What I Learned While Watching the Cows Graze

By Katlyn Carney, Team #9 Intern

Have you ever just stood there and watched the cows graze? Imagine yourself with your arms crossed on top of a wooden fence. Now, lay your chin on your crossed arms. Picture yourself looking out into a beautiful green pasture that ends just as the perfect blue sky begins, watching the cows graze, lay down, and do it all over again. You feel the wind blow against your face, maybe smell something not so delightful. You watch that perfect blue sky start changing into majestic colors as the sun starts to set. Still… the cows are grazing. 

“So, if the cows can praise Him, why can’t we?”

Have you ever wondered what they are thinking? Why do they do the same thing over and over and over again? Don’t they get bored just standing there eating, then laying down for a nap, and getting up to eat again? I know I would! However, that is what God designed them to do! And God designed us to do something too… Praise and know Him!

I ask myself, “What can we learn from the cows?” The first thing that came to mind was praising God. I know the cows are praising Him because Psalm 148:7-10 tell us! It says, “Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds…” How amazing is it that the Bible tells us even the cows praise God!! So, if the cows can praise Him, why can’t we? God created us to be over the cows, He loves us even more than them. If this is the case, then we should be praising Him just as much as the cows are. We should be thanking him for the food He has provided for us, the shelter He has given us, and most importantly the free gift of eternal salvation, the fact that He sent His one and only Son to pay the price for everyone including my dirty rotten sinner self! 

“Our time alone with our Lord and Savior is essential to our relationship with Him.”

Next, as I sit and watch the cows graze I think of how quiet they really are. In Psalm 46:10, God tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God…” which literally means to be quiet and know Him. God wants us to be quiet. God wants us to know Him! We need to take a step back, be quiet, and listen to God so that we can know Him better. But, what does it mean to be quiet? What does it mean to be still? It means to read and mediate on His word. It means to worship Him whether that is by singing and praising, working with your hands, or serving others. It means to spend time with Him in prayer.

Psalm 23:1-3 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.” 

Cows praise God, and they are quiet when they are grazing. What is your “grazing”? Maybe it’s being by yourself. Maybe it’s listening to music. For me it is being outside, looking at that beautiful green pasture as the sky changes colors. Whatever it is, make it a point to find a way to “graze” every day. Set aside time to read and meditate on His Word. Set aside time to worship Him by singing and praising, working with your hands, or serving others. Set aside time to spend with Him in prayer. He will lead you where He wants you to go, He will give you a breath of fresh air when you feel like your drowning, He will guide you along the paths that will make His name known. Our time alone with our Lord and Savior is essential to our relationship with Him. All we need to do is be still and know that He is God, and He will lead us the rest of the way!

Katlyn is a part of the CBM Internship program, which exists to encourage young people to experience missions! To learn more about the CBM Internship program click HERE [www.childrensbibleministries.net/internships].

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