I was watching out my kitchen window when I saw my Irish Setter, Ruby and my cat Davey in the fenced yard.  Ruby was watching Davey as he sauntered toward a place by the gate where he was small enough to squeeze through.  Every time Davey was about to squeeze through however, Ruby would run over and grab him by the back of his neck and carry him ten to fifteen feet away from his escape hole.  I watched with interest as this scenario repeated numerous times. Each time it occurred, I also noticed that Davey’s posture displayed more and more anger.  He wanted out of the fenced yard whether it was good for him or not and that was all there was to it. 

This situation reminded me of how sometimes I too have wanted my own way about something that was not the best for me.  Even though the Holy Spirit nudged and reminded me numerous times through the truth of God’s word and or by means of loving friends, that the choice I was about to make was outside of God’s will, it was still something I wanted to do.  Most often I heeded the Holy Spirit’s warnings and correction but sometimes I did not and ultimately paid the price for my foolishness.

In Galatians 5:16-17 we read: “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.   For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (NIV)

The Holy Spirit seeks to guide us to embrace God’s will in our lives for he knows that this is always for our best.  The choice however remains up to us.  We can choose to accept his guidance or to reject it.  We can choose blessing or consequence. 

Davey did eventually make his way out of the fenced yard into the world of coyotes and other predators.  So far, he has always come back home, but like many of our others cats who have not made it back, I know that such a fate may also one day claim Davey’s life.  Walking outside of God’s will for the Christian is very similar.  Sometimes we accomplish it and walk away, seemingly unscathed, other times the results are disastrous.  As for me, I have learned that the best way is always to pay attention to the Spirit and to choose to follow his guidance.  God only desires the best for us, and I don’t know about you but as for me this is what I truly desire, for life has shown me that all else pales by comparison.

Prayer: Father God thank you for the guiding gift of your Holy Spirit in our lives.  Grant us hearts that hear and desire to choose to trust and follow his advice always.  In Christ’s name. Amen.

Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada