Keeping Yourself In Hand

    A rider controls the energy and motion of their horse by using their hands, seat, and legs as aids. Riding-in-hand is a term used to describe the rider's hands connected to a bit in the horse's mouth. It is a two way communication between horse and rider.


 "Riding in hand, depends on the rider's hands and not less important on the acceptance of the them by the horse." --Lee Stanek
     Inexperienced riders often think of the reins as a one way communication to the horse's jaw. They may not understand the motion of the bit inside the horse's mouth or how much they throw the horse off balance with unsteady hands. Inexperienced horses tend to pull on the bit and don't understand how much more difficult they make their undersaddle experience by putting up a resistance. Ideally, the rider has light hands so as to feel the horse's mouth move in his hands, and the horse relaxes his mouth around the bit and "rests his jaw in the rider's hands."
   As followers of Christ so often
this situation can apply to our walk with the Lord. We lean on the bit even strain against it without realizing God is showing us a better way. When we decide to be part of God's dance, we don't quit moving but we must relax into his hands and let him direct our movement. "God's stewards [overseers]...must be one who loves what is good, who is a lover of goodness, upright and fair-minded, temperate and keeping oneself in hand." Titus 1: 7-8. Keeping oneself in hand refers to self-discipline. There are many passages in the bible about God's discipline for us but this reference is to our self-discipline. It is not about using a harsh bit for correction or punishment but rather about us learning to stop leaning on the bit and just relax and move with it. Many things come to mind when I think about relaxing into God's hands and letting him guide my day. From being still so I can hear his instruction to going to him in prayer before attempting to strike out on my own.
     However, self discipline is about truly establishing a pattern of behavior that trains oneself to follow or rest in God's hands. Keeping oneself in hand, in God's hands, begins by learning the right answers. In horse training, when a horse makes a mistake by going counter to the bit either purposely or by not knowing, he runs up against the bit. At that point he has a choice to make, to lean on it or try to find the right answer. The more a horse strains on it trying to go against what the rider is asking, the more he becomes what riders call "hard in the mouth." It only gets harder and harder for him to feel the slight cues from the rider and the rider must be harsher and harsher to get the same response from an otherwise softer mouth. If the horse chooses to find the right answer, he will soon learn to anticipate the rider's moves. He will learn to feel the subtle cues and eventually the two will move along together gracefully in a beautiful dance that feels to the horse and rider as eloquent as it looks to those watching the movement. This is where I want to be, dancing with God.
      The dance doesn't happen overnight. For every beautiful dance you see, there are hours and hours of practice and training. If you want to dance with God, you will have to develop some self discipline. I was amazed at how much easier it became to hear God's voice when I began to put him first. I started seeking his answer in his word each morning, trusting his answers, and believing his promises.
      Three months ago I made a decision to go to a bible study called "Believing God" by Beth Moore. The first night she asked, "What one thing can you give up for ten weeks so you can find the time to do the homework with this study?" I heard right away Holy Spirit putting on my heart, "Netflix." This was not an easy decision but I didn't fight the bit too long. By the end of the teaching session I was on board and excited to see what God was going to do with this willing heart.
      Three months later, I have to say that I found more time in my life by giving up my now known addiction to Netflix. I not only got my homework done for the study but I had time left over to start a daily discipline of studying God's word, a fitness routine including working out daily, and have been more consistent about tackling the things on my top six To Do list. My daily study in the word has made my heart more sensitive to hearing God's voice in my daily routines.
     It may not be Netflix you need to cut out or homework you need to find time for but whatever you are trying to accomplish in your life begin with God. I made of list of six things I always wanted to accomplish. Know God, Be Fit and Healthy, be a good steward of all I have been given, write, train my horses, and spend time with my kids. So everyday I try to do those six things first. On my days off I begin each day in God's word and then I work out. If I have to work, I get up earlier to start my day in God's word and then workout first thing after work. After my top two daily priorities, I make a list of how I can accomplish the other four things on my list throughout that day. I am creating a new pattern of behavior in my life. The self-discipline is paying off because now instead of just going through my days as they happen to me and wallowing my hours away watching someone else's life on Netflix shows, I am keeping myself in Hand. First, in God's hands, and secondly, in the self-discipline that leads to my end goals.