The Lord is my Shepherd.  Psalm 23:1

     If we would keep our eyes on the Shepherd, and let God truly be our shepherd (see in the Psalm all the ways that the shepherd actively works on behalf of the sheep), we would become more aware of God’s love. He is the one who guides and provides and goes before us to clear the way. But we don’t pay attention—hence, we don’t always follow. In fact, we lose our way and get very self-absorbed. Instead of walking with God (through prayer and Scripture and listening), we don’t see ourselves clearly. We become increasingly touchy, supersensitive to self, and insensitive to others. (Does this describe you lately?)

     Paul E. Miller (“A Praying Life”) says that journaling helps us follow God. We can begin with two questions:

• How am I doing? Am I happy, sad, thankful, discouraged, angry, frustrated?
• What is God saying to me? What does the Word say?

When we answer these questions honestly, we are able to see our true selves, and this leads to repentance.

     He says that he began to see himself, and the things that needed work, so he turned the list of seven character qualities (e.g. impatience, judgmental, quick to speak) into prayer requests. As he journaled, he would see how the daily happenings revealed that God was working on those qualities. He writes, “Month by month, God worked on me. I realized that God didn’t seem particularly interested in saving me from difficult and frustrating situations. He just wanted to change me…so I stopped hunting for ways to improve my situation and focused on my own repentance.” Wow!

     While you may not welcome that kind of heart work in your life, I promise you that when God “gets in your business,” He is seeking to make you more Christlike and to improve your life. Miller goes on to say, “Prayer is where I do my best work as a husband, dad, worker, and friend. I’m actually managing my life through my daily prayer time. The Holy Spirit puts His finger on issues that only He can solve. I pray, bringing my heart to my heavenly Father. I’m doing that because I don’t have control over my heart and my life or the hearts and lives of those around me. But God does.” What a restful way to live! Don’t tell me you don’t have time. This might save you lots of time in the long run!

*How might prayer and journaling help you in your journey with God? In your life and relationships? Where could you start?

God, I need you to shepherd me. I choose to follow You. Teach me the steps of quiet trust one day at a time. Teach me how to listen. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.


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