Walks with Lily

I've mentioned Lily a time or two, but this is Lily. Lily is my sweet boxer mix, who is also incredibly spoiled. So spoiled in fact, that most mornings revolve around her getting her walk at approximately 6:15 am every morning.

But if we don't get up in time and get our morning walk in, we walk in the afternoons. This Lily's favorite time to walk because of the squirrels.

She really wants to chase the squirrels, which makes our walks more than a walk but also an arm workout as she jumps forward and strains to get the little rodents.

The entire time we are walking, I'm talking to her,

"No Lily..."
"Lily, leave it."
"Lily, sit."
"Lily, come back here!"

I'm constantly affirming her good behavior (when she isn't chasing the squirrels...)

This is like God throughout our day; just watching our daily walk and affirming the good things while encouraging us and giving us the commands to resist the temptation to chase after the squirrels.

God wants to walk with us every day and to just enjoy the walk, but we constantly pull and run after things that are not pertinent to the walk itself. Maybe it's a relationship that isn't healthy for you, maybe it is a need for stuff and things, maybe you are too distracted to even go on that walk with God. It takes practice to resist temptation and while we aren't dogs, we learn in much the same way. Make an effort to walk with purpose rather than just wandering around, consciously not jumping toward your squirrels but ignoring them intentionally. Listen for God's whispered praises and commands, just like Lily does with me.

What are your squirrels and how can you resist them?

Tota tua,

LeAnn