By Cara Whitney

God can use any part of His creation to accomplish His purposes, so I have learned to never question why He used a 40-inch Shetland pony to remind me not to put my human limitations on our mighty God. Or that He used a miniature donkey to let me know I was getting too opinionated about my church’s worship music.
About a year ago, I was urged by a close friend to obediently compile these lessons into a horse devotional – Unbridled Faith. Again, for me, this was another instance where I felt God using my surroundings to make change. However, it was just another way I embraced the Lord’s message.
 Everyone knows the saying, “If you fall off a horse, you have to get back on.” Even for seasoned riders, this can be difficult. Your Christian walk could be described the same way - falling off and getting back on. Our spiritual growth is an ongoing process that is not for the faint of heart. But with determination to get back in the saddle when you fall away, you will ultimately get to ride off to the freedom that only Jesus Christ can provide.
 Here are some of the ways horses can encourage us to stay on the trail, or to give you the faith to saddle up, and begin a new life with Jesus Christ.  

Horses will carry our baggage.
Your horse may fear plastic bags, but it does not fear your baggage. Your horse could care less about what you’ve done or where you’ve been. When your horse sees you, he calls out to tell you he loves you unconditionally. Just like your horse, Jesus doesn’t care about your past either. Most people have things they have done in the past, that they don't want other people knowing about. There is a fear that if our past guilts are revealed, it could change other people’s perceptions of us. Maybe that is why some of us feel like we need to “clean up our lives” before considering that God could love us as we are. The enemy will do his best to hold your past over your head, but when you come humbly before God seeking forgiveness, He will cast your iniquities into the sea. Jesus will take your fear and your baggage. So, forget about your past - God already has.  

Horses don’t know they’re ordinary.
It’s unfortunate that some people would say I own an “ordinary horse.” He’s never accomplished any of the things that would make him a champion in the eyes of other horse owners. But to me, my horse is proficient at something that science has yet to accomplish, and that’s mend a broken heart.
God has a habit of using what the world views as “ordinary” to perform His greatest miracles. Ordinary horses don’t know they’re ordinary, so why do you think you are? You are exceptional to God, designed with the purpose of doing exceptional things for His kingdom. You have what the world needs - the good news of sins forgiven. But it’s good news to them only if they’ve heard it. God transformed the lives of some ordinary fishermen, by changing them into fishers of men. Imagine what He can do for you. Go forward, in Jesus’ power, and get ready to be exceptional.

Horses can let fear get the best of them.
Horses are prey animals with a fight or flight instinct. Sometimes this instinct can make a trail ride feel like you’re aboard a runaway stagecoach. Fear is the hardest thing for our horses to overcome. But time with our horse is trust earned, and that seems to be our best weapon against it. Fear also has a debilitating impact on humans. Watch any nightly news program these days and it’s amazing that we have the courage to leave our house. With God we are given a choice between experiencing fear or faith.
God wants so much more for us than to walk through life full of fear, worry, and anxiety. Many times, throughout scripture, the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ disciples encouraged them to give up. Yet Jesus said, “Take courage. Don’t be afraid.”
Faith is standing strong despite your fear and reminding yourself that God is in control. As hard as it is for us to do, it is always best to let go of the reins and place them in the capable hands of God. From time to time you may be anxious, but the time you invest getting closer to God will build your endurance.

Horses want us to hear them.
I’ve experienced frustrating moments, when I felt like my horse wasn’t listening to me. But what I really needed to do was listen to my horse. Horses can’t talk, but they can speak if you listen. I have learned that sometimes the best way to communicate with my horse is to stop what I’m doing and be still. There will be times that we talk to God, but don’t feel like He is listening.
Listening to God requires the right attitude in our hearts and not clouding what He is saying with our own desires. Achieving this requires some quiet time with our Bible. There are unimaginable benefits that you will receive from mastering God’s word. When you allow His Word to master you, it will completely transform your life. Find a time and place to meet with God every day, He has placed everything you need to know between the covers of the Bible. Open the pages to discover what He is saying to you.

