Day 7: Standing on the Edge of Glory

Scripture:
Isaiah 65:25
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together. The lion shall eat straw like the ox, but the serpent shall eat dust. They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.”

Reflection:
Isaiah ends the vision with a picture that feels impossible. Wolves and lambs feed together. Lions at peace. A mountain where nothing harms and nothing destroys. It sounds like fantasy, yet it is God’s dream for the world. Not a distant fairy tale, but a reality already pushing against the edges of our world.

We live in the tension between the already and the not yet. We know the world is not healed. We also know the Spirit is already stirring healing right now. We live on the edge of glory, as the sermon puts it, and God invites us to lean toward that coming reality with open hands.

This is not the time to give up. Not the time to shrink back. Not the time to assume the best days are behind us. God is creating a kingdom that begins right where we stand. A kingdom shaped by justice, peace, generosity, and love. A kingdom that refuses to hide from the rubble but rises from it with holy imagination.

Today, stand at the edge of your life and ask, “Where is God already breaking through?” Look for the light. Look for the grace. Look for the possibility. You are closer to glory than you think.

Prayer Prompt:
God, give me eyes to see the kingdom that is already beginning around me. Help me live with hope, courage, and imagination as I join You in making all things new.

Day One: The Shepherd Who Sees You

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1
"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture," declares the Lord.

Reflection
Jeremiah begins with a word that is hard to hear. God confronts the leaders who failed to care for the people entrusted to them. The kings, priests, and rulers scattered the flock through selfishness and neglect. The people were left frightened, confused, and unsure of whom to trust.

Spend a moment remembering a time when you felt unseen, unprotected, or forgotten. These moments leave marks on the heart. The scattered sheep of Jeremiah’s world knew this pain well. Yet this verse is not only a warning. It is a reminder that God sees every wound and every place where human leadership has failed. Nothing escapes the Good Shepherd’s attention. God refuses to ignore the harm done to vulnerable people. In naming the failure, God affirms the suffering of the flock.

You are not unnoticed. The losses, fears, and uncertainties you carry come before God with deep seriousness. God does not dismiss your hurt. God sees you, knows you, and moves toward you with compassion and truth.

Prayer Prompt
God, show me where I am still carrying the weight of being unseen or unprotected. Help me trust that You see every part of me with care.

Day Two: Gathered, Not Scattered

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:3
"Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase."

Reflection
After naming the harm, God speaks a promise that changes everything. When human shepherds fail, God steps in personally. This is not distant leadership. This is tender rescue. God declares that He will gather the scattered, bring them home, and restore their strength.

Think about a time when life felt scattered. A move, a job transition, a fractured relationship, or a season of grief can leave us feeling like we are wandering through unfamiliar terrain. Yet God’s promise is clear. Scattering is never the final word. God gathers. God restores. God brings you to a place where you can breathe again.

This gathering is not just geographical. It is spiritual, emotional, and relational. God gathers the parts of you that feel divided. God gathers your courage when it has been dispersed. God gathers your hope when it feels thin. And God brings all of you back to a pasture where your life can grow again.

Prayer Prompt
Good Shepherd, gather the scattered parts of my life. Bring me back to places of safety, rest, and renewal.

Day Three: A Shepherd Who Knows Your Name

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:4
"I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the Lord.

Reflection
God does not simply gather His people. He promises leaders who will truly care. Leaders who protect rather than exploit. Leaders who bring peace rather than fear. This verse is a vision of restored community, shaped by tenderness and responsibility.

It is also deeply personal. God promises that none will be missing. None overlooked. None forgotten in the margins of life. This speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost in the crowd or unsure of where they belong.

God’s leadership is unlike any earthly system. While human leaders will always have limits, God surrounds us with people who reflect His care. Think of a teacher, coach, pastor, or friend who saw you, encouraged you, and helped you find your footing when life felt uncertain. Their presence was not random. It was part of God’s promise to place good shepherds around you.

You are not lost. You are not missing. God’s care is detailed, personal, and intentional.

Prayer Prompt
Lord, thank You for the shepherds You have placed in my life. Show me how to receive their care with gratitude and trust.

Day Four: Jesus the Good Shepherd

Scripture: John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Reflection
In Jesus, the promise of Jeremiah becomes flesh. He does not watch from a distance. He steps into our world with compassion and purpose. His leadership is marked by sacrifice, not control. He gathers the lost, tends the wounded, and protects the vulnerable.

A shepherd’s staff is more than a symbol. It is a tool of guidance, protection, and rescue. Jesus uses His life in the same way. He leads us through difficult terrain. He lifts us from danger. He brings us back when we wander into harmful patterns.

Think about the places in your life where Jesus has already shepherded you. A moment of clarity during confusion. A word of grace when you felt ashamed. A new direction when you were stuck. Jesus does not abandon His flock. He walks with us, step by gentle step, until we find healing and hope.

Prayer Prompt
Jesus, thank You for being the Good Shepherd who never stops seeking me. Lead me today with Your wisdom and peace.

Day Five: Becoming a Shepherd for Others

Scripture: Philippians 2:4
"Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Reflection
God does more than care for us. God invites us to participate in the work of shepherding. Every follower of Jesus is called to reflect His care in the places where we live, work, and serve.

Shepherding does not always look dramatic. It can be as simple as listening well, offering encouragement, standing up for someone who feels vulnerable, or choosing kindness when it would be easier to walk away. We shepherd others when our presence becomes a source of strength rather than harm.

Think about someone who shepherded you through a difficult season. Their influence shaped you. Their compassion carried you. Their leadership helped you find courage. Now consider where God might be asking you to step into that same role for someone else.

Becoming a shepherd is not about power. It is about presence. It is about showing others the love you have already received.

Prayer Prompt
God, open my eyes to the people around me who need care today. Help me shepherd with kindness and humility.

Day Six: The Power of Example

Scripture: Matthew 5:16
"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Reflection
The Shel Silverstein poem in the sermon ("Don't Tell Me" by Shel Silverstein) reminds us that people learn far more from what we do than from what we say. True shepherding always begins with example. A life shaped by compassion invites others to live the same way.

Jesus embodied this truth. His care was visible. His compassion was consistent. His love was unmistakable. The people around Him could see God through His actions long before they understood His teachings.

Your life carries that same influence. Every act of kindness becomes a light. Every moment of patience becomes a voice of hope. Every choice to protect the vulnerable becomes a glimpse of God’s kingdom.

You do not have to be perfect. You simply have to be willing. The world does not need flawless leaders. The world needs faithful shepherds whose light gently guides others toward healing and grace.

Prayer Prompt
Lord, help my actions reflect Your love today. Shape my life into an example that draws others toward You.

Day Seven: Resting in the Shepherd’s Arms

Scripture: Psalm 23:1
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."

Reflection
Psalm 23 offers a final word for this devotional journey. At the heart of our faith is a Shepherd who provides, protects, and leads us into peace. This verse is not sentimental poetry. It is a declaration born from experience. David knew valleys, threats, heartbreak, and fear. Yet he also knew the presence of a God who never abandoned him.

Take a breath and let the first phrase settle into your spirit. The Lord is my shepherd. Not just a shepherd. My shepherd. The One who knows you by name. The One who walks beside you in seasons of uncertainty. The One who holds you close when you feel scattered. The One who carries you when you cannot move on your own.

When God shepherds your life, you lack nothing essential. You are guided, nourished, guarded, restored, and loved. The staff of the Good Shepherd is always within reach, steady and faithful.

Prayer Prompt
Shepherd of my soul, help me rest in Your care. Teach me to trust that with You, I truly lack nothing.