Howdy everyone! The last few weeks of volunteering at Heartland (our local therapeutic riding center) have stretched me, — literally! — taught me a lot, and blessed me with new relationships. I’m very excited about this open arena God’s introduced into my life!
I love the picture I’ve included in this post. This is our green broke Tennessee Walking Horse eager and willing to offer us his head when we stretch out the halter. Instead of running off or bracing his head stiffly in the air, he’s bowed it low, showing his trust and desire to be with us. The open hands and halter make it clear there’s no compulsion or bribery involved on the part of the handler — a sort of open honesty that horses love. The handler hasn’t hidden the halter or snuck up to catch the horse by surprise but instead lays it out plainly for the horse to choose to accept it of his own volition.
That’s how I want to be with God. Christ has made it plain that He offers a “yoke” — a restraining, burden-bearing harness of sorts — that will require us to carry our cross and die daily to our fleshly desires. He hasn’t sugar-coated it and never bribes us into accepting it. Instead, He lays it out plainly and says, “Come to Me.” Like this horse, I want to willingly and eagerly offer myself to my Lord, thereby expressing my trust in His loving care. I want to show that my desire is to be with Him.
And that’s the very best thing of all. Jesus didn’t call me to carry a burden for Him, but to join Him by His side — to somehow work with the Mighty God who seeks to save the souls of men. And somehow, as we willingly come as children to our Father, it so fills God (who is already all fullness!) with joy and love that the Bible tells us He delights over us with singing and promises to quiet us with His love. Pull out the ancient Word and check out His promise yourself (Zephaniah 3)! Imagine the King of the Universe singing about His wild love for you!
Riding Wild Hope 