Are you looking for a May 13 prayer to read and reflect on? We provide a guiding Bible verse, prayer questions, and example prayer for the day below.
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Bible verse for May 13
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 NLT)
Prayer Reflections for May 13
When my daughter was four years old, she fervently cared for an imaginary flock of baby chicks.
She loved them deeply.
So, she constantly chased after the baby chicks that had wandered off. She also spent considerable time searching for those that hid ‘really good’ when they played hide and seek together.
One day during the Easter season, we saw a package of baby chicks in a store. These baby chicks were tiny Easter decorations; basically, two small poms glued together with itty bitty eyes, legs, and feet and a sharp little beak.
They were extremely fragile looking.
My daughter asked me to buy her this box of ten ‘real’ baby chicks.
While driving home, I explained how she would need to work extra hard to care for these baby chicks. They were delicate, and her dog would probably want to play with them.
Although she promised to protect and guard them, her shepherding efforts were no match for the obstacles she and the baby chicks faced.
By the end of the day, only four baby chicks were left. The others had vanished from sight, were broken into pieces, or destroyed (and probably eaten) by the dog.
Before bed, she came to me with some birthday money and asked for another box of baby chicks. She was sad that even though she loved them very much, she couldn’t watch over the ‘real’ baby chicks like she wanted to.
I loved that phase and enjoyed seeing my daughter use her imagination. But the truth is, none of us can shepherd like the Lord, no matter how good our intentions are.
The perfection of Jesus’ character made Him the good shepherd, and his actions show the absolute goodness of God.
John 10:11 reads, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (NLT).
Goodness is not a description of God, it is who God is. He desires all of us to experience Him and His goodness fully.
The benevolence Jesus displayed shows God’s love and compassion for me. Therefore I know that God:
- Will search for me when I am lost.
- Will mend or heal me when I am hurt.
- Can use me in my brokenness.
- Is a mighty warrior who never runs away or leaves me but protects me from my enemies.
But it’s important that I remember this goodness comes at a cost.
However, unlike the baby chick example above, you and I do not make that payment. God sacrificed his son to cover the cost and protect us from the enemy.
My friend, you are valuable to God. He loves you so much that he wants you to have His goodness and without any effort or payment. All you have to do is admit your need and ask to be part of His flock.
May 13 Prayer
Dear Lord, while we are thankful that you are our good shepherd, it’s not easy for us to fully understand your goodness. Still, I want to receive and experience your goodness in my life. Thank you for being a shepherd that cares for, saves, and protects His flock by being the ultimate sacrifice. Amen.
Resource of the Day
If you would like to learn how to honor God by how you care for yourself, My Life Nurse has a free Bible Study for more consistent and intentional self-care.
Lisa Kimrey, RN, is a speaker and author of The Self-care Impact: Motivation and Inspiration for Wellness. On Mylifenurse.com, Lisa shares Scripture-based encouragement and how to best care for yourself as you serve and care for others. She has been a registered nurse for 30 years and finds joy in helping people take better care of themselves and serve the Lord in extraordinary ways. You can follow Lisa on Pinterest and Facebook.