Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
Psalm 100: 1-5
“1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Understand:
In verse 3, the psalmist refers to the LORD as a shepherd who continually watches over His people, Israel. They are His flock; the sheep of His pasture.
In the psalms, we read it is the Shepherd that leads His people into safe pastures, who leads them beside quiet waters, and who restores their soul. The Shepherd was the one who would save those who were lost or scattered.
Apply:
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Shepherd. This title indicates the believer’s dependence on Him as He protects and guides those He knows.
We’re told that Jesus:
- Is the Good Shepherd—He has compassion for the helpless
- Seeks the lost
- Knows His sheep
- Provides for and protects His sheep
- Lays down His life for His sheep
- Shepherds His flock
Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, is the Shepherd! Take a moment and let that truth sink in. Reflect on all the ways He shepherds you. Offer Him your praise and worship.
“‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ” (Rev. 7:16-17)
Live:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today. KEEP PRAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.