THE GOD WHISPERERS
"Horse Whisperers speak the language of Equus with their body language. God Whisperers speak the language of Faith with their words. My life is dedicated to becoming fluent in both of these languages."
(Susan Klaudt)
I enjoy communicating with horses. In the equine world, actions always speak louder than words. Just call me Dr. Doolittle!
BECOMING A REAL GOD WHISPERER
Each time we open our mouth and speak, we are exercising our faith, or our lack, thereof. Even when we whisper to someone in private, or think no one else can hear the words we speak - God is listening to every single word.
The language of Equus is silent. It is all about body language, and it is the strongest communication we have with our horse. The language of faith is not silent. It uses the power of words, and is a direct line of communication between us and God.
Almost everyone has heard the term "Horse Whisperer". Today, I want to share with you about a different kind of whisperer - the "God Whisperer". You probably haven't heard that term before. In fact, I may have just coined it! So, what's a God Whisperer? A God Whisperer is someone who has learned to communicate effectively with God through the faith-filled words that they speak. In other words, they have learned to speak the language of faith. And why is speaking the language of faith important? It's important because it's God's native tongue!
THE SILENT WITNESS TO EVERY CONVERSATION
When I first laid eyes on Samson, I knew this was the horse I had waited for my entire life. Unfortunately, his owner didn't see it that way. When I told her I would like to buy him, she told me that her horse wasn't for sale, and never would be. It would take the language of faith, and the providence of God to change her heart, and my future.
Years ago, I had a rather strange experience. That experience helped to teach me about the power of my own words, and more importantly, that God is always listening. If you like a good, somewhat mushy, horsey love story, then you're gonna like the story I'm about to share with you. I call it the "Samson Testimony". I share it with you in hopes that it will reach deeper than a text-book sermon, and that it will help you to see how our words never fall on deaf ears. For me, it all began with a horse named Samson. A horse whose daily presence continues to remind me that God is listening to every word I say, even when I'm whispering. Such is the power of the silent witness.
THE SAMSON TESTIMONY
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear."
(Isaiah 65: 24)
Sometimes the answer to our prayers is dark and handsome, has 4 legs, and a nice, slow lope!
It all started on an ordinary spring day at a local outdoor horse show. My husband, Kim, and I had just settled into the bleachers with what could only be called a cholesterol gala - cokes, cheap hotdogs, and chips from the concession stand. Before long, the next pleasure class was underway. I watched closely from the wooden bleachers as each horse and rider entered the arena in search of the optimum position on the rail. And then, as if drawn by some strong invisible magnet, my eyes inexplicably landed on a beautiful dark bay horse with two white hind socks. As he moved gracefully around the show ring with his rider, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. In the time it took to blink, I was completely and irreversibly smitten. And then it happened. In an unexplainable, and perhaps once in a lifetime moment, I somehow knew that this horse was destined to be mine.
Finally, I couldn't contain my feelings any longer. I slowly looked around to make sure that no one else could hear me. Then I leaned over to my husband, pointed at the horse, and whispered, "Do you see that bay horse with the white hind socks on the back rail?" Kim's eyes searched the arena, and finally he whispered back in a non-committal way, "Yeah, I see him. Why?" For a brief moment, I sat there marveling at how my husband didn't just instinctively know what I knew already. Once again, I quietly whispered in his ear, "I just want you to know that if I could have any horse in all the world - that is the horse I would want - that one right there!" Still not getting the reaction I wanted, I leaned in closer and declared, "Kim, I'm telling you - that is my horse!" To which my husband had finally had enough, and declared right back, "Good for you, now all you gotta do is go tell the owner that's your horse!" Somehow, that sounded like a challenge to me, so I quickly responded without blinking an eye, "Well, Mr. Smarty-pants, I plan on doing just that!" And that's just what I did, well, sorta...
Teaching my best friend not to run for the hills when I shoot my old Henry rifle. I first laid eyes on Samson when he was only two years old. A mouth full of faith-filled words, and five years later, he was mine. Never give up on your dreams!
