In the horse world, people talk about “schooling” their horse. This entails teaching your horse a new move or activity, and then perfecting that move or activity with practice. You must get the horse to understand what it is that you would like them to do. Part of that training, as Clinton Anderson always says is to “make the right thing easy, and the wrong thing hard”. You also need to be willing to ask as easy as possible, but as firm as necessary.
I see God doing much the same thing in our lives. There are things He wants us to understand and then to do. He helps us to understand in so many creative ways. He started by sending us the living word, His son, Jesus Christ. He also speaks to us through the written word, the Bible. He speaks to us through circumstances He allows in our lives. And, He speaks to us through people he places in our lives.
He lets us know what the “right” thing is and makes an easy way for us to accomplish that; through the power of the Holy Spirit. The “wrong” thing is trying to accomplish His goals through our own talents, might and power. The right thing really is easy and the wrong thing becomes very hard.
He also is a very compassionate God. When He is teaching us, He asks us very lightly at first and if we are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit then we learn the lesson quickly. If, we are more stubborn or hard headed, He may have to ask a little firmer. That firmness should never be confused with meanness or anger; it is God lovingly, but firmly moving us to be transformed into the image of His beloved son.
Don’t know if my horse enjoys the schooling I do with him, but personally, I am thankful for the schooling God does with me each and every day.
