A Broken and Contrite Heart…the starting point for the life God wants for you.
Brokenness. Are you willing to have it? Sounds bad, doesn’t it? In reality, as is the case with horses, but more so for us, this brokenness is what we must have in order to be made into the likeness of Christ, which is God’s basic goal for us.
With regard to the “breaking” of horses, Wikipedia summarizes it this way:
Horse training refers to a variety of practices that teach horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans. Horses are trained to be manageable by humans for everyday care as well as for equestrian activities from horse racing to therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities.
Historically, horses were trained for warfare, farm work, sport and transport. Today, most horse training is geared toward making horses useful for a variety of recreational and sporting equestrian pursuits. Horses are also trained for specialized jobs from movie stunt work to police and crowd control activities, circus entertainment, and equine-assisted psychotherapy.
There is tremendous controversy over various methods of horse training and even some of the words used to describe these methods. Some techniques are considered cruel, other methods are considered gentler and more humane. Some training techniques may appear violent to people unused to horse behavior, but in practice may not be as harsh as they appear.
As the Wikipedia summary suggests breaking in a horse serves many purposes. The end goal being the development of a temperment, performance, habits, way of being, which can be utilized for good. The breaking in of a horse is for specific and strategic reasons. If the horse and/or the owner are to experience the fullness of community and relationship, let alone excellence and development of potential, the training or brokenness MUST occur. Its where all that is good begins. If the horse or the owner resists a full and proper breaking they will be destined to a lifetime of frustration and a brokenness of intimacy, communication, and relationship. This is the tipping point for all that is to come.
Horses, like all animals, rely on instinct. In the case of the horse, the fight or flight instinct is built in. With proper “breaking” and communication between the horse and the human, this instinct can be held in check and the horse can be cultivated to walk in a different way. Once a horse is broken and trained by a caring and committed owner, that horse can experience, receive, and contribute in ways it never could have before. Horses have been trained to perform athletically, to aid in warfare, to heal the psychologically impaired and physically disabled people, to provide for and experience mutual companionship, and to otherwise contribute to the wonder we call life.
I have owned a couple horses over the years, and my children have been around and competed on ponies at various times. When harmony has been rich between us and the horses we owned or competed on, it was an undeniably splendorous experience. In those moments when a horse did not cooperate or was not trained effectively enough, people got hurt or were very frustrated. Undertrained horses, despite potential, are dangerous. Overtrained horses wind up useless and hurt. The key is a proper breaking and ongoing training. The horse and the owner must be mutually committed. Horses are amazingly graceful, powerful, and otherwise regal creatures. They speak of the handiwork of God. Its hard to look at a horse, to know a horse, to experience a horse, without understanding there is a designer behind this incredible creation.
So, what is the point? What in the world am I writing about the breaking in of horses for? What possible connection can there be to this and life in the real world of humans? The scriptures suggest to us that our position before God is quite akin to that of the horse in relation to a good owner. At some point all metaphors or analogies break down, but this one, understood for what it is, offers us a great tool for learning what God is up to in our lives, especially when we have come to an understanding of faith late in life, and have need of patterns being broken. Its a matter of what’s deep within. Like a badly healed bone, deep patterns must be broken to be set right. Its hurts, but its a must.
The bible says, in Psalm 51:17, that God desires a broken and contrite heart. God wants me hurt and miserable?!!, you ask. No. Properly understood, what the passage is saying is that God wants us stripped of destructive and frustrating patterns which keep us from all He has for us. He wants us ready for NEW, for fullness.
As is the case in the horse, and more so, as we are called the crown of His creation (animals do not have the same gifting of God spiritually, intellectually or otherwise), we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And similarly, we have these deep, dark, and destructive instincts or patterns built into us in our sinful condition. We tend to pursue the wild side within us, and find ourselves in a world of chaos emotionally, relationally, and physically. We tend to react harshly and violently to those who care most for us not realizing they are seeking our good. We tend to run FROM our Master (God) rather than gracefully offer ourselves TO Him. We tend, like the unbroken horse, to herd with those of similar untrained disposition, thereby seeking comfort amongst the masses of an untamed culture. Amidst the herd of wild ones we seek to assure ourselves that all is o.k. and we have nothing amiss in our spirit.
