July 17, 2023
Day 3 – SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE SEVEN DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE
READ THE WORD
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 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. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep” (John
10:10-13 ESV).
MEDITATION
Jesus calls the leaders of His institutions (family, church, and government) to be good shepherds who are
motivated by pleasing the Lord and doing what is right for the people they serve. Governing authorities
are the shepherds of government and are called to lead as a good shepherd; willing to do what is best for
the people they represent and the nation.
According to John 10, mankind’s natural tendency is to lead as a thief or a hireling, both of which are
false identities from the evil one. These wrong motives of power and fame and love for the approval of
people will lead to envy, disorder, and dissatisfaction. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, came to lay down His life
for His sheep so that we would have abundant life.
PRAYER POINTS
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” Psalm 14:2-3 ESV
“[The King] was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 ESV
Take time to give reverence to God, to repent, to rejoice in the Lord, and to respond in faith to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
