Cats are independent creatures. It is nearly impossible to convince a cat to do something that the cat doesn’t want to do.
For example, some years ago, a nationally known company produced a television commercial spoofing the concept of cat herding. (Here's the Cowboys Herding Cats commercial video.) Later, Mythbusters tested this concept by attempting to herd a group of cats into a pen. In spite of their diligent and repeated efforts, Mythbusters proved that it is, indeed, impossible to herd cats. (Here’s the Mythbusters’ Cat Herding video.) Cats flatly refuse to work with each other, a human herder, or even a trained herding dog. Simply put, cats are too independent.
Now, generally speaking, when we read a devotional article or book or listen to a pastor’s sermon, we are encourage to be like ______ (insert analogy here). Today, however, I’m going to encourage you to NOT be like a cat. God doesn’t intend for Christians to be independent, do-it-my-way types. In fact, Christians should be exactly the opposite of cats.
Go pet a cat today as a reminder to always depend on God.
Proverbs 3:5-7 advises us to, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” In other words, Christians should depend on God, not themselves or their own abilities.
While this may seem counterintuitive, and it does go against the indoctrination of our contemporary culture, there is a specific blessing promised to those people who follow this advice and depend on the Lord. That promised blessing is found in verse 8 which says, “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
My prayer is that we – all Christians – will heed Solomon’s advice, set aside our cat-like independence, and trust in the Lord, depending heavily on Him in all situations.
Other related helpful Bible verses:
2 Chronicles 14:11
“Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, ‘LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.’”
Psalms 37:5
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 62:7
“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.”
Romans 9:16
“It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.”
1 John 4:16
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”