Horses want security.
My favorite horses are old horses. I have found that giving them a nice place to live out their years is beneficial to my heart. My connection to this is most likely my love for the story, Black Beauty. Throughout the story, Joe longs to find a horse from his past - Black Beauty. At one point in this story, Joe walks past Beauty at a horse sale and they fail to connect. But by the end of the story, Beauty finds his savior and lives the remainder of his life with Joe - who promises to never sell him.
There are many times in our lives that God reaches and we continue to miss our opportunity to connect with him. For some of us, we may think we’re too old or not worth saving. God will never stop loving you. He will never stop wanting you to come to Him and be close. Nothing you have ever done or will ever do will change that. Now is the time to live the remainder of your life with the someone that will always be with you and never sell you out. Accept Jesus’ invitation and get to know your Savior today.

Horses need a helper.
Horse people have a saying, “Horses are like potato chips...you can never have just one.” This is certainly true of our horse farm here in Nebraska. With 12 mouths to feed, it’s nice to have help around the barn. Stable hands look after horses’ everyday needs, and make sure they are healthy and in good condition. For us, God sent us a supernatural stable hand to encourage us to live our best. After we accept Jesus into our heart, God gives us His spirit to help us live the kind of life He wants us to live.  
Horses teach us not every door is best.
My Shetland pony Tucker has the ability to open almost any door, on our farm, with his lips. Although it’s extremely cute, this troublesome skill could lead him into a serious situation if I didn’t put locks on the doors that open to potential danger, like getting into pastures with bigger horses, or getting around the wrong kinds of food. Just because Tucker can open doors, doesn’t mean Tucker should.
The Bible says that our bodies are a gift from God and we should use them to honor Him. Just because something this world offers is technically legal, doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. The more we seek God in all that we do, the more we begin to think as He does. Thus, the easier it becomes to lock out what’s inappropriate and choose a better door. Thank you, Jesus, for always wanting what is best for us.  

Horses love us willingly.
There is no better feeling than calling to your horse and having him run to you willingly. ‘Catching a horse’ requires tricking him by shaking a bucket of grain, those feelings turn to annoyance and frustration. I do not want to bribe a horse or force him into spending time with me. God does not want to trick us or tempt us into loving Him either.
Just like you can’t bond with a robotic horse, God doesn’t want a relationship with a robotic human. He also isn’t trying to bribe you with a trouble-free life and a luxury car - that is not a real lesson. What God wants most is to have a personal relationship with you, and that starts by inviting Jesus Christ to take control of your life. Only love that comes from free choice of the will is true love. Give God your love willingly.

Horses carry us home.
From time to time my horse, Sven, gets a nutty idea in his head. When we are riding toward the direction of the barn, he thinks it’s time to start running. I have to turn him in a tight circle until he figures out that his only option is to walk back. Sven has a plan to get back to the barn as fast as he can, but it is my job to get us both back to the barn safely.
Intercepted by Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul’s plans underwent a dramatic change. The “worst” of sinners found forgiveness in Christ. Sometimes your circumstances are God’s tight circles He uses to get your attention. You can make all the plans you like in this life and some of them involve running in the opposite direction of God, but your plans will never stop God from actively seeking you. God is working to get you home safely.
God made a universe abounding in abundant variety. He stitched rich colors, amazing textures, and loving personalities into our horses. Sometimes He uses these majestic critters to bring us spiritual lessons that we would miss any other way. These lessons I shared today inspired me to write my horse devotional, Unbridled Faith. Sometimes the lessons are painful to admit, but they brought me closer to God.
Just like a tense, anxious horse can take all the joy out of a ride, a tense and anxious human can take all the joy out of life. Satan will use your worries to keep you focused on your circumstances rather than on God and His faithfulness. Jesus came to bring light in the midst of darkness, Light for your daily decisions. Light for this life and the next. So, saddle up and follow Him. and never stumble in the dark again.