Led by Love

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule,

    which have no understanding

but must be controlled by bit and bridle

    or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked,

    but the Lord’s unfailing love

    surrounds the one who trusts in him.”

Psalm 32:8-10

This beautiful passage reminds me that God is not in the business of strong-arming us into obedience. Unlike the rest of the animal kingdom, God made us in His image. Part of being created in God's image means He gave us a mind to know Him, a will to choose Him and a heart to love Him. He isn’t interested in forcing us into submission—He longs for us to come to Him freely, trusting that He will lovingly lead us in the way we should go. And when we do (with His help), He surrounds us and fills us with His unfailing love…Lord, help us to trust you more each day!