Becoming Like a Horse - Lessons From the Farm Series

Psalm 31:3 - For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 
              ---this should be our daily prayer!

Horses (broke horses) are lead, guided and controlled by us with bits, bridles and blinders. We're going to look at these three items and how they can apply to our lives.

I. Bits In - James 3:3 - Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
       - we use different bits for different control depending on how stubborn a horse may be. 
       - some are designed to be more harsh to stop the stubbornness.

Just as bits are used to control a horse, we need to keep bits in our mouths to control our speech.
Prov. 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
             - we can use our mouth for negative or positive - to be foolish or wise
James 3:8-10, Prov. 15:1 & 7, Prov. 12:18

II. Bridles On - 1 Cor. 9:27 - But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 
            - horses are either "neck reined" or "pull reined" depending on the training and stubbornness of the horse. (reins are the long straps you hold coming off the bridle)
            - neck reined means you turn the horse by allowing the rein to touch the side of the neck and the horse knows to turn that way
           - pull reined means you must pull whichever rein in the direction you want the horse to go 

Just as bridles are used on a horse to guide and keep it under subjection, so must we be in subjection to God and His will.

God prefers to start with whispers! But He will yank you around if necessary! 
James 4:7, Heb. 12:9

III. Blinders On - Rom. 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
          - because horses get spooked and distracted and take off and stop minding commands blinders are used to keep race horses and draft horses (for work) focused on the task before them. 
     - We need to have blinders on to not be distracted by the things of the world.
Col. 3:2, Titus 2:12, 1 John 2:15-17

Remember to keep bits in, bridles on and blinders on!