Green Pastures

This time of year is what husband calls our “growing season.” We have winter rye grass growing in several pastures and the cattle are all separated in different groups. Some are on the rye grass full time. Those cattle will eat and grow all winter long. But most of the cattle groups are let into the winter pastures for a few hours everyday. The cattle stand and wait for the single strand of hot wire to be let down and then they walk, bolt, kick and play their way into the green pastures.

Long about lunch time, if husband hasn’t already let the cattle in, I can hear the moos and bellowing inside the house. They begin to call mid morning; they are waiting for the farmer to come open the hot wire gap and allow them to graze. They are hungry!

A few hours later, someone grabs the four-wheeler and heads to the pasture to bring the cattle out. Somedays, they know the drill and once the four-wheeler enters the pasture, the cattle turn and head back to their pen. Other days, they need a little encouragement! But nevertheless, by afternoon, all are settled and enjoying hay and waiting for the next day in the green pastures!

I don’t have visions or dreams much, but this time I did! I saw those cattle standing at the gap, just like always. But this time, it wasn’t the farmer, it wasn’t my husband that opened the gate. I saw an enormous hand gently grasp the handle and let down the wire. Then I heard, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

What a powerful picture!

That single strand of hot wire is all that holds those cattle back from the green pastures, from the food. They only had to be led to the pasture a few times. Once they knew where to go, now all we have to do is remove the wire and step back. They take themselves to the pasture now!

The Lord made this so real to me! We have allowed small things to hold us back from the blessing!

We have these small things standing in our way, just like a single strand of hot wire. We are hungry, but something is holding us back from His blessing, from the outpouring of His spirit, from everything that He has for us; the green pastures! All of it is within reach and we can see it! But we can’t get to it because of the small things that spiritually stand in our way. Solomon said it this way, “Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.”

I don’t know what that small thing is for you. Maybe it’s even a big thing. Maybe your gate isn’t a single strand of hot wire, but its a huge metal, rusty gate that isn’t even on the hinges correctly! We have those on the farm too! It takes everything I have to open that big huge gate and sometimes it’s just too much and I can’t! Sometimes, I just refuse!

When I can’t OR WON’T, husband can….The farmer comes and opens the single strand of hot wire gate just the same way and he opens the heavy, rusty one. God wants to open that gate for you today and lead you into green pastures!

My prayer for us today, for you and me…. Lord, will you come? Father, will You be our Shepherd, The Farmer of these earthly vessels, and open the gate? Will You come and help us remove the big and small things that stand in between us and Your presence? Will You remove the gates that stand between us and the green pastures of Your blessing? Will You lead us into the green pastures where our hungry hearts can be fed by You and You alone?

Are you hungry today? Do you feel like me and it seems like His presence is just out of reach, like something is keeping it held back from you? I am praying today, that the Great Shepherd, He who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, will come and remove the gate in the gap! I am hungry and I am ready for green pastures! Lord, come heal and forgive our hearts, remove those things that hold us back from Your presence and LEAD us into the green pastures!