“The Lord is my shepherd,” Psalm 23 proclaims, “I have everything I need.”

Aside from John 3:16, this psalm may be one of the most famous passages of Scripture. It has been quoted in tv shows, poems, songs, books, and movies, to the part it has almost become a part of pop culture. Even most non-believers can quote a line or two.

But, as Christians, Psalm 23 should be more than just a collection of pretty sentiments or familiar refrain. It should be something that helps shape our worldview.

“The Lord is my shepherd/I have everything I need…”

We say it.

But do we believe it?

Psychologists have discovered that how we see the world is a major factor in who we become, and I truly believe our current culture is proof of this. Here in the United States, and in many other countries throughout the world, we are living in a post-Christian society where the dominant worldview is secular. In other words, most people today live as if there is no God.

And if how we see the world is who we become, then what is the effect of this kind of worldview on society at large?

Scientists have discovered the more secular a person becomes (the more deeply they believe and act as if there is no God), the more neurotic they become. There are higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout among people of a secular worldview than their religious counterparts. (Not saying that believers can’t experience these things, only that their diagnoses are lower on average than non-believers). Why? Because living as if there is no God makes YOU a god…and being a god is hard work.

On the other hand, we Christians not only have THE God, the One and Only, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, but we have a Shepherd. A good Shepherd. A kind Shepherd. One who “leads [us] beside still waters…restores [our] souls…leads [us] in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

But, again, do we really believe this?

Even if you are a self-professing Christian, I believe it’s helpful to, every once and awhile, take a good hard look at your worldview and reassess.

Do I really believe God has given me all I need….or am I constantly nagged by greed and envy?

Do I really trust God to make me lie down in green pastures, beside still waters….or do I balk at His restrictions?

Do I really give Him the space to restore my soul, or am I too busy seeking and hustling for more, more, more?

How we see the world–and God–is who we become.

And I want to see God as my shepherd, the world as His pasture, and myself as His sheep, trusting Him in all things and for all things. I want Psalm 23 to be more than pretty, well-known words. I want it to be the call of my heart.

And I want that for you too.