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TODAY’S WORD…

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The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for His name’s sake.

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Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—
they comfort me.

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– Psalm 23:1-4 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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“Turning to the Lord in prayer implies a radical act of trust,

in the awareness that one is entrusting oneself to God

who is good, ‘merciful and gracious, slow to anger,

and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.’ […]

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Those who walk with the Lord

even in the dark valleys of suffering, doubt and all the human problems,

feel safe.

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You are with me: this is our certainty, this is what supports us.

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The darkness of the night frightens us with its shifting shadows,

with the difficulty of distinguishing dangers,

with its silence taut with strange sounds. […]

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If we follow the ‘Good Shepherd’

– no matter how difficult, tortuous or long the pathways of our life may seem,

even through spiritual deserts without water

and under the scorching sun of rationalism –

with the guidance of Christ the Good Shepherd,

we too, like the Psalmist, may be sure that we are walking on ‘in right paths’

and that the Lord is leading us,

is ever close to us

and that we ‘shall lack nothing.’”

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– Pope Benedict XVI.

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PRAYER…

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My Lord, my God, my Shepherd,

thank You for Your great love for me;

thank You for always being there, Lord.

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Lord, You are my Shepherd,

and I am so blessed,

knowing that Your eyes are always on me.

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Watch over me, Lord – I need You.

Lead me,

protect me,

carry me, Lord,

I need You.

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I love You, Lord.

You are my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord, my Shepherd, I need You.

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