View from the Top

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:13-15, 20-22

Kylee and Valerie were huffing and puffing when they finally reached the top of a steep,

rocky hill. “Wow! You can see a long way from up here!” said Kylee. She pointed toward the valley below. “Look at Emmett. He’s almost got the cows to the corral.”

Looking down, the girls watched their brother herd the cattle toward the gate. Suddenly Valerie gasped. “Rocco got out!” she exclaimed, pointing to a dog running toward the animals. “I don’t think Emmett sees him, and he’s headed straight for the cows!” Valerie and Kylee waved and shouted, trying to catch Emmett’s attention, but it was no use. Rocco reached the cattle, barking wildly, and the cows scattered. Emmett had to round them up all over again.

When the girls got back down the hill, dinner was ready. “Kylee and I were on top of the hill, and we could see the whole farm,” Valerie told her brother as they sat down to eat. “We saw that Rocco got out, and we shouted and waved. But you were too far away to notice us.”

“I did see you,” Emmett said, “but I figured if I didn’t keep my eyes on the cows, they would scatter again. Now I know I should have paid attention to you. You knew what would happen.”

Dad smiled. “What a good illustration of how God sees our lives. Just like the girls could see the whole farm, God knows what will happen to us. Jesus cares about us and promises to guide us through everything we face. We need to trust Him.”

Mom nodded. “Yes, and we often forget that we need to trust Him on ordinary days as well as on difficult ones.”

“Trust Him on ordinary days?” asked Emmett. “What do you mean?”

“Well, when something goes really wrong, we pray and ask for help,” said Dad, “but Jesus wants us to talk to Him and seek His guidance every day.”

“So…we should ask Him for help with studying for a test?” asked Valerie.

“Or for the right words to say to a friend?” Kylee suggested.

“Right,” Dad said. “Let’s ask for God’s help and then be sure to pay attention and trust Him enough to do whatever He prompts us to do.” • Karen R. Locklear

How About You?

Was today a normal, ordinary day for you? A day with no big problems or unusual things happening? Did you remember that you still need Jesus? Did you pray and think about how He would want you to live your life today? Be thankful for ordinary days, and remember to trust Jesus and ask for His guidance every day of your life.

Today’s Key Verse:
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Trust God on ordinary days