A few minutes later, I had mustered up my nerve, and soon found myself standing beside the horse who had stolen my heart with just a glance. He stood tied to a trailer, calmly munching hay from a woven string hay-bag, and never looked up. Meanwhile, the show grounds was bustling with activity, and noise blared from the announcer stand. I reached out my hand and stroked the horse's perfectly trimmed black mane. Then I leaned down and whispered to my new-found horse love, "You don't know it yet, but you are mine." It would have been a great time for the horse to at least look up and acknowledge me. Instead, I looked up to see the owner staring me smack-dab in the face.
After stuttering around for awhile, I finally managed to pull myself together. I soon learned from the owner that the horse of my affections was only two years old, and just beginning his show career. I also learned that his barn name was Samson. "That's so awesome," I joked. "He's got a Bible name, so he must be a Christian!" Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer. My dream horse was standing right in front of me, and here I was wasting time and making silly jokes. It was time to zero in on the mission! I took a big gulp of air, and blurted out, "If you ever want to sell Samson, I would like to buy him. In fact, I would like to buy him right now!"
I couldn't believe the crazy words that had actually come out of my mouth. Was I completely nuts? Well, probably, but on top of that, I knew I couldn't afford to buy this horse, even if she was willing to sell him to some nut! Too late. My words were out there, and my true intentions were made known. There was no turning back now. Then the woman looked me straight in the eye, and in no uncertain terms, declared, "I will never sell this horse, not now, and not ever!" It was the end of the story, or so it seemed, and my heart sank. Suddenly, I felt very foolish. As I walked away, my eyes began to burn with tears. It was then that I felt something strange rise up in me. Something that felt like victory, even in spite of the circumstance. Something that made me whisper once again, "You are mine, Samson."
GOD IS LISTENING
"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry."
(Psalm 34: 15)
Playing around with Samson during a photo shoot for a ministry newsletter, "Alright, look at me, I'm your Captain now!"
The years soon went by, and one evening Kim and I decided to go to a local horse auction. It was one of those quirky, out of the ordinary, impromptu kind of decisions that one makes without much thought. We'd done some saddle trading years ago at this auction, and thought it might be a good opportunity to sell some old horse tack. By the time we arrived, the auction was in full-swing. And then, just as if we were actors in a perfectly orchestrated play, Kim happened to notice an old horse show friend of ours from the old saddle club days. Within minutes, they were in deep conversation. Thinking little of it, I headed to the concession stand for a hot bowl of chili, and crackers. Little did I know that I was only moments away from a miraculous God-intervention.
Suddenly, just as I was about to take my first bite of steaming hot chili, Kim rushed up behind me and shouted with excitement, "If you could have any horse in the world - which horse would it be?" I thought to myself, wow, that's a really strange question. Then, it was just as if time somehow catapulted me back to that day when I had first whispered in my husband's ear, "If I could have any horse in the world...". And then the words came once again, just as if I had been practicing for this moment all of my life, "If I could have any horse in the world, I would choose Samson!"
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
Now that he's no longer in "show-biz", I like introducing my ministry partner to all kinds of stuff, like the scary devil-tarp! You might remember this picture from our ministry newsletter about fear. It's been a long time since our first "not by chance" meeting, but I remember every day how God used this special horse to teach me about the powerful language of faith.
I believe the seemingly chance encounter Kim had with our old horse show buddy at the auction that night wasn't really chance at all. It was the providence of God. Kim remembers asking our friend during their conversation, "By the way, do you know whatever happened to that horse, Samson?" To which the man replied, "That's really funny you should ask. That horse is at my training barn right now. His owner brought him over just last night. She's getting married, and sounds like the guy doesn't care much for horses, so she's decided to sell Samson!"
When Kim told me this, my initial words were, "What woman in her right mind would ever sell her horse for a man?" Of course, after a little more serious thought, I quickly changed my faith-filled words to, "Well, thank you, Jesus, and God bless that guy!"
That night, I was so excited that I didn't sleep a wink. Next day, we drove to the training barn, and for the first time since I had laid eyes on him five years earlier, I reached out and stroked Samson's black mane once again. This time, he looked at me with two eyes as he touched my hand with his soft muzzle, and in that moment, he knew that I had come for him, and he was mine. I studied the owner's face for some sign of emotion. And I wondered if she was sad to sell her horse. But most of all, I wondered if she remembered me from all those years ago, and the words I had spoke to her. And then, just as if she had read my mind, she simply handed me the reins to my new horse, and said with a knowing smile, "Yes, I remember you."
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."
(1 John 5: 14-15)
