June 27

Day 20: The Tender Pursuit of the Heart

Theme: Identifying Relationship Triggers and Responses

📖 Scripture Readings:

• Ezekiel 34:11–16
  “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up.”

• Psalm 23
  “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

• Romans 5:5b–11
  “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

• Luke 15:3–7
  “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.”

Reflection:

In today’s scriptures, we are reminded that the deepest healing in our relationships comes not from perfection, but from pursuit—from being known, sought after, and loved even in our straying. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of a God who gathers the scattered, tends the broken, and personally gives rest to the weary. Psalm 23 mirrors this intimacy: “He leads me beside restful waters... He restores my soul.”

Often, the relationships we struggle with the most are rooted in wounds of abandonment—times when we were overlooked, discarded, or misunderstood. These moments can trigger a deep fear that we are not worth coming back for. But today, Jesus offers a story where the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one who is lost. There is no shame, only celebration when the lost one is found.

Romans 5 echoes this powerful truth: Christ pursued us when we were still sinners—still hiding, still resisting, still unaware. What would it look like to pursue someone in our life with even a fraction of that grace?

In identifying your relationship triggers, ask: What makes me feel forgotten? What makes me lash out, retreat, or run away? Could it be that beneath the reaction is a longing to be pursued like the one lost sheep?

Action/Practice:

Reach out to someone today—not to fix a problem or win an argument, but to remind them they are not forgotten. Even a simple act of kindness or check-in can reflect the Good Shepherd’s love.

Ask the Lord to show you any places in your own heart that feel lost or untended. Trust that He is already seeking you there.

Journal Prompt:

When have I felt like the lost sheep? How does it feel to know God leaves the ninety-nine for me? Are there moments in my relationships when I could extend that same kind of pursuit, patience, or grace to others—or to myself?

Daily Goal:

Let love—not pride or fear—lead you in how you respond to others today. If a trigger arises, pause and remember: He found me when I was lost. He will guide me now as I respond in love.