Good Shepherd – The Presidential Prayer Team

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

You don’t have to look far these days to encounter tempers flaring and words that are harsh, critical, or blaming. But imagine, in the midst of the daily noise of conflict culture you felt a strong and loving arm slip around your shoulders, reassuring you, tenderly leading you, and whispering your name, as you navigate the day? Gentleness soothes the world-weary soul and one of the most beautiful characteristics of your Creator God is His profound tenderness towards you and compassion towards the distracted and obsessed world.

In the Bible, God’s gentle, strong nature is represented as a shepherd tending his flock. Many prominent figures in the Old Testament were sheepherders. Abraham, Moses, and David would have likely understood Jesus’ meaning when he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them” (John 10: 11-12).

You might feel as if a wolf were threatening your life today, and you certainly see the snarling evil of the world, but safety will not be found in more money or government programs. God longs for scattered hearts to run to Him for shelter. Yet, like fearful sheep, many will run from their Rescuer. Pray for world leaders and decision-makers in America to seek God’s leading in their own hearts before making critical decisions. Ask that many will find and follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Today’s Verse: 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: John 10:1-5

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ²But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”