Last week I shared about my experience with the lesson God taught me using my horse. About how the Bible shares two reasons bridles are used:
- We either bridle our own bodies and do what is right or
- We let God bridle us and lovingly guide us to do what is right
If you missed last week’s post you can read it here.
God promises to lead and teach us, but He also asks us to bridle our own selves so that our relationship can be built on trust and not force. One of the sweetest things I have ever seen is when a horse has such a strong relationship with his owner that he will follow them around without any kind of bridle. The relationship that is based off of mutual trust, love, and respect is the most endearing thing to watch.
Most of the time these relationships are built with children, but I have seen some instances in which adults are able to develop this type of closeness as well. Maybe that is why God calls us to come to Him as a little child who is easily able to trust, love, and respect those that woo them.
God asks us many times to rest in the promises of God, to hope in Him, and place our expectations on Him. Have you ever thought of why? Why would God be so adamant about us bringing our requests to Him, of asking Him for things, even getting to the point of wearying Him with our requests (which by the way I do not think is possible. You can check Luke 18:1-8 to see more on this).
It’s because one of His characteristics is Loving-Kindness! Have you ever looked up the definition of Kind? It’s wanting to good to others, wanting to help them, wanting to give them what they want, wanting to make them happy.
–Now let that definition sink in–
God wants to give us what we want and do you know how the best way to let Him give us what we want? We have to stop wearing bridles. Friends, you may be wearing multiple right now as you read this. The point of a bridle is to be led and controlled by someone or something.
We can wear a bridle of fear, indecisiveness, comparison, other people’s opinions, bitterness, your inner critic, idols such as running or money, and even a sin habit. Hebrews 12:1 says to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us”. A bridle is going to weigh you down and keep you from experiencing the blessings God wants to bestow upon you. He wants to bless you. He wants to give you your desires, but you have to let Him, and as long as you are being led around by the cares of this world, you will not be able to receive the gifts God desires to give you. He wants to give and He wants to give freely.
I challenge you to stop right now and ask God to help you toss aside your bridle, however many you may be wearing. Ask Him to free you so that you do not have to wear that heavy metal bit in your mouth anymore. If you feel any resistance in yourself because you feel comfortable wearing this bridle then that’s fine, tell Him that. He already knows – might as well tell Him. And here is a tip that has been a life saver for me… if you are not willing to let go of the bridle, but you would like to let go, than ask Jesus to make you willing. He is willing and more than able to change your heart!
I love ya’ll! May God bless you as you continue seeking Him!
Until next time, Happy Running!
I also did a podcast on this topic which you can find here.
Be Still and Run 