The Narrow Way

I was reading something by one of my favorite authors, Derek Prince the other morning, and it reminded me of a picture I felt God speaking through recently.

When I go out to do animal chores in the AM, I’ve found the fastest way is to start talking to the sheep right away. 😁🤷‍♀️ I do this because of Dolly, my visually impaired sheep.

In the AM, generally all of the sheep are up by one of the gates except for Dolly. Because of her eyesight, it takes her a few minutes to figure out where I am when I’m calling and make her way to the gate. In the past, I just opened the gate and left, assuming she’d find the flock later, but usually she failed. I noticed as time went on that if I waited for her to exit with the others from the get-go, she’d often keep with them the entire day 🧐

Once I realized this, two things happened. First, I began to talk to the sheep right away so that while I tend to the other animals, Dolly has a chance to get oriented and join the flock. And second, I saw 2 pictures…

Dolly was a type of the Presence of God and the flock was me. She was happy to be with the flock if given the opportunity. However, if she didn’t get a chance in the AM, she often was alone. Not because she wanted to be, but because the others move too fast and refuse to wait for her.

Similarly, if we start the day without God by rushing into our activities without pausing, praying, or reading the Bible, there’s no guarantee that we’ll connect with His Presence later in the day 😟 And not because He’s not there, He’s everywhere, but because we move too fast and get busy. Dolly and the flock are all always on our property, but it doesn’t mean they’re grazing together. It doesn’t mean they’re interacting and engaged with each other.

Secondly, a thought from an outsider’s point of view….Dolly is the only way to identify my flock as a flock of SHEEP and not goats 🧐 I’ve found that the average Joe struggles to tell the difference. My flock, being majority hair sheep (not having wool), are often mistaken for goats. It is only when my single wool sheep, Dolly, is with the flock that people * pause and ask the question: Are those sheep or goats? Her big wooly fleece is distinctly different compared to the hair of the others, and it trigger’s the question and potential label change.

The same is true of us, when we take the time to get with God’s Presence in the AM, we become recognizable as believers. We walk next to the easily identifiable wool sheep so to say. 🐑 Taking time to wait on the Lord, even if it’s just a few minutes, is transformational and essential to each day. It’s what other’s later see or sense that causes them to identify us with Him. Better put through scripture:

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledgeof him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.” 2 Cor 2:14-16

Whether for good or bad, believers are recognizable by the Presence of God with, on, and in them.

In the book I referenced, Prince talked about reminding himself of who he is in Christ every morning. He stated that he would often look himself in the mirror daily and 3x thank the Lord aloud for things He’s done for him. He said “By the time I have said that three times, I am believing it. Every day, I must reestablish myself in my place in Christ. I do not know if this is true for everyone, but I think the way you begin the first five minutes of the day is usually decisive as to how you will spend the rest of the day. I’m not talking about spending hours in prayer; it is simply reminding yourself who you are and where you are in Christ…”

I couldn’t agree more. I know because I’ve seen the difference in myself. My perspective, patience, kindness, etc., as pathetic as it seems to say–it often hinges on how my morning went ☕️ 🌅 . It takes discipline to get up early enough to have time to pause, but it’s always worth it.

I’d like to also note that it’s not fixed or a formula. A rough morning or failure to start the day with God doesn’t mean you can’t find Him later in the day, just like the flock. There are times they reconnect and finish the day together. If you have a rough start, take 5 minutes to re-start your day by waiting on the Lord and connecting with His Presence. It may seem silly, but I promise it will change your perspective and attitude for the rest of the day. You will not only be renewed on the inside, but it will be like you’ve flipped a spiritual light on. You’ve positioned yourself with the wooly sheep and become identifiable as a believer again.

I hope this has helped someone out there remember to pause and wait for the Presence of God before they get going, that your day may be effective and marked by His goodness in all you do.

As always, thanks for stopping by 🧡