Now and then, my friend asks me to take care of his dog, a sweet, gentle and energetic pug. She’s the kind of dog who doesn’t need a lead. She rarely strays far from me, but if she does all I have to do is whistle and she runs back to me – tail wagging, happy to be with me. She instinctively obeys me because past experience has taught her that I won’t hurt her.

When I am with her I often think of my walk with God. The Bible tells us that our lives will be full, rich and overflowing if we obey God’s teachings and follow the example of the life of Jesus Christ. In God, ‘we live and move and have our being’ (see Acts 17:28). Every fibre of my body, heart and soul knows that I am secure in the loving embrace of my Creator God, who will never hurt me. In God, safety resides.

At times, obedience to God is not easy. But we can learn to be more obedient through prayer, a close study of scripture, and quiet time in God’s presence. Then, when we fail, we can humble ourselves before him and ask for the gift of obedience. We will not always succeed, but ours is a forgiving God and nothing, absolutely nothing, will separate us from his love.

Prayer: Creator God, help us to live daily as you would have us live – following the precepts you laid down long ago. Amen