Horse Sense

James 3:3

Behold we put bits in the horses' mouths,

that they may obey us;

and we turn about their whole body.

Horses are the most beautiful and majestic creatures God ever created - just ask my daughter, Anita.  But then again, she's never been thrown from the back of a runaway brute and spent six weeks with one arm in a cast and the other manipulating a crutch.  I'm a witness that no matter how loudly you scream, "Whoa, Jesus help me!" a horse is unmoved.  I guess they just aren't spiritual creatures who are moved by the name of Jesus.  Add to the chaos a cinch that breaks during the wild ride, and you can probably see me catapaulting through the air and rolling through the stubble of a freshly hayed field.  Ouch!

The bit is the key to controlling a horse with a mind of its own.  This particular horse (new to my family) had a bad habit of getting the bit in his teeth and running.  An inexperienced horseman, like me, didn't know what was going on and that horse just did whatever he pleased even if it involved throwing a sweet, innocent and helpless woman off his back.  You see the rider's power over the horse was in his ability to control it's mouth.

Ah..... the mouth is such a powerful thing.  Ever have trouble controlling yours?  I do! Sometimes I take the bit between my teeth and say just what I want to say, and do just what I want to do.  The problem is that somebody always gets hurt or broken when I do. 

My prayer....

Let the words of my mouth bring healing, peace and joy to those who hear me.

Let me bring words of hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the downcast strength to the weak, and laughter to those who mourn.

May they be pleasing to the One who created all who hear my voice.