Follow God’s Lead

Yesterday, my husband, Joe, and I were discussing our pet duck, Lily, and the health problems she has had over the past six years which involved her egg laying. Ducks are supposed to lay in the springtime, and then stop for the rest of the year. At least, that’s the ideal scenario. Unfortunately, Lily has always had a tendency to lay all year round, which our vet warned us can be very harmful to her.

Last year, after much prayer, and seeking the Lord about it, Lily stopped laying at the end of the summer. Joe and I were elated because it was the first time that she had actually taken a much-needed break. The color in her beak and feet came back—a sign that her health was improving—and she seemed to have boundless energy. Then when the winter months arrived, and Joe built an enclosure around our patio, as he does every year, Lily suddenly began laying eggs again. I asked the Lord what might have triggered Lily’s laying cycle, and I sensed Him telling me that it was the heater that we had placed in her enclosure to help her older mate, Larry’s, arthritis. I shared my revelation with Joe, but he wasn’t convinced, and he insisted on keeping the heater on high in order to keep our ducks toasty warm. Unfortunately, Lily continued to lay throughout the winter months, and right through spring and summer.

After much praying and believing God for His help, Lily stopped laying this past autumn. I praised and thanked God continually for this blessing, and when Joe built the winter enclosure this year, I told him that we were no longer going to overheat it. After all, what good does it do to ask the Lord for His wisdom and guidance if we aren’t going to follow His advice?

Scripture says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” (Psalm 32:8-9 NIV) It’s the desire of God’s heart that we would turn to Him for direction whenever we are faced with questions, dilemmas, or decisions of any kind–and that we would actually follow His lead when He makes His will known to us. Stubbornness, willfulness, and contrariness will always rob us of the Lord’s best.

What is He trying to tell YOU today? How will you respond?