Devotional for Tuesday, November 20, 2018
“Without Bridle and Rein”
by Dona Hake
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.” Psalm 32:8-9 Amplified Verstion
Our Lord desires that we be willing to learn of Him, He wants to instruct us and counsel us but without “bridle and rein.“ We all have a choice to obey, and He cannot make us do that which is right if we are resisting the work of His hand. If your mind is made up to do your life your own way, the Lord surely cannot gently lead you into His wonderful ways and will for your life.
The horse and mule need restraints to hold them in check or they will not obey. Our Lord desires that we humbly and willingly draw close to Him. He does not want us merely do the right thing because we feel we have to or we feel an obilgation to do it, for this is what the Word calls a dead work. We must serve him wholeheartedly with tender humble hearts. It is sad when one replaces obedience with good works…this is not what our Lord is looking for. God desires that we be free from the “bridle and rein” of just doing things to make ourselves to be good people apart from the work of His hand. We are free from such bondage! His desire is that His light and good things shine in us as a result of our humble submission to Him…
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
Ephesians 2:10 AMP
Ephesians 2:10 AMP