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Girlfriends in God - Aug. 13, 2008

August 13, 2008
Breaking the Will but Not the Spirit
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“Submit yourselves, then, to God.” (James 4:7)

Friend to Friend
Of all of the activities ten-year-old Miriam enjoyed, she loved riding her horse, Charlie, the most. Charlie had a sleek chestnut mane, well-defined muscular legs, and a fierce strong will to match.  Miriam felt powerful and self-assured when controlling this massive animal – except when he caught a glimpse of the barn.  Whenever Miriam and Charlie returned from a jaunt in the woods, as soon as they got close enough for him to see the barn, he bolted homeward, forcing Miriam to hang onto the reins for dear life.

One day, Miriam’s riding instructor witnessed this strong willed animal taking control of his master. 

“Miriam!” she called out.  “You cannot let that animal control you in that manner!  Bring that horse back out of the barn this instant.”

Dutifully, Miriam mounted Charlie and led him a distance away from the stalls. 

“Now,” the wiser, older woman instructed, “when you turn around and Charlie sees the barn and begins to run toward it, turn your reins all the way to the right.  Do not let him go forward.”

On cue, Miriam steered her horse toward the stalls. On cue, he began to bolt. 

“Turn him! Turn him!” the instructor shouted.

Young Miriam pulled the reigns to the right as hard as she could until the horse’s head was inches away from touching his right shoulder.  Instead of obeying her lead, Charlie fought her with the force of a war horse.  Round and round the horse and rider circled.

“Don’t let go,” the instructor shouted. “You must break his will!”

After ten long minutes, Charlie stopped circling, and Miriam stopped pulling him to the right.

“Now gently tap him to see if he will walk toward the barn instead of run,” the instructor commanded.

Charlie did not bolt, but walked at a steady pace. Miriam had broken the horse’s will and she now regained control of the beautiful animal as he submitted to his master’s touch.

It is an extraordinary moment with God when we stop going in circles, yield our will to the Master, and walk at a steady pace where He leads.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, so many times, I see myself in Miriam’s horse.  I bolt to what is familiar rather than submit to Your lead.  Help me to follow Your lead, submit to your guidance, and walk in tandem with Your pace.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen

Now It’s Your Turn
Do you ever feel as if you are going in circles spiritually?  Do you feel as if you are going through the same struggles repeatedly?

Charlie wasn’t the only one going in circles.  God had the Israelites going in circles for 40 years in the wilderness.  Why?  He was waiting for them to be obedient.

Hmmm.  I wonder what God is telling us today.

More from the Girlfriends
Today’s devotion was taken from Sharon’s new devotional book, Extraordinary Moments with God.  Come with Sharon as she dusts for God’s fingerprints that change ordinary days into extraordinary moments.  As you explore this treasury of stories highlighting “God moments” in the lives of fellow travelers, you too will begin to sense His presence in extraordinary ways.

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