John 10:1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
John’s reference to ”anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate” is about a thief and a robber who looks for opportunity to attack. When your heart is broken you are vulnerable to attack. That’s where I am right now because of grief. My natural inclination when searching for words was to use the old familiar language of protection…to “bind” Satan. Then I realized I don’t want to attribute any power at all to that thief and robber so I’ve chosen my words carefully for this prayer of protection, Bound by Jesus. “… The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd” who will protect my heart, mind and body. These words are the “gatekeeper” beside my bed that opens the gate for the shepherd as the first and the last thing of my day. I’ve only just realized it may be so much more than a prayer for protection in grief. It may be a prayer for life.
“Come to me, Shepherd!
Come quickly! Make no tarrying, O my Lord.” a
Come to protect my heart, mind and body
from the enemy as only you can.
Be the shield that deflects the enemy’s clever
use of weapons that destroy my heart.
Let my mind recognize ”you will” before
the enemy tells me “I should.”
Help me be satisfied in my weakness
because of your strength.
a quote from Hind’s Feet on High Places
Read and Ponder - Faith in Daily Life 