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What We Learn From The Nesting Bird & The Hereford Cattle

Are you presently facing the "storm" of your life? Have you found yourself desperately crying out to God for His speedy deliverance? Who, in their right mind, wouldn't be? That is understandable!
But, did it ever occur to you that God may have another plan? He may want you to face every bit of opposition head-on and show the devil and his wicked forces - who are bent on your destruction - the real source of your strength.

"The nesting bird, pelted by rain, faces up to the hardship rather than trying to escape it. She settles herself as deeply in her nest as possible and which ever way the wind shifts she alters her position so as to face directly into it. The same is true of the Hereford cattle in a blizzard. It is said they do not try to escape it by turning their backs and drifting with it. Rather they head in the direction from whence the storm blows and bravely face into it.

Man, too, gains by facing into adversity instead of seeking to flee before it." - Illustrations From Nature

Today, so many preach a "soft" Gospel which proclaims that God will not allow any hardships to come our way. And, if troubles do come knocking on our door, the reason is because we either have sin in our lives or else we do not know the Word or have Faith.

We actually heard a TV preacher condemn Job for undergoing the hardships that he did. This man actually told his congregation that the reason why Job experienced what he did was because he did not know God. If only this servant of the Lord had the revelation of the Word and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost like we have today, he would not have faced the horrendous troubles that he did.

What a lie from the pit of Hell! Nothing could be further from the Truth! In fact, knowing the Word and being Baptized in the Holy Ghost oftentimes makes the saint a greater target for the forces of evil to attack.

This Preacher is so ignorant of God's Word that it is pitiful. He is a False Prophet - a blind leader of the blind - preparing his flock to fall away from the Lord when severely troublesome times hit our world in the days ahead.

Because many of the Preachers will not teach the people the Truth, God has to raise up a "nesting bird" and the "Hereford cattle" to get a point across to His children. If He can't find a man or a woman who will do the job right, then He'll use the fowl and dumb cattle. But someone will preach for Him!

For we will have no excuse on Judgment Day. We will not be able to tell the Lord that we were ignorant of the facts.

If we have a hunger for the Truth, God will be sure to get it to us, even if He has to use the animals to preach His sermon!

If you will notice, the "nesting bird," as fragile and vulnerable as she is to the harsh winds, does not flee or run from her troubles. She "faces up to the hardship." "She settles herself as deeply in her nest as possible." What is most astounding is that "which ever way the wind shifts she alters her position so as to face directly into it." What a remarkable bird! Or should we say - what a remarkable God who gave her such instinct and strength!

As Christians, we are like that "nesting bird." And what perchance would be our "nest"? Is not our "resting place" or "refuge" the Lord Jesus? So, in our times of hardship, we need not fear. We simply do as the "nesting bird" and settle ourselves deeply as possible into our "nest" - Christ Jesus - Who enables us to alter our position and face the shifting winds directly.

Glory! Glory! Glory!

Thank God for His little "nesting bird."

And what about His "Hereford cattle," facing the blizzard? Do they turn their backs to it? Absolutely Not! These cows put their heads down and bravely plow through the blinding wind and snow.

There is a lesson that we can learn from these "cattle." It may seem easier for us to simply go with the flow of our circumstances. But did it ever occur to us that the winds of adversity can drive us to a place where God never intended for us to be? Like the "Hereford cattle," we are not to drift in the direction of the blasting blizzard. We can end up out of the Will of God if we do so - simply because we chose the easy way out.

In the "blizzards" of our lives, God has a plan. He is taking us somewhere. But the only way we will reach our glorious God-ordained destiny is if we will head in the very direction the storm is blowing and bravely face it in His strength and power.

We need not fear the pelting rain, the shifting winds, or the hardships. Nor should we fear the blinding, stormy blizzard which all typify our troubles, trials, tragedies, and battles with the enemy of our souls.

The Lord God commands us in His Word -

• Deuteronomy 20:1 - "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them..."

• Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them..."

We are never to be afraid. Why? How is it possible? Some of the adverse circumstances that come our way may be very frightening.

The answer lies in the Presence of the Lord Who promises to always be with us.

• Genesis 28:15 - "And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest...for I will not leave thee..."

• Deuteronomy 20:1 - "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee..."

• Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

• Psalm 27:1 - "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

• Psalm 60:12 - "Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

• Psalm 46:7 - "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

The picture of the "nesting bird," settling herself as deeply in her nest as possible, is a perfect illustration of the saint of God "waiting" upon the Lord. Just as this little bird burrows deeply into her nest in the midst of the storm, even so should we draw closer to God, fixing our hearts and minds on Him in perfect trust.

As we "wait," God does a most remarkable and needed thing.

• He strengthens and establishes us.

• He becomes our "help" and our "shield."

• He shows us His salvation and mighty power which enables us to directly face our storms.

  • Psalm 27:14 - "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

  • Psalm 59:9 - "Because of His strength will I wait upon Thee..."

  • Psalm 138:3 - "In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul."

  • Isaiah 40:31 - "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..."

  • Ephesians 3:16 - "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man."

  • Colossians 1:11 - "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power..."

  • Psalm 33:20 - "Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield."

  • Psalm 62:1 - "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation."

Are you experiencing a terrible spiritual storm in your life at this time ? Are you tempted to faint, grow weary, give up all hope, or take the easy way out of all your troubles?

Take courage from the examples of the "nesting bird" and the "Hereford cattle." Settle down in your God and directly face the pelting rain. Head in the direction of the blinding blizzard.

Your strength lies in the Presence of the Lord Who promises to be with you wherever you go - and yes, that includes the wild, chaotic, and tempestuous places of the terrible storms of life. Matthew 8:18 - As you wait upon Him, He will give you the strength to make it to the "other side."

May God Bless His Word.
Connie

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