Day 22: Lead Us
M.D. Arnold says, "A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.” This is the exactly the beauty of our Leader and Shepherd both leading above and within us. This is the pursuit of our Savior’s example of prayer: to lead the disciples from above and from within as He calls us to declare that we are dependent upon the Shepherd’s guidance. We are declaring that we are not just ‘dumb sheep,’ but we are capable of making decisions and our sole desire is to follow the lead of the One who is capable and knows the way as He is the Way.
When we pray, “Lead us,” we are ultimately asserting that God’s direction, God’s will, God’s Kingship and Kingdom, and God’s life are the best things for us. We are by no means claiming that we cannot do things or make decisions, but rather that we want to partner with the Shepherd who has been leading us before we were born. We are declaring that we trust and long for the Father to guide His children into the best things, for the Son to show us how He walked and walks, and for the Spirit to remind us and empower to walk in those same ways, and even in greater things as Jesus promised.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).” The glory of praying and asking for the Lord to lead us is that we are not just concerned with our own understanding, or our own benefit, but rather we are interested in the Savior’s direction for all of humanity as He guides us into the best things for us: Himself. Today, as we pray, “Lead us,” I would encourage you to remember that it is the most secure thing we can speak out in trusting that the One who has been leading will continue to lead. We can trust that His leadership is perfect, and we can follow in His steps. Amen.
Action: There are many types of leaders that take our focus off of the leadership of the Lamb. We fix our attention on presidential candidates and policies more than the King and His Kingdom. We set our hearts toward celebrities and their escapades more than the greatest Leader and Teacher whose healing and freedom was more exciting than anything we tend to worship. When you find yourself looking elsewhere, pray: Good Shepherd, align me with Your leadership.
