“That mustang is a wild one!” said the cowboy to the trainer. “But she has potential—if only we could harness her!”
People who know me, know that I am a high energy person. Some would call me hyper, but that’s such a negative term! But I have to admit—I am a very high-spirited person who can sometimes run amok! I am more like a wild mustang that needs harnessing.
Unbridled, a wild horse goes galloping off in every direction, doing whatever it likes—living solely for self. In the early stages of being broken, a wild horse will kick and try to throw the rider off. She is unwilling to change. She wants to maintain control. But the horse trainer wants to channel that wild spirit for a good purpose—whether that is to win horse races or to pull a wagon. Without cooperation she will remain a savage unusable beast.
God doesn’t want us to live unbridled, frenzied, and ineffective lives for His Kingdom—living for self and not Him or others. If we don’t want to remain an unruly horse that is unusable, we must let God tame us…
Not to break our spirit, but to break our will.
Only then will we both win!
A horse trainer’s objective is for the horse to respond to the slightest tug on the reins, a gentle pressing of the knee, or a simple word—instead of using a whip.
That’s how I want to respond to the One who is training me. That’s how I am learning to respond. Only then will God and I be able to enjoy the ride.
Sometimes the Lord has me go at a slow canter, a fast trot, or a full speed-ahead gallop. Now and again He makes me stop to rest and graze. Occasionally, He’ll steer me into an open field where I can see much, or into a dark forest where I can barely see my next step.
When obstacles arise, He has me jump over them, go around them, or leads me in a totally different direction.
Sometimes He puts blinders on me so that I will stay focused and not get too distracted with the world, dangers, or even good things.
And every now and then, He just lets me frolic in the field!
He lovingly grooms me, tends my wounds, gives me an apple, tells me how much He loves me, and leads me to drink often from His Living Waters.
He knows exactly what I need and what’s best. He knows how to spur me on when I want to quit, or slow me down when I’m going too fast. He will maximize my fullest potential—if I yield to Him.
Being highly-spirited, impassioned, and full of energy are good traits, but without wise direction and restraint, a lot of time and energy is wasted, the potential within is never realized, and the intended purpose never reached.
I’ve discovered being completely and continually submitted to my Lord, is the best way to run this thrilling, though hard, race! I want to win this race–how about you?
Even if you’re not a wild and high-spirited racehorse, you still need training to fulfill God’s purpose for you. So stay tuned for next week’s blog for more on that!
Until next time, my friends, don’t be stubborn and unyielded, let God tame and train you into the useful beautiful horse He created you to be!
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. (Ps 32:8-11)
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