"Gentle Ways"
Watch the way the horses play,
And you will learn a lot,
About how they, respond each day,
And how they may be taught,
Teach them to, and then to do,
Every time the same,
You will find, more peace of mind,
When you learn to play their game.
If you use force, upon that horse,
He may sometimes submit,
But that’s not how, not then or now,
And if you do, he’ll quit,
At the wrong time, and you will find,
The hard way that it’s true,
Just make him move, and that will prove,
It’s the best thing you can do.
If he balks, make him walk,
Until you change his mind,
Give release and lots of peace,
And it will work out fine.
Don’t pull and jerk to make him work,
But show him if he flows,
Nothing to fear, and very clear,
He learns it and he knows,
He can trust, and trust’s a must,
If you want his best,
Consistently, the hand to be,
Rewarding him with rest.
I often see, God deals with me,
In some of these same ways,
He isn’t harsh, no force to march,
But makes me want to praise.
He’s won my trust, my fear’s a bust,
I want to do His will.
The training’s kind, to change my mind,
And with His Spirit fill.
“…afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way…” (Hebrews 12:11, NLT)
We are in training with the Lord as our leader. He shapes and molds us to do His will, and sometimes the process is uncomfortable. I find many similarities with those who gentle horses. People who know horses and know what they’re doing never force the issue. They simply build trust, give positive reinforcement when the horse responds well, and make the horse move when he doesn’t. Everything is done with the goal in mind. And that’s exactly what happens when the Lord leads us out of our own ways so that we may learn His. Whatever we must adjust, change or sacrifice to get there, the outcome is well worth it. The peaceful harvest!
Lord, help us cooperate with Your training, in Jesus’ name.
Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.