Shaped by the Shepherd

My sheep know my voice. I have sung over you, as shepherds do for their sheep – you have heard my cry over you and I have revealed my heart to you. You have heard my voice many times, you know the way that I speak to you – the union and intimacy that we share.

My sheep know my protection. I have fought lions and bears for you. Whatever threat has come against you, I have stood on your behalf. Even while you were resting, I was watching over you.

My sheep know my dedication. When you have wandered far from my purposes, I have pursued you and sought you out – not allowing you to be lost. For I am the God of the marginalised, the weary and the burdened. I have rescued you and bound your wounds.

My sheep know my correction. When you have needed to know boundaries and a ‘no’ for your own sake, I have corrected you and realigned your heart back to me. I have kept you in the places you needed to be to grow, and to learn.

My sheep know my provision. I have led you to green pastures, I have provided for your needs and taken pleasure in your good grazing. When the land beneath you has dried, I have brought you to new and plentiful places.

Your life is the story of how you have been shaped by me, your Good Shepherd. For I am only good. And my purposes in your life are only good, regardless of the season that you are in.

A shepherd is a place of comfort and refuge for the sheep, but he is also a symbol of strength and protection. I am the God of your comfort – the safe place you run to, but I am also the God who defends and protects you – who stands in righteousness and power. Do not be so focused on me shepherding you in comfort, that you miss my protection and power.

Activation: Ask Jesus what season of shepherding you are in with him now. Is it revelation, protection, rescue, dedication, correction, provision – or something else? Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to you a deeper understanding of your season now. And what is he leading you into? Pray – Lord, thank-you for being my shepherd, whatever season I am in. Show me how to follow your lead, and to truly understand what it means to be shepherded by you.

Ezekiel 34:11-16 (NIV)

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”