"Secret"

There’s a well-known secret,

Used by horsemen everywhere,

That rewarding good behavior,

Will get your horse to where,

He’ll do just what you ask him,

That’s where he finds his peace,

And pressuring the negative,

Until he finds release.

Whether loading on a trailer,

Or yielding to a lead,

O standing when he’s saddled,

Or anything you need,

He can learn the lesson,

Based on trust and not on threat,

And he wants to please you,

Best bonding you can get.

And it’s not unlike the Father,

When He puts the pressure on,

To show us we can trust Him,

And can get along,

If we learn just how to please Him,

Leave behind all that does not,

No because He threatens,

But because His love we’ve got.

Makes us glad to be together,

With bonding based upon His will,

And thankful He is leading,

And will with His Spirit fill.

“For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10, NAS)

One of the most important ways God shows us how much He loves us is by disciplining us. His discipline puts pressure on our disobedience and teaches us that we find the greatest degree of personal peace when we obey Him. Trusting God removes our fear and leads us into our God-given purpose. These principles are employed everywhere with horses and it’s no wonder they work with people, too.

Lord, help us to embrace Your discipline, in Jesus’ name

Art by Tim Cox, used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.