What we can learn from the process of “breaking” a horse is manyfold. As is the case with these beautiful creatures, we also, were created with a unique sense of wonder. We too have a singular personality. We too were made to “run”. We too were fashioned to have a spirit full of life and energy. And we too can stand for a significant share of training in order to fully become what we were created to be. The problem is, our craving for a wild and untamed heart, free from the burden of direction and rules, has us bound to patterns which keep us captive and separated from God and others in true intimacy. God wishes to mold us. He, like the horse breaker, has many strategies to reach each of us uniquely. Its an easier process for all when we cooperate, seek His ways out, and submit ourselves to His hand.
When the bible suggests God wants us broken before Him, we must be assured this is a good thing. God treasures a son or a daughter who has allowed God to break them of the addiction to self and the bondage to the ways of the masses. When God seeks to break a man or a woman of greed, lust, sensuality, and moral independence, He does so because He knows he or she will never have a full life without this breaking. When God seeks to break you of your rage and tactics of intimidation which keep you from true heart to heart connection with Him and others, He is offering you a gift. When God seeks to break you of your fears which chain you to emotional distortion, He is seeking, in reality, your release from captivity. When He instructs us to walk in modesty, wisdom, patience, gentleness, and self-control, He does so because its for our good and the good of all others, and contributes to our connection to Him. Obedience to the Master protects and ensures goodness.
Observers of various “breaking” techniques, whether with horses or people, will often question the veracity and intention of the trainer. Some will say, “That is cruel!” Others will say, “How will that accomplish any good!” But they say these things because they neither know the heart of the trainer or the true nature of the beast being broken. Take Jonah being thrown into the sea, and into the belly of a whale by God for instance. Or Joseph being thrown into a pit. Or Abraham being called to give his son up. Or Paul being struck blind and given a thorn. Just as a master trainer/breaker of horses has intimate knowledge of the nature of horses, so too, our Designer, God, has perfect knowledge of who we are as humans, and what we need in order to be made into the likeness of Christ. God will have no less for us. He will never back off that goal for us. It is up to us to cooperate and allow Him to break us free from the Old Self which rears its head day in and day out. God alone knows what we each need uniquely and fully. He knows how, when, where, and with what circumstances to break us free from our untamed heart. He will use every tool and implement to get our attention. He will have us fully or we will remain frustrated and pinned in spiritually.
I ask you, today, directly, “Have you chosen brokenness?” “Are you still fighting His full agenda for you?” “Are you willing to allow Him to break your heart and soul into pieces and remake you in His image in order that you might experience life on a wholly different level?” “Are you fighting God’s call to move more in His direction?” “Are you fighting with others who are trying to lead you, by God’s design, to more expansive pastures?”
If your heart has not been broken free of the ways of our world, the passions of culture, the quests of the masses, the messages of media, whether you are in church or not, you must see yourself for what you are. If you cannot look in the mirror and honestly assess that God has had free reign in you, you need to start over. You must give him the reigns today. If you have always lived your life refusing the bridle and the bit God has fashioned for you by grace, you are destined for more breaking, the kind you don’t want. If God is calling you to more, He WILL have his way. Its up to you to allow your heart to be softened to His touch. He wishes to retain your uniqueness, while directing it in ways that offer you and others more. He made your personality and wants to allow you to become all He created you to be. Don’t fear Him turning you into a robot. His goals are much bigger and life giving.
There is no moment like that one in which you sense the gentle and loving caress of a God who cares for you, treasures you, and longs to affirm you. Like the moment when a horse, finally broken after a fit of independent rage, surrenders herself to her master, and receives the soothing and comforting touch of care, so it is in our souls when we let go, release our clutches on our lives, and offer every thing we have to the God who died for us, and who offers us life to the full every day.
He is seeking you out. He has called you by name. His caress is life producing. His care for you is unmatched. He has great feats ahead for you. Come lie down in His pastures.
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com