The Lord is My Shepherd

I recently saved this image on my phone. Each day for the past couple weeks I have spent time reading and thinking about it. I believe every person who wakes up each Friday with the Faith Friday in their inbox is a prayer warrior. We come in all shapes and sizes, ages, experiences, and various stages of our faith journey. 

But I know we have each been blessed by the power of prayer. Even those of us who have to work up the courage to ask for prayers, we know that prayer is not about changing God's mind but it is actually about us aligning with His will. It is all about relationship. When we pray we are conversing with God. We are listening in silence for His guidance and grace. When we feel inadequate or recognize our need for greater strength, we seek intercession on our behalf. Matthew 7:7 says "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." We are encouraged to pray and seek God's will, with the assurance that those who persistently ask, seek, and knock will receive His grace and blessings.

When we pray for someone in need, we are imitating Christ. Praying for someone is a way to show we care. It is literally the one thing we can do because we are not in control. In the times that our prayers are not answered as we think they should be, they are answered in the best way - God's way. Every time we pray to God we are deepening our trust in Him, opening our hearts to His will, and reinforcing our faith. We don't always know or understand why things happen, but faith is necessary to overcome the obstacles we face each and every day.  

I hope you find peace in Psalm 23 and continue to pray and listen. He is often heard in the quietest of moments.

Lord, we ask for your guidance in hearing your voice today. Help us quiet our minds and focus on your gentle, still whisper. Lead us with clarity and direction as we go through our day. Help us to keep you by our side, following your lead. Grant us attentive hearts to listen. You, Lord, are our faithful and loving Shepherd. Amen.