I remember being at dog-training school with Bandit. One exercise had the dogs sitting at the ends of their leashes while other people called to them and even tried to tempt them with treats.

The challenge was simple: would they stay where they had been told to stay when another voice offered something interesting?

Watching that exercise gave me something to think about in my own walk with God.

It is easy to talk about obedience when there is nothing pulling my attention away. It is another thing when an opportunity looks exciting, another voice sounds convincing, or waiting becomes uncomfortable.

How well do I listen then?

Bandit’s training reminded me that hearing a direction and following it are two different things. The distraction did not change the instruction.

I want to grow in that kind of attentiveness to God—to take time to listen, test what I believe I am hearing against Scripture, and follow through when I know what is right.

Sometimes an ordinary moment with a dog gives you a question worth carrying home:

Whose voice am I following?