“‘Mary had a little lamb.’ In this rhyme, why a lamb? Why not a dog, a puppy? See how the lamb who followed wherever Mary went becomes a sign and a symbol for complete trust of the one who owns him.
“I want you, My People, to be My lambs. To follow Me as did Mary’s lamb. Follow Me in complete Trust. In complete knowledge that I hold only Love for you. That I AM able to guide you, to train you up in the way you should go. Lambs are young and weak. But they grow up and grow strong. So you shall do under the care of the Loving Hand of your Shepherd.
“Why do you fight against Me, My People? ‘How do we fight against You?’ you ask. I laugh at the question. My People fight against Me all the day. You fight against Me when you go your own way in the moment, make your own decision without asking Me what may be My opinion. You fight against Me when you open your mouth to speak disbelief–which amounts to curses–against the Promises I have made you. You fight against Me when you harbor offense on your soul. When you lie. When you withhold Truth. When you doubt. When you refuse to give Me, your Shepherd, all of yourself. When you take certain situations into your own hands, by your very actions declaring that you know better than I.
“How well do you think it would work for a herd of sheep to say to their Shepherd – ‘On that issue I listened to you and knew you were right. But this is today. This issue before me requires MY knowledge, MY own response and choice.’ How protected would be such a flock of sheep? Yet you place yourself so often as such.
“It is a work of contending. I have given you the choice in every detail to listen to Me or not. I do not force Myself upon you. Yet I always stand ready to help when you cry out to Me, willing to listen for My answers.
“How do you know you are judging rightly about any thing you see? Tell Me, the Lord your God, how do you know that you are right? What in your finiteness of mind and understanding leads you to believe that your opinions and judgments are stronger and more on point than anything I could pronounce? You respond – ‘But I don’t believe that.’ Yes, you do. Every time you jump to a conclusion and judgment of your own making – you do.
“This is a task of utmost diligence, to come to Me and ask My opinion about every thing you encounter. Only through such diligence can you have ‘the mind of Christ.’ My Word calls you to have ‘the mind of Christ.’ Do you expect to build such a mind through your own thinking?
“I weigh scales and balances so big, so intimidating, so inconceivable to you, that you cannot begin to see the correct balance without Me. And yet you go through your days acting as if you can. This has become a habit among My People. I DEMAND THAT YOU BREAK THIS HABIT. Ask Me to lead you in building the habit to always come to Me for understanding and discernment in any situation. I AM happy to answer such a request. I long to answer such a request. My Mind is boundless and infinite, beyond even the range of your imagination. So how does one who is human have ‘the mind of Christ?’ I give you My mind, My thought, on each issue as you ask. I lead you point by point. I lead you in the moment, affording you all the discernment you need.
“You say – ‘But that is too hard. How do I do this all the time?’ Only with My help and guidance. Only through walking with Me throughout your day, following Me like Mary’s little lamb. You cannot follow Me if your eyes are not on Me. Your eyes turn away…you veer off. You must build into yourself the habit of keeping your eyes on Me. You must take the time to listen to Me. How much time do you spend listening to Me in comparison to the time you spend listening to the world?
“These are not easy questions, My little lambs. They do not carry easy answers. They demand a lifetime of learning to Trust Me over yourself. To Move such declared Trust of Me out of your mind and into your daily actions.
“‘And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.’ Think on this, meditate on this little nursery rhyme. It carries great TRUTH for you, My People.”
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Notes:
Since the Lord told us to meditate on this rhyme, I looked it up to see if there is more than this one verse. Wow. The nursery rhyme surely has more to say about us as lambs “white as snow,” the loving Lord as our Shepherd, and how the world fights against our following Him. I encourage you to meditate on each line, asking the Lord to show you His symbolism. “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” by Sarah Josepha Hale:
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.
“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry;
“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,”
The teacher did reply.
Psalm 23:1-3: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
John 10:14: I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.
Isaiah 40:11: He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Matthew 15:18: But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
John 5:30: I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
Proverbs 18:2, 13, 15: A fool does not delight in understanding, but in revealing his own mind…One who gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him…The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Psalm 32:8: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Proverbs 16:9: The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 14:12: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Romans 12:1-2: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Proverbs 2:6-11: For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness, justice, and integrity, and every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be delightful to your soul; Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.
John 7:24: Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
I Corinthians 2:16: For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Psalm 9:10: And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
