God And Halters

I grew up on a small farm. We had two horses, a cow or two, several sheep and goats (sometimes more, depending on lambing season), and several dogs and cats. We even had some chickens and raised bees at one point. I spent most of my time with the horses.

They would wander around on the several acres we had them fenced in on. I would go out and sit with them sometimes, or lay on their backs while they ate. Of course, I mucked the stalls, fed them, and rode them, too. I cared a lot about them and just loved being around them. The coolest thing to me was when they would come up to greet me in the field. It didn't always happen. If they thought I was going to halter them and exercise them, then they would keep their distance. That disappointed me, because all I wanted to do was teach them, and keep them healthy and safe.

I read a passage the other day that spoke so vividly to me.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will
counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule
which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold
them in check, otherwise they will not come near to
you." Psalm 32:8,9 (NAS)

It reminded me that God feels the same way about us. I don't want God to have to "halter" me in order to teach me something or get my attention. I want to be in tune and willing from the beginning. Definitely something to think about....