It's Not About the Horse

Horses are mentioned more than one hundred times in the King James Bible. Horses were used to represent the power and authority of kings (2 Kings 6:14-15). They were seen as symbols of strength—if the Lord said he was going to destroy horses and chariots it was seen as a mighty act (Micah 5:10).

Horses are also used in the New Testament referring to the bit and bridle controlling horses, so we need to control our tongue (James 3:2-3). Best of all, Jesus chose to come back someday on a white horse (Revelation 19:11).

Of all the animals he could have chosen, the Lord has a special place in his heart for horses, and he has a purpose for them in his Word and in the world. Once again our equine ministry is experiencing a lull due to COVID-19 impacting some of our participants. As much as we and the Lord love horses, God is using this time to remind us that our ministry, His ministry, is not about the horse.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost and bring them into relationship with Him. We use the horses God has blessed us with to draw the lost into a connection, a relationship. When they experience the benefit of connecting with such a gentle and powerful animal who asks nothing from them in return, they begin to see the possibility of connecting with God who receives them just as they are.

At EMBRACE, the horse is a conduit—the real goal is relationship with Jesus Christ.

The beauty of ministry is that it doesn’t depend on a system or formula in order for the Good News to be shared. EMBRACE uses God’s gift of the horse to bring relationships alive through a Christ-centered experience. When our sessions are on hold, our ministry is not. We get to share the love of Jesus, speak truth and refute lies in our marriages, families, among friends and co-workers, as well as with strangers at the grocery store.

We love our horses, and we are always amazed at the ways God uses them to reveal His love and glory with people. As we connect with our community when ministry days are on hold, we continue to be amazed at the ways God uses whatever we offer Him. Whether it’s our time, our words, or material possessions like food, a vehicle, or a greeting card, He will take anything we want to use to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others and shine through it.

What will you use today?