Quiet Table Guide: November 1-9
Scripture for the week: John 10:1-5, 14-15
“Truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
1. Ready Your Heart
Begin with a moment of silence or a short prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your time together.
2. Read
Slowly read this week’s passage. (Consider reading it out loud or in a different translation each day.)
3. Reflect
What word, phrase, or image stands out to you today? What in your life might the Holy Spirit be drawing your attention to?
4. Respond
How can you allow this word to shape your interactions, decisions, or perspective today? Remember what you shared with your group about what you are doing to put the word into practice.
5. Receive
Spend a few moments in stillness, surrendering your thoughts, plans, and actions to God and resting in the presence of Jesus.
6. Practice: Tune in, Tune out
We want to tune into the voice of the shepherd and tune out the other voices
Here’s how it works:
1. NAME THE VOICE I’M LISTENING TO
Pause at least once a day but ideally throughout the day (morning, noon, and night) and ask: What voice am I listening to right now?
Is it the voice of fear, telling me that I need to be in control?
Is it the voice of comparison, telling me I’m not enough?
Is it the voice of self, trying to fix, defend, or justify?
Or is it the voice of Jesus, inviting me to trust, rest, and follow?
Name the Voice
Naming brings clarity
If it’s not Jesus, don’t argue with it
Just recognize it and release it
2. RETURN TO THE SHEPHERD
Return to the Shepherd
Pray a short, simple prayer: Jesus, quiet every voice but yours
3. LISTEN
Take a couple of minutes to listen in silence
Take two or three minutes of stillness
Breathe deeply
Pay attention to only the voice that is inviting you to trust, rest, and follow
Notice what surfaces
It could be a word, a phrase, a scripture, a sense of peace or conviction
Don’t overanalyze it
Just receive it
4. RESPOND TO HIM
Write down or act on what you’ve heard Jesus say to you
What did Jesus say?
My sheep know me, they hear my voice, and they follow me
The voice of Jesus becomes clearer when you begin to walk in what you’ve heard
This simple rhythm — Name, Return, Listen, Respond — can retrain your spiritual ear to recognize the Shepherd’s voice more readily in daily life.
