Description
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Unbridled Faith
100 Devotions from the Horse Farm
By Cara Whitney Thomas NelsonCopyright © 2018 Cara Whitney
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4003-0331-1
CHAPTER 1
Welcome to the Barn Party
"Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep."
Luke 15:6
My funny horse is the life of the barn party. His name is Sven, but I call him Fat Benny. He can gain five pounds just by looking at grass (just like my husband with a cheeseburger). He is very vocal, so if he sees me, he will whinny. But as big as he is, his whinny is very wimpy. Fat Benny knows he's fat, so if he wants something on the other side of the fence, he lays on the fence until it collapses and just rolls over the top of it. Benny's antics give joy to everyone at the barn.
Whether it's through your animals, kids, or friends, if you're like me, you find joy in a lot of different ways. However, if you and I want to share the joy of heaven, we need to find our greatest joy in salvation. Jesus told us that there will be "more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luke 15:7).
Our upside-down culture prizes fast cars, expensive clothes, fleeting fame, and shallow relationships over eternal blessings. But as citizens of the kingdom of God, we should put our salvation — and that of those around us — at the top of our lists of things that bring us joy. Think of it: the angels rejoice when one of God's human creations comes to faith in Him. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, the heavenly beings celebrated when you confessed Him as Lord.
There will be a party in heaven for you! Now, doesn't that make you want to kick up your heels?
Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation — and the great celebration that awaits Your followers in heaven, amen.CHAPTER 2
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends."
John 15:15
Horses are amazing animals. When I feel sad or depressed, my horses seem to sense my pain. They turn their ears toward me and even lean into me. In those moments, they aren't just sweet creatures to ride, train, and enjoy; instead, they are my friends.
Still, even if we're surrounded by comforting friends, at some time in our lives, we will be hit with pain so excruciating we will wonder if there is any point in going on. Whether it's a financial crisis, a health catastrophe, or a relationship implosion, our very souls will cry out, "This is too much! I can't live through this!"
Yet with God, we don't have to pretend everything is okay. He longs to be the "friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). He created us, so He knows us better than we know ourselves. We can be honest and real with Him. And His power can help us endure tough seasons. We just have to be humble enough to admit we need Him. You are not big enough to handle life on your own. Run into the arms of a heavenly Father who loves you and weeps with you. Trust Him to be the most loyal, best friend you've ever had.
Lord, thank You for being not only my creator, sustainer, and savior, but also my friend, amen.CHAPTER 3
Silence and Prayer
Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Job 2:13
When I brush my horse, I am really telling him my problems with my hands and my heart. In return, my horse leans into me, seeming to say, "It's going to be okay." By his mere presence, he comforts me. He doesn't have to say a word.
Scientists from England did an amazing study recently that showed that horses know the difference between humans' happy and sad facial expressions and react accordingly. If only we humans were always good at reacting well to our friends' suffering. In the Old Testament, Job was successful and blessed by wealth, friends, family, and stability. The