Lent Day 2

Written by Dawn Whitmore

“I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.” Philippians 1:6

My family and I once went to an alpaca shearing. During the shearing, the alpaca must be tied down for their own protection. If someone looked at the process and did not understand it was for the alpaca's protection, they could misconstrue the intent of the shearer. There are times in our spiritual walk when God needs to "tie" us down for our protection.  We know the process is necessary. How does one know? Because we know God will complete “the good work which He has begun,” and we know this from spending time with God. 

As we spend time with God, our Great Shearer, the need for the shearing becomes evident. However, this is not a once-a-week time in the bible while attending Sunday service, or our phone sending us a verse a day. It is spending intentional time daily in our bibles, in community with other believers, and a commitment to prayer (talking to God on a regular basis). 

At the alpaca farm, they weigh the alpaca before and after the shearing to see how much weight has been removed during the shearing process. God's shearing removes weight from us as well. He wants us to walk freely in His grace! He does not want us to be held down by unnecessary weight (I am not talking about physical weight here). What is holding you down from walking in your freedom? Each of us has something...

The problem is we fight Him. Upon being nicked because of my fighting, I have the audacity to blame the shearer. Can I get an "Amen" or am I alone here in this reaction? 

While we were at the alpaca farm, the shearer got cut during the process. His words resonated with me as he sprayed a solution on his cut. He stated, "It is always better for the shearer to be cut than the alpaca." His love and care for the alpaca reminded me of all the sacrifices God makes for me on a daily, no, minute-by-minute basis in my life.