Lessons From the Birds, Part Two

In my last devotion, I shared about the persistent sparrow who refused to give up on getting his share of the suet ball. Today, I want to revisit that scene because, as is often the case with God's creation, there are multiple lessons we can glean from a single moment.

As I continued to watch the birds that day, my attention was drawn to another sparrow—one who took a different approach altogether. You see, while most of the birds were content to jostle for position on the side of the feeder, one resourceful sparrow decided to think outside the box—or should I say, inside the feeder? He flew to the top and went down inside the feeder, allowing him unhindered access to the last ball.  Sneaky, huh?

I couldn't help but laugh as I watched that little sparrow's ingenuity. He didn't let the limitations of the feeder's design hold him back. Instead, he found a way to get what he wanted without all the fuss and fighting. (And unlike the starling who attempted this maneuver a while back and ended up stuck upside down, the sparrow was wise enough to realize he could fit through the openings on the sides.) It reminded me of Proverbs 14:15, which says, "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going." That sparrow was definitely the prudent one in this situation!

As I watched the birds, I wondered how often we find ourselves struggling on the sidelines, trying to snag success, fame, or fortune in the world. We fight for recognition, a promotion, or a bigger paycheck while forgetting that there's a better way—God's way.

You see, when we put our trust in God and follow His plan for our lives, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities we could never have imagined. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Now, I'm not saying that following God's way will always be easy or will lead to the kind of success the world values. But it will lead to a life filled with purpose, joy, and contentment. And isn't that worth more than any amount of fame or fortune?

So, how can we follow God's way instead of fighting for our own? It starts with trusting Him and seeking His guidance in everything we do. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." When we commit our plans to God and seek His will, He promises to guide us and establish our steps.

This week, I challenge you to step back and evaluate your priorities. Are you fighting for success on the sidelines, or are you trusting God to lead you to a better way? Remember, His way may not look like what you expect, but it will always lead to a life rich in purpose and joy.

As we learn to trust God and follow His plan, we'll no longer have to fight for our portion. Instead, we can rest in the knowledge that He will provide all we need, just like that little sparrow who found a better way to the suet ball. So, let's commit our works to the Lord and trust Him to direct our paths, knowing that His way is always the best way.