'Keep Me in the Saddle"

Lord, keep me in the saddle,

While my heart beats in my chest,

Save me from the rocking chair,

And help me do my best,

To cowboy up and do my part,

And ride till time to go,

Just want to keep on keeping on,

Even if it’s slow.

‘Cause I was never meant to be,

On the inside looking out,

Always breathed the outside air,

It’s what my life’s about.

I still can catch a horse and go,

It’s how I want to be,

The Good Lord giving me the strength,

Lord willing, that is me.

I see so many older folk,

Who give up ‘fore they’re through,

But I don’t want to be like them,

Fact, what I plan to do,

Is do it long and do it strong,

And always show God’s grace,

Live full out till I go home,

And finish this old race.

And I hope when I get there,

The Savior on His horse,

Will have one saddled up for me,

Because I stayed the course.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NLT)

When Paul neared the end of his journey these were his powerful words that summed up his life. He fought, he ran, and he was faithful. All this he accomplished because God’s grace equipped and energized Him. Of all the New Testament writers, it’s Paul who most explains the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And it is the Spirit that enables us to faithfully finish. God does not expect success, as others define it. But what the Lord wants from all of us is faithfulness. And that’s how we should be to the very end.

Lord, help us finish faithfully, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by J.L. Grief. Used by permission. Thanks, and God bless you.