Sheryl McDonald
(North Carolina, USA)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” - Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
As the owner of a new puppy, I enrolled us in a training class. Along with “sit” and “stay,” we learned something new to me: the “check-in.” The dog is supposed to turn and look at you every few minutes while walking on a leash, checking in with you as the handler. The purpose is to keep the dog from harm and on the right path and to create a bond of trust.
One training requirement is that the dog check in first, without being prompted, before receiving any praise or reward. The check-in is supposed to be a voluntary act, rather than a response to a command. I quickly learned that my dog rarely, if ever, checked in with me. Instead, she was distracted by everything around us, pulling this way and that. I wasn’t happy, and she wasn’t getting any praise.
Then I wondered, How often do I check in with God? Do I pause what I’m doing and take time to express gratitude for what God has done in my life or to seek direction for the path ahead? Perhaps I’m so involved with the distractions of this world that I don’t think to look to God as often as I should. And perhaps I’m also missing out on the reward of God’s guidance. No matter how busy I am, I now make it a regular habit to check in with the Lord.
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