THE BREAKING OF THE WILD STEED.

Gloria Phifer

THE WILD STEED...painting by Gloria Phifer

He raised his proud head and stomped his feet, this wild unbroken steed. His nostrils flared and quivered in anger and defiance.
His eyes darted with fear. There were none that could break him and many there were that had tried.

He belonged to no one!!! He would not be controlled or trained, not him, for he belonged to himself and to himself alone.

The Master studied the Steed. He could see the potential in his might. Behind the stubbornness, was determination to be harnessed. Behind the fierce pride was humility waiting to burst forth. Behind the willfulness was character waiting to be produced.

With great care, He, Who had broken many a breed, approached the stallion. The Steed bolted and ran, only to find his way fenced.

The Master came closer...one step at a time...until He stood before the mighty stallion. The eyes of the horse were wild, searching for escape.

The Master spoke in gentle tones. The Steeds eyes met The Masters and were transfixed by the love and kindness there.  Their gaze was locked. Each weighing and trying the other.

The Steed struggled with an inward battle. If he yielded to this Master he would no longer be his own. He would not be free to run the ranges in wildness. He would be submitting to the control of another.

Slowly the Master reached out and tenderly touched the nose of the horse. Gently He stroked the rough hide.

At the Master's touch the self will of the stallion drained, leaving him vulnerable. He lowered his proud head and allowed his mane to be caressed.

The Steed turned his head and their eyes met again, as the Master climbed onto the horse's back.

The Rider was on the mount.  All was still at first, then the Steed moved haltingly around the fenced area and through the gate. The slow pace became a trot and then, with hoofs thundering, the Steed began his gallop.

The ride was exhilarating for both the Rider and the stallion as they flew across the range. The horse's mane blew in the wind. The Master was in full control.

They were as one: the Master and the steed.

The horse, no longer wild and proud, yielded to all the gentle nudging of his Rider. His great strength was under his Owners reign. He wondered to himself why he had ever feared?

The melted and blended together. They were as one spirit as they ran the pastures and galloped over hills and through valleys.

The Master was in control and the steed had yielded to His love.

(Many times we are afraid to give God control of our lives. Can He be trusted? Does He want the best for me? Will He take care of me? What is God like? These were questions that I wondered as a teenager. I wanted to control my own life, but my life was uncontrollable. I ended up crying out to Jesus and giving Him my life. I found a Savior. I found Someone Who loved me...always. I found Someone that was trustworthy. He changed my life. I thought to myself, why did I resist...what was I afraid of? I was afraid of giving control to God. But what I found was real freedom...peace...and Someone Who has taken care of me completely. He is my Master and I am His child. I learned I can put my trust in Him because He loves me.)