The phone rings in the middle the night, and there’s a distinctive “beep” that starts as soon as you say, “Hello?” Now, you may not have received one of these calls, but for our house, and many other livestock owners, you know the next words you hear will be, “This is the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, and we have been notified that you have cattle out.” Now sometimes this is because there has been an accident, a tree may have fallen on the fence during a storm, or even worse…”someone” left the gate open; however, sometimes it’s because the cattle were able to breach a fence because, you know, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” I think they call a herd meeting and decide “at 0230, girls, we’re taking this fence and staking our claim on that hayfield across the road.” Yep, I’ve even watched as the boss cow recognized a weak spot in the fence line, looked at me, looked at the others and bellered out “MOOOO-VE!” and they all came running, and there was nothing I could do but pray the fence held. Sometimes the fence held, sometimes it didn’t.

As Christians, the devil is always looking for weak spots in our spiritual fence. It first happened in Genesis 3:6 the Garden of Eden when Eve saw the fruit on the tree of life was not only good to eat but would give wisdom. It turns out the grass was definitely not greener on the other side of the fence for them or any of us. Sampson and King David saw what they thought would be better in women in Judges and 2 Samuel, respectively,  and by seeing that weak spot in them, Satan turned what they lusted after into their death or ruin. Their fences gave way, and the devil made his way through. On the flip side, some had strong spiritual fences like Peter refusing a bribe in Acts and the prophet Elisha turning down payments for miraculous healing in 2 Kings.

          Beau Hague in his book Tied On: The Cowboy’s Devotional  writes this devotion entitled “The Corner Post:”

When you build a fence, it usually takes a whole lot of supplies. These supplies may include wire, fence stretching tools, a tamping tool, and if you really want to dress the fence up, wood. However, the most essential part of the fence is the corner post. A good corner post may be anywhere from 6 inches to 12 inches round and could be anywhere from 8 feet to 10 feet tall. When it comes to setting a corner post you typically put at least 1/3 of the post in the ground. Why? Because the corner post is what makes or breaks a fence. If it’s not firm and solid, the whole fence will be affected!

Similar to how the corner post is essential to building a fence that will last, we are called to live a corner-post Christian life. We are to set our lives deep in the things of the Lord. Things like being grounded in God’s Word and firmly planted in a growing church. Also we must have faith. What is faith? Just like the fence whose strength is found in what you can’t see in the ground, our faith works the same way.

Faith isn’t what you see on the outside, it’s what’s not seen that makes it faith. You can have a corner post it is really straight about the ground, it can be really big around, and it could be soaked in cresol so it won’t rot, but if it’s not set deep in the ground, it’s not going to last! But if that corner post is set deep in a hole that is well tamped or set in concrete, it will be strong and withstand would ever comes against it. If a cow tries to run through the fence, it will stand firm. In the same way, faith is what’s in the ground! And faith is what will make us firm, solid, corner-post Christians! (2001, pp. 138-139)

For those among us who are those strong corner-posts, what are you doing to help ensure the fence is strong between each other. Are we teaching faith? Are we living faith? The world is full of many reasons for believers and non-believers to see things making them believe the grass is greener somewhere else. Do they feel loved? Do they feel needed? Do they see Jesus? And for you? Are you daily fortifying your spiritual fence by spending time in the Word and prayer?

Need a good place to start? In Psalm 62, David declares his confidence in God and the strength he will receive through Him.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”

What great words that, though written in ancient times, David compares himself to a weakened fence that can only be strengthened by God and we should not set our eyes and hearts and what we might see as greener on the other side.

My prayer is that we all find our strength through God’s Word to keep our fences strong and the devil out. That the only call we get… is when the roll is called up yonder, we’ll be there!

May His grace be sufficient for us all!
FarmDiva

Hague, B. (2015). Tied On: The Cowboy's Devotional. Austin, TX: Fedd Books.

Check out Beau Hague Ministries for more information and purchase his books (this is not a sponsored post)