Can’t Turn a Stopped Horse

My husband sometimes tells me something from his wrangler days at Ironwood. “You can’t turn a stopped horse.”

I’m like that horse.  I know I should be teaching my children God’s Word, but sometimes since I don’t know HOW, I don’t say anything. That is the time to remember that you can’t turn a stopped horse. Sometimes I wait until I have explicit directions from God (which never seem to come!) before taking action, when instead I should start practicing what I know to do, even if it feels fumbling and awkward. God promises He will direct me, so I can rest knowing that as I seek Him and seek to obey him (giving all diligence, as Peter says), he’ll turn me as needed.

I must confess, I hate feeling fumbling and awkward. Now why, I wonder? Is it because I want to feel sufficient in myself? And if I felt confident, would I give God the glory? All this thinking has reminded me of several passages in Scripture that I want to think about more

• The combination of knowledge and judgment Paul talks about— sometimes I forget how important it is to to know God better. I think the solution is entirely doingdoingdoingdoingdoing. But Paul shows how knowledge of God comes first. (Philippians 1:10-11; cf II Peter 1:2ff)
• The need for diligence in my Christian walk. I tend to breeze by, sometimes. Do I spend more diligence keeping up on the news or reading God’s word? (II Peter 1, too)
• Second Corinthians is just as much fun as looking at the dictionary! 4:16-18– love it. Why don’t we give up when it gets hard? the exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  Love that phrase.
• Here’s the verse I was looking for: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. II Cor 3:5. Just in case I think it’s all up to me.
• Which makes me remember James 4! Most especially God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (verse 6).  And Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (verse 8)

All for now. My heart is full and overflowing.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?

Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36