A Prayer about Our Standing, Active, Loving Shepherd
Source: Scotty Smith | The Gospel Coalition
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” . . . He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace. Micah 5:2, 4-5
The LORD is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalms 23:1
Most loving Jesus, there are so many reasons to love and worship you. First and foremost, you are God-who, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, are singularly worthy of our adoration, affection and allegiance. You are peerless in glory, endless in mercy and matchless in grace. The fact that I’m even tempted to worship others gods is irrefutable confirmation of the depth of my sin and the degree of my brokenness. I need the salvation you alone can give-I need it right now as much as the first day you sovereignly revealed yourself to me.
As I meditate through this Scripture, I’m especially moved to worship you today for being the Shepherd-Savior that you are. Small Bethlehem welcomed a far greater treasure than I could have ever hoped or imagined. Having laid down your life as the Lamb of God, you’ve risen and are now the standing shepherd-relentlessly caring, vigilantly protecting, and faithfully providing for us. You never sleep or slumber, ebb or flow in your affection for us. You are constantly caring for us. We praise and honor you, O compassionate and engaged Shepherd.
Jesus, because of your great love for us in the gospel, we lack nothing we need. We don’t get all our wants, but we do have everything we need for life and godliness . . . and a whole lot more. We praise you that it’s green pastures and quiet waters to which you lead us-all for the restoring of our tired, weary, broken, rebellious souls.
For your glory and our good, you guide us along paths of righteousness, goodness, truth, and grace. And even as that journey involves traversing places marked by decay and death, you are with us.. and that’s all we really need to know. We don’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone, for you are with us.
You nourish us all the time-even when enemies are close by and threatening. Your generous anointing overflows from us for the blessing of others, for such is the way of the gospel. Everywhere you lead us, you bring the fragrance of your goodness and love.
Even in the new heaven and new earth, you will be our shepherd, leading us to springs of living water (Rev. 7:17). Your greatness, Jesus, will reach to the ends of the earth, and we will always live securely, for you are our peace, now and forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! So very Amen we pray, in your great and gracious name.