What young lions can teach us about seeking God first
When I get a little too confident that my own abilities will carry me through, I can end up learning the lesson the hard way. Assumption has a way of sticking out its foot when I’m not paying attention.
Psalm 34:10 says:
“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”
So, what is David saying here?
Young male lions eventually leave the pride and head out on their own. And there they are—young, strong and perhaps just a little full of themselves, ready to conquer the world.
They go after big game, trusting in their strength, their sharp claws and teeth, and their ability to run really fast.
However, if you’ve ever watched a nature documentary, you’ll know how well that can go when a young lion takes on something like a water buffalo. He can quickly discover that his intended prey is a lot more powerful than he thought.
David contrasts that picture with those who seek the Lord:
“But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”
Thinking we can charge ahead in our own strength without seeking the Lord can leave us a little like those young lions—surprised when something we thought we could handle kicks back.
But when we seek the Lord before we spring into action, we’re no longer relying solely on our own strength, wisdom or resources.
I’ve found that consulting with the Lord first usually leads to much better results than charging ahead and asking Him to sort things out afterwards.
©2018 Katherine Walden
Sign up to receive a weekly emailed devotional by Katherine by using the following form.
