"Cowboy Life"

It’s a cowboy life I wanted,

It started long ago,

A little kid, and never rid,

Of dreams that stirred me so.

Of horseback times and cattle,

And ropes and latigo,

Old wild rags and saddle bags,

Filled with medicine, you know.

I memorized those moments,

The talk, the work, the hands,

The cowboy style, once in awhile,

I’d pray that in God’s plans,

He’d let me be a cowboy,

My life would be that way,

Time brought change, life rearrange,

But I’d still sometimes pray,

That one day on a sunrise,

I’d go and flip my twine,

On my cayuse, and put to use,

What I learned once upon a time.

The horses that I once rode,

Went where old horses go,

I won’t forget, the ones I set,

Still with me, don’t you know.

I remember workin’ cattle,

Loadin’ trucks and brandin’ calves,

Feedin’ heifers in all weathers,

Dad’s partnering on halves.

I recall one time it’s sleetin’,

And, man, it’s really cold,

A horseback cross to find one lost,

‘Cause that’s what we were told.

I’ve lived in lots of places,

And worked at many things,

To pay the bills, the time it fills,

With what life’s season brings.

I think I heard God calling,

With His help did my best,

To share the gift, and people lift,

And overcome the tests.

But still, I felt the longing,

For the horses and the land,

And still I prayed, the dream it stayed,

I put it in God’s hands.

And then what I was doing,

Came to a silent end,

The circle closed, God only knows,

That I’d begin again.

To saddle in the morning,

And live the cowboy way,

To partner up and fill my cup,

And do it everyday.

And let me tell you, old pard,

That cowboy dreams come true,

Not in your time, but it’s still fine,

When they finally do.

You got to keep on going,

And trust the Lord above,

If it’s His will, you’ll get there still,

It’s all about His love.

‘Cause we know He’s the author,

Of all the good we get,

His plan is good, we only should,

Let His Spirit lead us yet.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[g] of God.” (Romans 8:14, NLT)

One of the characteristics of God’s children is that we are led by the Holy Spirit rather than our own selfishness. We strive to die to “self,” and follow the Lord’s lead on every decision. That doesn’t mean, however, that we have no personal dreams or desires. It simply means that we surrender our plans to the Lord, and trust Him to lead us into His will. Sometimes the Lord removes these desires altogether. Sometimes we still have them, but they are subject to His will and timing. And sometimes He leads us into a fulfillment of our dreams because they align with what He has planned. I have personally experienced all of it, and lived long enough to testify to the the goodness of God.

Lord, lead us into Your perfect will, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Grant Redden. Used by permission. Thanks, Grant, and God bless you.