restore us?
- If God leads us to still waters, what might we be missing when we resist slowing down or resting?
- How might experiencing God’s rest enable you to extend peace and gentleness to others in your life?
Write it out.
Write freely. Your words are saved in this browser only, on this device, as you type. Nothing you write is sent to us.
Email opens your mail app. We do not store your notes.
Let’s pray together
Read Psalm 23:2-3a aloud again, slowly.
Pray together: “Come, Holy Spirit. Lead us beside still waters.”
In pairs or small clusters, pray for one another:
- What fears or anxieties are weighing on you right now that’s keeping you from experiencing God’s rest?
- How can we pray for you to experience God’s rest this week?
Leave space for silence, listening, and Spirit-led prayer. If someone senses a word, a Scripture, or a picture for another, offer it gently and pray into it.
Let’s pray
Breakthrough is when God’s Kingdom breaks into your reality: His healing where there is pain, His freedom where there is bondage, His presence where there is loneliness. Jesus is King; His freedom, peace and purpose are available now. Pray from that Kingdom, not toward it.
Be still for a moment. Open your hands and simply pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Ask: “Father, where are you trying to make me lie down, and where am I refusing?” Then: “What were you highlighting when I marked the passage?” Stay open to a word, a Scripture, a picture, or a prompting.
Pray boldly into what He shows you. Hand Him the thing that will not let you rest.
You can pray more than once. Stay present, and trust that God is at work. Take your time; there is no hurry.
Choose one. Say it out loud so someone else hears it.
Next time you gather, share what you practiced and how God used it, not for pressure but for encouragement.
The reminder downloads as a calendar event. Open it and it lands on your calendar for tomorrow morning.
Done.
The Shepherd knows when we need rest even before we recognize it in ourselves.