A Shepherding Heart
What does it mean to have the heart of a shepherd?
Throughout Scripture, God reveals himself as the Shepherd of his people. He knows them, leads them, protects them, and restores them. In Jesus, we encounter the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep by name and willingly lays down his life for them (John 10:11–15). His heart is the foundation for understanding what faithful spiritual shepherding looks like.
During this four-week series, we will hear from four men who have been studying and reflecting on the calling of shepherding. Each will share something that has personally challenged, convicted, or shaped his understanding of caring for God’s people. Together, we will explore what Scripture reveals about the character of a faithful shepherd and how Jesus embodies that calling perfectly.
As our congregation prayerfully considers its future leadership, we are reminded that shepherding is not simply about those who lead. It is about the God who cares for his people and the kind of community he is forming among us.
Throughout November, we are also inviting the entire congregation into a shared season of prayer and fasting. As we seek God’s wisdom and direction, our desire is not simply to make decisions about the future, but to become a people increasingly shaped by the heart of Jesus.
Below, you’ll find resources to help you pray, reflect, and participate throughout the month as we seek to follow the Good Shepherd together.
A Month of Prayer & Fasting
As we journey through The Heart of a Shepherd, we are inviting the entire Halfmoon Church of Christ family into a month of intentional prayer and fasting. This is an important season in the life of our congregation. As we consider the calling of spiritual shepherds and prayerfully discern our future leadership, we want to seek God’s wisdom, direction, and purpose together. Our desire is not simply to ask God to bless our plans, but to surrender our hearts to His will. We want to grow in humility, strengthen our unity, pray for those who shepherd and serve among us, and renew our commitment to the mission Jesus has entrusted to His church.
We believe this is an opportunity for all of us—not just our leaders—to seek the heart of the Good Shepherd together.
Four Weeks of Prayer
Throughout November, our daily Scripture readings and prayer prompts will follow four themes. Each week also includes an invitation to fast as we bring these concerns before God.
Follow Along with Our November Prayer Calendar
We’ve created a November Prayer & Fasting Calendar to help guide you through this month of seeking God together. Each day includes a Scripture reading and a simple prayer prompt focused on our church’s leadership, direction, and purpose.
Print a copy, keep it somewhere visible, and join us in praying throughout November!
Four Weeks of Prayer
Throughout November, our daily Scripture readings and prayer prompts will follow four themes. Each week also includes an invitation to fast as we bring these concerns before God.
Humility, surrender, and dependence on God.
Before asking God to guide our church, we begin by inviting Him to examine and shape our own hearts. We’ll pray for humility, repentance, spiritual renewal, and a willingness to surrender our preferences to God’s wisdom.
Weekly fasting focus: Ask God to cultivate humble, teachable hearts.
Scripture for fasting: Isaiah 58:6–9
Faithful, humble, and spiritually mature leadership.
We’ll lift up our current elders, the men being considered for eldership, and their families. Pray for their relationships with God, their marriages and families, their wisdom, their integrity, and their love for the people entrusted to their care. Ask God to shape them into shepherds who reflect the heart and character of Jesus.
Weekly fasting focus: Pray for our leaders and their families.
Scripture for fasting: Acts 14:23
Wisdom, discernment, and unity as we follow Christ.
Where is God calling Halfmoon to grow? What might He be asking us to change, strengthen, or pursue? As we pray for our future, we’ll ask God to help us listen carefully, discern wisely, and follow faithfully. We want more than successful plans or good decisions. We want to be a congregation that trusts God’s leading.
Weekly fasting focus: Ask God to guide our next steps.
Scripture for fasting: Psalm 25:4–5
Discipleship, service, and faithful witness.
The church exists for more than itself. Jesus has called us to make disciples, love one another, and share His love with the world.
We’ll pray for renewed commitment to this calling, opportunities to serve our neighbors, spiritual growth within our congregation, and courage to participate in God’s work.
Weekly fasting focus: Pray for faithful service and witness.
Scripture for fasting: Isaiah 58:6–10
How to Use the November Prayer Calendar
Our calendar is designed to help you develop a simple daily rhythm of seeking God.
- 1. Read the Scripture.
Find the passage for today’s date and spend a few moments reading it. Consider what it reveals about God, His people, and His desires for us.
- 2. Pray the focus.
Each day includes a short prayer prompt connected to the Scripture. Use it as a starting point, then continue praying in your own words. For example, on November 9, we read 1 Peter 5:2–4 and pray for humble, willing leaders.
You might pray: “Father, thank You for the men who shepherd our church. Help them lead with willing hearts, genuine humility, and deep love for Your people. May their example point us toward Jesus, our Chief Shepherd.”
There’s no special formula. Simply allow Scripture to guide your conversation with God.
- 3. Consider fasting each week.
Alongside your daily prayers, we invite you to prayerfully choose a time during each week to fast. There are no assigned fasting days. Choose when and how to participate according to your circumstances, using the weekly prayer focus as a guide.
New to Fasting? Start Here.
Throughout Scripture, God’s people fasted as an expression of humility, dependence, repentance, and earnest prayer. In Acts 14:23, prayer and fasting accompanied the appointment of elders as the churches entrusted their leaders to the Lord. Fasting isn’t a way to earn God’s attention or persuade Him to give us what we want. It’s an opportunity to set aside something ordinary so that we can intentionally seek Him. If you’ve never fasted before, consider beginning with one meal and spending that time in Scripture and prayer.
Our companion guide describes several ways to participate:
- One Meal: Skip a meal and use that time to pray.
- Two Meals: Set aside two meals, praying during each usual mealtime.
- One Day: A longer food fast for experienced adults when medically appropriate, while drinking water.
- Non-Food Alternative: Set aside social media, entertainment, or another regular activity and devote that time to prayer or service.
Food fasting is not appropriate for everyone. Children and teenagers, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone with diabetes, an eating-disorder history, medication needs, or other medical concerns should use a non-food alternative or seek medical guidance before fasting from food.
Fasting is voluntary. The goal isn’t how much we give up, but how intentionally we seek God.
Throughout Scripture, fasting most often involves voluntarily going without food for a period of time to devote focused attention to God through prayer, humility, and dependence.
Fasting isn’t about earning God’s favor, demonstrating how spiritual we are, or convincing God to give us what we want. It is an opportunity to turn our attention toward him and acknowledge our need for his wisdom and care.
Read Matthew 6:16–18.
In Scripture, God’s people fast during seasons of prayer, repentance, worship, and discernment. In Acts 13:2–3, the early church fasted and prayed as they sought God’s direction.
During November, we’re inviting our congregation to fast as we pray for our shepherds, seek wisdom about our future, and surrender our plans to God’s purposes. Isaiah 58 reminds us that genuine devotion must also be reflected in compassion, justice, and care for others.
Read Isaiah 58:6–10 and Acts 13:2–3.
If fasting from food is appropriate for you, consider setting aside one meal on one of our designated Wednesdays: November 4, 11, 18, or 25. During that time, read the day’s Scripture, reflect on the prayer prompt, and spend time talking with God. You don’t need to begin with an extended fast or participate in every fasting day. Start simply and keep your attention on the Lord.
Fasting is voluntary, and not everyone can safely abstain from food. If fasting from food would be medically unsafe or unwise for you, we encourage you to participate through prayer without skipping meals.
You might also consider setting aside social media, entertainment, or another distraction to create intentional space for Scripture and prayer. Although these practices are different from traditional biblical fasting, they can still help cultivate attentiveness to God. No one needs to disclose or explain how they choose to participate.
Remember: The purpose of fasting is not to pressure God into following our plans, but to seek him with hearts willing to follow his will.