Praying for intimacy

"Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."

Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

-John 10:1-10, The Message

This was Pastor Jim’s message from yesterday. It made me think about how intimate (or not so intimate) my relationship with Jesus Christ seems. I admit I don’t spend the time I should in prayer, in His word, worshiping Him throughout the week in every aspect of my life.

I mean, how well do I know His voice? How often do I HEAR Him speak to me? How often do I LISTEN when he calls or do I just scatter because I don’t recognize HIS voice?

Lord, please help me to HEAR your voice clearly. Please help me to LISTEN to you and COME when you call. Please help me to know you more intimately. Amen.