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There are lots of folks who own horses, but when it comes to having a great partnership with a horse, the world is full of have's and have not's. So, what is the difference between those who have a great partnership with their horse, and those who don't? Aretha Franklin may have said it best - RESPECT! And how do you gain respect from a horse? A good horse master gains respect from his horse, not by demanding it, but by earning it. Wow, now that's an interesting thought! So, how do you earn a horse's respect? Let me give you an example. When I want my horse to lower his head, I don't go out and find a 2X4 plank and hit him in the head in order to get him to do it. I know that sounds ludicrous, but some people's abusive training techniques aren't much different. Instead, I have a "method of communication" with my horse based on respect. I apply pressure slightly behind his ears. In essence, I am not "demanding" that he lower his head, but I am "asking" him to lower his head for me. Because I am asking respectfully (as opposed to demanding with disrespect), my horse willingly "gives to the pressure" and lowers his head. The moment my horse lowers his head I release the pressure and reward him for making the right choice. If I had demanded that my horse lower his head, either forcefully or by wrong motives, his head would still be up in the air like a long-necked giraffe. Instead, because I have learned how to communicate with my horse effectively, and our partnership is based on respect and pure motives, he is more than willing and happy to lower his head for me.
Have you ever wondered why when some people pray, God seems to answer their prayers, while others pray and see no results? Once again, it's the have's and have not's. Of course, instead of looking inward, most of us are quick to assign the problem of unanswered prayers to God. After all, He could simply do what we ask if He wanted to, right? But what if God would like to answer our prayers, but He doesn't because we ask with disrespect, and/or wrong motives? What if there really was a correct method to effectively communicate with God - a method that could and would produce answered prayers every time? Of course, such a method would require that we never use abusive communication methods like treating God as if He were Santa Claus on-call, or getting out our spiritual 2x4's and demanding that He give us what we want, while at the same time reminding Him of His Word in order to sway him or force His hand. Instead, a new and better method would be to go to God respectfully in prayer, with a pure heart and the right motives, and simply "ask". That's the only way to develop a great partnership with God - a partnership that makes the difference between the have's and the have not's!
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