Wake Up and Reflect

You can’t hear God or lead your family if you never pause long enough to reflect.

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Are you coasting through life as a Christian man, or are you actually showing up as a leader in your home? Christian fatherhood and Biblical manhood demand more than passivity. This devotional hits hard—with real reflection, practical prayer, and a call to be alert, awake, and ready. If you’re tired of being half-present, this is for you.

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God’s Word for Today
Psalm 139:23–24 — “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (ESV)

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I’m up early—usually around 3:30 or 4:00 AM. It’s my time with God. I reflect, pray, dump my thoughts on paper, and prep my heart for the day. But let me tell you—there are days I’m not on it. Sick days. Off days. Days where I’m distracted or flat-out spiritually dry. And that’s when it hits me: I still have to show up.

I’m a shepherd. A soldier. I don’t get to clock out just because I feel off.

Men, if you belong to Jesus, you don’t get to drift through your day and then wonder why your home feels distant. Your wife needs you present. Your kids need you grounded. And God needs you available—awake, ready, and real.

Jesus said, “The Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). That’s not just about His return. That’s about how He shows up in your life—in the interruptions, in the little moments with your kids, in the tension with your wife, in the decisions you didn’t plan to make that day. Are you even paying attention?

I’ll be honest—there’ve been too many days where I missed Him. Not because I was rebellious. Just because I was distracted. I was “doing good things,” I was doing ‘life’, where ‘life’ gets in teh way, and I wasn’t ready to greet the Lord.

That’s what the Prayer of Examen revealed to me.

The Examen is an old practice that helps you reflect at the end of the day. And yes, it’s got roots in the Ignatian tradition—but I’m not here to get into all that. I’m here to tell you that stopping and reflecting before God matters.

It’s not just some quiet-time habit. It’s war prep.

When you let God walk through your day with you—showing you where He was, where you weren’t, and what you need to see—you sharpen your awareness. You stop missing the important stuff. You stop reacting, and start responding like a man of God.

Here’s the kicker: I’m a morning guy. I’ve reworked that prayer into a morning prayer too—because I need that clarity before I lead my wife and kids. You might be an evening man. That’s fine. Use the time you have. Just don’t neglect it.

Don’t tell me you don’t have time. That’s a lie we feed ourselves to justify our spiritual laziness. You had time to scroll through social media, you had time to watch one more video, and you had time to argue. You’ve got time for God.

What we don’t have is time to waste. This world is not getting better. Culture is not becoming more godly. And passivity isn’t an option anymore.

You don’t need another motivational quote. You need to kneel before God, ask Him to search your heart, and rise up ready to fight for your family. Psalm 139:23–24

Let Him show you what’s broken—so you don’t keep breaking the people you love.

Let Him open your eyes to what matters—so you stop chasing what doesn’t.

And then, step into the day—or the night—with a clear head, a clean heart, and a sharp sword.

I wrote two versions of the Examen prayer, and call it the Prayer for the Man of the Shepherd —one for morning men, one for night men. I also put together a written reflection exercise. For those men who can make the 5, 10 or 15 minutes to pause and reflect.  Not for religious guys. For real men. Men who want to shepherd well and stand ready.

Are you ready?

Because leadership starts before the battle.

It starts in prayer.

It starts in stillness.

And it starts with you standing before God—not trying to impress Him, but asking Him to inspect you.

That’s what it means to be spiritually real.

That’s what it means to be ready.

And that’s what it means to be a Man of the Shepherd.

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Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value
Readiness: A shepherd leader stands alert—spiritually awake, emotionally present, and prepared to respond to God and family in real time.

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Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – Where have I been coasting or distracted in my leadership at home—and what might God be trying to show me through that?
2. Apply – What specific time today (morning or evening) can I commit to praying the Examen or reflecting on my walk with God?
3. Share – Who’s one man I know who needs to hear this challenge—and how can I encourage him to wake up and lead?

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Bible References (ESV)

Psalm 139:23–24 — “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Luke 12:40 — “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

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Personal Prayer

Lord, search my heart and make me ready. Don’t let me waste another day asleep at the wheel—I want to lead my family with Your presence, not my pride.

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Reminder: Don’t forget to download the prayers.
Prayers for Men of the Shepherd

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My Personal Journey & Engagement Call
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.
If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.
To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

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