Sunday, April 28, 2019

Dear God,

"What if we are the goats instead of the sheep?"  The question rose up in my prayer time.  What if?  I asked myself.  You talked about the goats and sheep and it occurred to me that we always consider ourselves the sheep and others the goats.

"The sheep know the shepherd," you said.  Do I really know the shepherd well and am I able to discern my standing as a sheep?  Or have I missed the whole point and am just kidding myself about being a sheep.  A goat is an outsider, one who doesn't know the shepherd intimately, one who is lost, selfish and unworthy.  Yes, there is part of me particularly at special times when I am so goat-like.  I refuse to follow the shepherd when I fall into old habits and fail to keep my eye focused on the shepherd and his care.  I don't always follow your will, stay in your loving presence and listen to your wise words.  Perhaps I am better described as a goat instead of a sheep.

Holy God,
cleanse me
from within.
I want
to be one
of your own.
I want
to follow you.
Please forgive me.
Thank you
for the challenge.

Love, Andrea