“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm 32:9
The purpose of a bridle for a horse or a mule is to restrain or guide the animal. To use the horse analogy, our life before Christ is in a sense, like a wild horse. Our lives are untamed as we live in the flesh and there is no restraint from the Holy Spirit. Then, when we come to Christ, it is as if His love and instruction through His Word bridles us so that we are protected while we learn what being a Christ follower is all about. Then, once tamed or “mature” in our walk, we should remain near to God by choice and out of a heart full of love – not because He necessarily has to bridle us through our circumstances to get us to come to Him.
Ask yourself these questions with me today: 1.) Am I freely and regularly coming to God because I want to and out of love for Him? 2.) What areas of my life am I stubbornly withholding from bringing to God? 3.) When was the last time He had to use my circumstances to bridle me and how did I choose to learn from that?