Consider the nature of our Shepherd. He does not merely lead from behind, as earthly shepherds do, but goes before His sheep, calling them by name and leading them out. And where does He lead them? Into green pastures and still waters, yes, but also into the very presence of the Father, for He Himself is the Door. No one can snatch them from His hand, nor from the Father’s hand, for they are one. The sheep hear His voice and follow, not the voice of strangers who climb in another way. This is your confidence: you belong to the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, and He did not spare His own life but gave it up that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.
Why then do you fear the wolves? The wolves prowl and seek to scatter the flock, but the Shepherd stands guard. Did He not deliver Peter from Herod’s prison, sending an angel while the church prayed? Did He not loose the chains of Paul and Silas, shaking the earth and opening doors, turning a jailer’s heart to faith? These are not ancient stories alone; they are patterns of His care. He permits trials to show His power, to fashion martyrs, and to spread the gospel. As I have often said, when we suffer wrong and show gentleness, we conquer; for the Shepherd’s might is made perfect in our weakness. If we become wolves, biting and devouring our enemies, we drive away His help. But if we remain sheep, silent and meek among thorns, then the Shepherd fights for us, and the wolf is put to flight.
Let your prayer for the persecuted, then, be bold. Pray that they hear the Shepherd’s voice more clearly in the darkness, that they know His presence when property is seized and bodies are beaten. They have a better and lasting possession, so let them joyfully accept loss. And do not only pray; act. Visit those in prison as if visiting Christ Himself. Clothe the naked, feed the hungry, for inasmuch as you do it to the least of His brothers, you do it to Him. But beware of the hireling’s spirit that seeks its own safety and flees at the sight of the wolf. The true shepherd in you will lay down comfort, reputation, even life, for the flock.
You cry out for laborers to be sent into the harvest, and rightly so. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest to thrust out laborers. Yet know that prayer must be matched by readiness. When you ask for shepherds, you ask for those who will stand before fierce wolves, who will be struck and yet not scatter the sheep, who will spend and be spent for souls. Not all are called to preside over a church, but every Christian is called to care for the part of the flock among them, to speak the word with respect and boldness, to keep the faith in season and out of season.
You mention drawing near to God. How does a sheep draw near? By listening to the Shepherd’s voice, by not following another. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. They follow because they know His voice. Remain in the Word, for there the voice echoes. The Spirit opens the Scriptures so that you may hear Christ speaking. And when you hear, obey. If you love Him, feed His sheep, for love of the Head is shown by tending the members. He is the Vine, you are the branches; apart from Him you can do nothing, but in Him you bear much fruit, and this glorifies the Father.
What more shall I say? In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. The trial of persecution is but for a moment; the reward is eternal. Stand fast, then, with the whole armor of God, not as those who strike back, but as those who endure, for by endurance you will win your souls. Be sheep, not wolves. The Lamb upon the throne will shepherd you, and God will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
Jesus, Shepherd Your Sheep
Micah 5:4, John 10:16, Jn 21:16, 1 Pet 5:2-4, Rev 7:17; 
Remember those in Chains, Hebrews 13:3, Col 4:18 -- Lord Jesus, thank You that not only do Your Sheep hear Your voice, Jn 10:27, but that You lead them out, and we don't listen to others, John 10:3-4, but only head Your voice and follow You, John 10:27, but that You care for us, Ps 23:3 Isa 40:11, Ezek 34:15, Rev 7:17. Take care of us, defend us, comfort and feed us on knowledge, Give Your angels charge over us and our fellow believers in spiritual battles, Ps 91:10-11, Heb 1:14. Strengthen our brothers and sisters, even shepherd the entire flock of God among us, 1 Pet 5:2, help us be on guard for ourselves and the flock of God among us from evil and warped wolves, Acts 20:28-29, by studying, obeying and teaching obedience to all Jesus commanded, Matt 28:20. Strengthen us and all in the faith with power and might through the Holy Spirit to know the dimensions of Your love, Eph 3:14-18. Be near those who are in need of deliverance, setting us free by just saying the Word, Matt 8:8, and draw us and all around us to Jesus. Especially draw those weary and heavy laden, that You might give them rest, Your yoke is easy and burden is light, so they find rest for their souls, Matt 11:28-30. Work everything out for the furtherance of the gospel, Phil 1:12.
Grant relief to the persecuted church like You did when the evil king began by laying hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them, had the Apostle James the brother of John the Beloved put to death with the sword, Acts 12:1-2, and give us testimonies like we have of the Apostle Peter's angelic release from prison in Acts 12:3-17 and the Apostles Paul and Silas' earthquake resulting in the conversion of the Philippian Jailer and his household in Acts 16:27-32. Hebrews 10:34. Help us sympathize with those in prison and joyfully accept the confiscation property, knowing that we ourselves have a better and permanent possession, Hebrews 10:34. Call and grant boldness give them visits, as Jesus said in Matthew 25:36, 'I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
for apart from You we can do nothing, Jn 15:5. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, Phil 4:13. Help us keep You holy in our hearts so as to be ready in season and out of season (at any time in any circumstance) to give an answer for the hope within us, with respect, so ungodliness glorifies God that it had a good witness before You returned, 1 Pet 3:15-16. Deliver us from evil people and the evil one, temptation and sin. 2 Thes 3:2-3, Matt 6:13, Luke 11:4, John 17:15. Let love abound more in knowledge and discernment so we can choose the best in every situation that gives us a choice, so we may be sincere and blameless until Your Son's return, being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from union with Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God, Phil 1:9-11. Thank You in Jesus' Name.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
