“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
One of the first things I learned about horses is that they are prey animals. When they sense danger, they go into flight mode to escape pressure and flee from danger. In this way they can survive in a world with predators. This really surprised me. I’d seen horses perform impressive tasks and even harrowing feats of strength and nobility. When I stood next to a horse, so large and powerful, I felt so tiny next to it. I felt like the one who was prey. ‘Surely they know their strength and ability don’t they?’
What’s fascinated me as I’ve spent more time with horses, learning how to communicate with them, is that people and horses are a lot alike. So much potential is right there in that horse, given by our Creator. But it is brought out by a relationship with a knowledgeable and confident trainer. A horse will naturally flee from a threatening sound or unfamiliar sight, yet under human leadership and training they will charge into battle. They can become the backbone of a family farm, partners in ranch work, heroes in rescue operations, or in the case of Freedom Reigns’ herd, they become teachers and counselors who bring truth and healing.
God has given them everything they need to survive in nature. But on top of that He has given them potential to thrive and find purpose in partnership with people. To partner with us in good works.
As we train horses, we discover a lot about their individual personalities, adjusting as we learn and discovering their potential. But God as our Creator, already knows exactly who we are down to the most minute detail. (I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14 ). This is encouraging.
While some of us may have picked up some survival instincts along life’s broken road, to really thrive we need leadership. We need to be trained and taught by the Holy Spirit through the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. We know that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)
And as horses are trained by repetition and consistency, so we will find our own hearts are best bridled and guided through the consistent study and application of Scriptural truth.
We have this by constant connection with our Lord. (“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17). And as we connect with Him through reading the Bible and prayer, he will bring out all the potential he created in us to walk in good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) So let’s continue to come to Scripture and talk to our Heavenly Father in prayer, allowing the Holy Spirit to train and guide us into all God has for us to do.
(Devotional by Volunteer: Wendy Lane)