I am no different then the chatterbox children (mostly the 5 – 8 year old range) who I teach beginner horseback riding lessons to. Joy has engulfed them and they just want to ride their pony. In their minds they are soaring, running free on a wild mustang. In reality, they mosey around the arena, mindlessly applying my commands. What is really on their heart is to share everything joyful and exciting that has happened to them that day. Every point of the lesson relates to a story. Each story keeps their mouths occupied and defers away from the lesson. I smile about their joy but what they don’t know is the value that I am teaching them. The keys to understanding their horse, becoming a beautiful rider, discovering the special bond with their horse, and hopefully becoming the future that will care for these trusting animals. As their instructor, I have a plan and a goal for them. It is my job to keep them on track, but sometimes I do wait for them to ready themselves to listen.
When it comes to my relationship with the Lord, I feel like a child with so much to say and too much excitement to listen. I look at my circumstances and frantically think about what the “right” way to respond would be. He asks me, What rules your heart? Your circumstances or me? What are you basing your decisions off of? Who do you believe in?
