Daily Affirmations - Day 7 - The Blessing of Weakness - A Loving Shepherd

Day 7: A loving Shepherd

The Lord our Maker is our God; we are the flock under His care

I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice (Ezekiel 34:16).

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Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“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.

The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay down My life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father” (John 10:7-18).

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Loving Shepherd of thy sheep,

Keep Thy lamb in safety keep;

Nothing can thy power withstand,

None can pluck me from Thy hand.

Loving Savior, Thou didst give

Thine own life that we might live,

And Thy hands outstretched to bless,

Bear the cruel nails' impress.

I would bless Thee every day,

Gladly all Thy will obey,

Like Thy blessèd ones above

Happy in Thy precious love.

Loving Shepherd, ever near,

Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear,

Suffer not my steps to stray

From the straight and narrow way.

Where Thou leadest I would go,

Walking in Thy steps below,

Till before my Father's throne

I shall know as I am known.

~Jane Eliza Leeson, 1842

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