Once I swing my leg over my horse's back, I'm fully committed to the ride!
FAITH, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT
One of the most vulnerable positions for a rider is when they are first mounting their horse. In the above picture, I'm allowing my horse, Samson, to get used to my weight in the stirrup. Why? Once I swing my leg over my horse's back, I'm fully committed to the ride!
One of the most vulnerable places for a person is that place between having faith, and actually moving their feet forward in faith. Faith calls for action, and action calls for courage and commitment. When John Wayne made the statement about being scared to death, but saddling up anyway, he was being honest about his own vulnerability. And yet, for the Duke, his courage to saddle up in spite of being scared, and his commitment to take the ride, was the catalyst that helped bring about the wonderful destiny God had prepared especially for him, - a life on the big screen as a fearless and true-grit cowboy.
It's the same for you and me. God has a wonderful destiny prepared for you and me, but just having faith won't get us there. We will have to move our feet forward in faith. And in order to do that, we will need courage and commitment.
TO RIDE OR NOT TO RIDE
"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear', I will help you."
(Isaiah 41: 13)
We can be fear-less and take the ride, if we know that God holds our hand.
A few weeks back, I wrote a newsletter titled,"Are You A Dreamer Or A Visionary?". You can find it in the Archives in the left-hand column. After that newsletter, I received dozens of wonderful emails from folks who shared their dreams with me, and specific visions they believed God had given them. Many people expressed tremendous faith, and were actively pursuing their purpose. Others wrote me about their dreams, and visions, and expressed just as much faith in God, and yet, they seemed "stuck" in place. What was the difference? Why did some choose to take "the ride", while others didn't? As I read through the emails of those who seemed stuck, I began to see a thread of similarity running throughout. Three similar points jumped out at me. I quickly realized that God was responsible for points #1 and #2. But #3 was the crux of the problem! Why? Because responsibility for #3 was not God's responsibility!
Three similar points that jumped out at me:
#1 - The person shared with me a wonderful and unique dream, or vision for their life.
#2 - The person genuinely believed that God had given them the dream, or vision.
#3 - The person had yet to move their feet forward with any action concerning the dream, or vision.
GOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
#1 and #2.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
#3!
I love this picture, and the joy on this little girl's face. This is what moving our feet forward in faith should look like!
As you read the specific points I shared, it becomes clear that God is responsible for #1 and #2. However, #3 is our responsibility. And what are we responsible for? We're responsible for what we do with the dreams and visions that God gives us, and that means we are responsible for moving our own feet. So, what is stopping so many people from acting on their God-given dreams, and visions? Is it a lack of faith? For some, perhaps, but for most of God's children, I don't think lack of faith is the real problem. The problem is lack of any forward motion. And if you're not moving forward, everything comes to a stand-still. And that can be tragic. Consider the following...
Unfulfilled dreams and unrealized visions are precious gifts that once resided in our heart, but never made it to our feet.
Jesus said:
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute for food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
(James 2: 14-18, 26, NKJV)
THE POWER OF FORWARD MOTION
Everything I teach my horses depends on forward motion. Even a good back-up depends on how well a horse moves forward.
It's been many years ago, but I can still remember the first time I asked my horse, Samson, for forward motion on a long lunge-line. I had only had him a short time, and he was still trying to figure me out. As I lifted my handy-stick and asked my horse to move forward, his expression quickly changed to that of a deer in the headlights, except it wasn't fear - it was shock. "You want me to do what? Surely, you jest!",
he seemed to be saying. Then, in a split second, he rebelled by bucking and farting and snorting, and pulling against me and the lunge-line. Believe me, he was quite a sight to behold. But the more he bucked, farted, snorted, and pulled, the more I ignored his bad attitude and his antics. I planted my feet firmly in the ground, and continued to hold him responsible for moving his own feet forward.
After several minutes, I began to notice a change. My horse had finally stopped the shenanigans, and he was beginning to relax and move out gracefully on a loose line. Then, he settled into a nice, forward moving lope. That day ended up being a game changer for me and my horse. We had both discovered the power of forward motion, and it would be the start of endless possibilities, and our incredible partnership.
Watch Our New YouTube Video On
Moving The Horse's Feet
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Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry
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COURAGE TO MOVE OUT FROM THE HERD
"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
(Proverbs 16: 9)
It can also be very intimidating and scary when God asks us to move our feet forward in faith, especially if no one seems willing to take the journey with us. This is a good time to remind yourself that as long as you are moving your feet forward in faith, God will provide your every need. And that includes the right people for the road ahead!
