“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Chosen To Be Sheep!

“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.”
Psalm 100:3 (NIV)

Our prayer focus this week is about being chosen by God to be sheep of His pasture.  If you spend much time with sheep, you will likely discover that this isn’t the most complimentary word picture God could have used for us — though rather fitting.  The great part about being sheep is that we are chosen by the greatest Shepherd to be His sheep and His care for us is always for our good.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you live as one chosen by Him.  Pray that you would desire to be a “sheep of his pasture”.  Pray that you would live as one who knows and listens to the voice of Jesus through His Word and His Spirit.  Pray for those whom God has called within His church to be shepherds of people.  Pray for human shepherds who serve with the same spirit as the Good Shepherd they serve under.  Pray that the people around you each day would hear and know the voice of the Good Shepherd, and choose to follow Him.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please pray each day for God to help you live as one of the sheep of His pasture.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Called Sheep.  Pray that you would be inclined to respond to the call of Jesus as He asks you to be His.  Pray that your representation of Jesus would open the gate for others to respond to His calling them by name to come belong to Him.  “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  John 10:3 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Led Sheep.  Pray that you would desire to follow Jesus in all you think and do.  Pray for a willingness to be led by God’s Spirit and His Word.  Pray that the voice of Jesus would be familiar to you because you have chosen to follow Him in all things.  “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”  John 10:4 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Fed Sheep.  Pray that you would be filled with all good things as you enjoy the pasture of God’s Word.  Pray that your desire to feast upon the Word of God would be satisfied as you grow in Christ.  Pray that you would share the pasture of God’s Word with all who are hungry.  “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”  John 10:9 (NIV) 

Thursday:  Protected Sheep.  Pray that you would know and share Jesus as the One who laid down His life for all who would come to Him.  Pray that your desire to be protected would extend beyond simply seeking safety in this life but would rather be focused on protection from the evil one who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy.  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11 (NIV)

Friday:  Known Sheep.  Pray that you would be able to rejoice in the knowledge of being known fully by the Good Shepherd.  Pray that you would live with your life as an open book before God — because it is.  Pray for humility in the way you share with others about a God who knows them and loves them fully.  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”  John 10:14 (NIV)

Saturday:  Included Sheep.  Pray with great thankfulness that God has chosen to include you in His flock.  Pray for a heart and life that chooses to love all whom God loves — that’s everyone — and pray that they would also listen to His voice.  Pray for a unity of spirit and purpose among all who would respond in obedience to the voice of the Good Shepherd.  “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”  John 10:16 (NIV)