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The stubborn cow would not budge and refused to move through the race when prodded. We finally sent in the trained cattle dog who nipped her ankles just enough to jolt her out of her fear.

The cattle were yarded the previous day for drafting. It was time to wean last year’s calves and separate the steers for fattening. The draft race was narrow. One person stood on the rails at the drafting gate. As the owner made the selection and the cattle moved through, the gate swung either left or right. The breeding cows went straight.

Once the holding yards on both sides filled, the cattle moved into larger yards, finally being driven to their designated paddocks. Later in the year, another draft would select those steers fattened for market.

Working with cattle reflects the seasons in our lives. We each have a purpose. Fresh freedom in God awaits us, but we are often reluctant to move onto our next stage in life. If we obey God’s voice rather than hesitate, things will go well. If we do not obey and walk in our own way, we will go backwards.

Our new season may require leaving the safety of what we have known: parents, locations, church families, ministries, or jobs. We may need to build new relationships or make new alignments for new assignments. Just as calves wean from their mother’s milk and security, we must be willing to obey God’s voice.

God may cause a nip on our ankles by removing a crutch to prod us into our next phase. He does not want us to get stuck in fear. He wants us to go forward.

Choose this day to go forward, accepting the direction of God’s Holy Spirit.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)