Day 2: Ask God to Shepherd Your Decision

Thanks to Arthur Mazi for sharing their work on Unsplash.

Welcome to Day 2: Making Decisions in Uncertainty

Ask God to Shepherd Your Decision.

Let’s talk sheep. Sheep have a strong flocking behavior. So when one sheep moves, they all move. But sometimes a sheep gets off course, gets caught in a valley, or stuck in bramble. Which is why shepherds carry hooks. The shepherd’s hook guides—sometimes grabs—sheep who occasionally wander away or find themselves in hard situations and need help. 

Chances are, if you are doing this devotional you are in a hard spot. So the very idea of God being the Good Shepherd is comforting when we don’t know which way to turn. When we feel stuck, entangled, and in the dark. We need to stay close to the Shepherd and ask Him to guide us to the next best decision.

Take the time right now to slow down. Resist the urge to act. Instead, come quietly to the Good Shepherd and listen. Bring your choices in front of Him and look to His goodness and character to lead, guide, restore, comfort, and prepare provisions for you. Be with your Shepherd.

Open your palms as a posture of humility and need. Using Psalm 23 as a template, pray through the verbs describing God’s leadership in your life. 

“Even in this decision making process, God, You make me lie down in green pastures.” (Psalm 23:2)

“Even in this uncertain season, God, You lead me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2)

“Even in this hard place, God, You refresh my soul.” (Psalm 23:3)

“Even when I’m at a complete loss, God, you guide me on the right path.” (Psalm 23:3)

“Even when I feel overwhelmed and I’m losing sleep, God, you are with me, you comfort me, you prepare provisions for me.” (Psalm 23:4-5)

“Even when goodness and mercy feel far away, God, I will trust that they are following me in this decision.” (Psalm 23:6)

God, thank you that you are a good Shepherd. Thank you for providing for me in this. Thank you for the process of making this decision and that the process itself brings me closer to You. Thank you that this entire path is not in vain but bringing me closer to you as my Shepherd. You are good to me! Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John 10: 14-16

 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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.

See you tomorrow!

Amy