A Prayer about Being a Sheep

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

Good Shepherd,

Wrap our minds and hearts 

around this profoundly good news. 

We are like sheep, 

and sheep are prone to wander. 

Sheep tend to get themselves in mucky ruts, 

forget to eat, 

stumbling down wrong paths 

right into predators’ jaws. 

We, like sheep, 

were stuck, belly up in our own sin, 

helpless to right ourselves. 

Into our helplessness, 

God sent a Lamb, 

his own Lamb, 

to be our spotless sacrifice. 

On you, the Lamb of God, 

our sin was laid: 

“Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, 

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so [you] opened not [your] mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). 

Now you are our faithful Shepherd, 

and you lead us beside “waters of rest,” (Psalm 23:2), 

on “right paths,” 

turning us away from the sin-ruts 

we would dig for ourselves. 

Now you lead us in paths of righteousness, 

and you receive the glory (Ps. 23:3). 

Faithful Shepherd, 

thank you for your perfect sacrifice for us, 

and for restoring our sheepish souls.

In your sacrificial name we pray. Amen.

Read Isaiah 53:6-12; Psalm 23.