Listening for the Shepherd Who Knows You
Be the sheep. Wander and come back. Trust my voice. Listen for it. Notice where I am. You can be fearless, for I am here, protecting you. There is danger all around. Be attentive to me. Watch me. Where is my gaze? Where is my heart's focus?
Your heart's engagement with the Father brings you peace. Let hope steer you to me. Let faith ground you in me. Be oriented by my presence. If you are disturbed, look at me—ask me, why? Watch where I look. See where my attention rests. I am not troubled. Stay near me.
Opening: Consecration and Breath
First, find a comfortable and quiet space to relax for a while—ideally, a place where you can be alone and undisturbed for at least half an hour.
Empty your hands. Roll your shoulders a few times, up and back. Stretch your neck, arms, wrists, legs, and ankles. Release any tension you're carrying in your body.
Then, with your eyes closed, begin some slow, deep breathing for a few minutes. Perhaps try breathing in a box pattern:
Inhale through your nose for a count of five.
Hold this breath in for a count of five.
Exhale slowly and gradually through your mouth for a count of five.
Hold again (with all the air released from your lungs) for a count of five.
As you breathe, you may want to play instrumental music softly in the background—something peaceful that helps you draw inward.
Continue this pattern for several minutes, drawing your attention inward and gently relaxing your heart and your mind.
Next, consecrate your mind, heart, body, and thoughts to God. Hold every thought captive and give Him total control:
Lord, I consecrate to You this time with You. I give You my heart—all my emotions, my joys, and my sorrows. I give You my mind—my thoughts and ideas, my intentions and expectations. I give You my body—the tension I carry, the weariness I feel. I give You my fears—the worries that keep me from rest. I give You my relationships—the connections that bring life and the ones that bring struggle. Come, Holy Spirit. I need You. I invite You in.
Let the words settle in your heart as you continue to breathe deeply and peacefully.
Guided Meditation and Contemplation
Rest your hands open in your lap and breathe deeply, inviting God's presence more fully. Let the words of Psalm 100:3 settle in your heart:
"Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture."
Inhale, saying quietly: "I am yours." Exhale, saying: "I am your sheep."
Let the rhythm of these breaths draw your attention inward, inviting you to sense Jesus, your Shepherd, present with you.
Recall John 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Ask: How do I hear Your voice, Lord? Where is Your gaze resting?
Contemplative Journaling
Open your journal and reflect on your experience as the sheep in the Shepherd's pasture. Consider prompts such as:
When have I wandered or returned to the Shepherd?
How does the Shepherd's voice sound in my heart?
What does it feel like to be protected and known by God?
Where has His attention been in my life?
Let God's encouragement shape these reflections:
"Be the sheep. Wander and come back. Trust my voice. Listen for it. Notice where I am. You can be fearless, for I am here, protecting you…"
Write for several minutes, letting your experience flow freely from your listening heart.
Artful Response: Visual Prayer Circle
Next, take a piece of paper and, beginning at the center, draw a simple sheep or shepherd's crook—your starting point. Around this, create your "prayer circle," using colors, lines, images, or words inspired by your meditation and journaling.
Express:
Where you've wandered
Where God's gaze reaches
Areas of hope and faith guiding you closer to Him
This "prayer circle" is your visual prayer—a sacred space reflecting your spiritual journey. Do not judge artistic skill; let it be a genuine offering of your heart.
Closing Prayer
Finally, when you are ready, rest your gaze on your prayer circle. Whisper, "Thank you, Lord, for being my Shepherd. Help me listen and follow."
Sit quietly, noticing any sense of peace or renewed hope, and let this presence guide you through the day.
