-March 18, 2023-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.”
(Psalm 32:8-9).
There are two types of Christians: those who bolt ahead of the Lord on their own, and those who lag behind, stuck and unwilling to go forward. Both find it hard to do God’s will. The former are horse Christians and the latter are mule Christians. Both must choose the Lord’s will over their own.
The mule is the exact opposite of the horse. Instead of bolting ahead, it is stubborn and must be prodded to go forward. It needs a bit and bridle. When the Lord wants us to go forward, we sometimes resist and stiffen our necks. Mules can be very valuable for carrying various tools or supplies. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, He chose a donkey. That donkey was fully submissive to Him.
The horse is impulsive and always wants to run ahead. It is strong, courageous, and fast. The rider must be in control with bit and bridle. Making decisions on our own is not good, especially impulsively. Horses were valuable in battle when they were controlled by bit and bridle.
The Lord gave the Israelites guidance in the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God told them to go when the cloud or the fire moved and not until then. It was very clear guidance. Sometimes they stayed a long time in one location and at other times their stay was very short.
May the Lord help us to go when He says go and stop when He says stop. We need to follow His will, going at His pace. When we do, we will have peace and confidence. Let us follow the Lord at His perfect pace, not bolting ahead nor lagging behind.
Have a blessed day seeking, knowing, and doing the Lord’s will. Stay safe and healthy.
Following the Lord without impulsiveness or stubbornness,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 