“When prayer goes unanswered,… You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you.” - Oswald Chambers

Unanswered prayer is frequently a precious gift in disguise. God’s vision is always greater than our own. If He has shared part of that vision with you it is almost a certainty that you will experience many unanswered prayers in the days, months, and years ahead.

Called to Serve God’s Purpose or Ministry

Has God shared His vision for you in a particular purpose or ministry? Have you been called to serve?  Is your path today the one you expected to walk when you first saw the vision? If so, you are in a very exclusive group. No one I’ve ever spoken with or read had such an experience. From Elijah to the Apostle Paul, serving the Lord is a task marked by obedience, inquiry, and times of unanswered prayer.

Imagine that God has shown you a Flag atop a distant mountain. He asks if you will climb the mountain to claim the Flag in His Name and for His glory. You obediently reply, “Yes Lord, I will go.” You see the goal and set out to achieve it. How hard could it be? God gave you a specific goal; surely He will make the way clear for you to accomplish it.

Not so fast.

God Asks for Obedience Presently and for a Lifetime

Abraham received the promise of a son of his own. That promise was not fulfilled for thirteen years. The span of time between God’s promise and the birth of Isaac was one of daily obedience, testing, education, and relationship between Abraham and His God.

Whether tasked with a present purpose or one visible only on the horizon, God will lead you to the goal one step at a time. Just because God gave you the vision doesn’t mean He will supernaturally clear the path ahead as He parted the Red Sea for Moses.

Encountering Obstacles on the Path to God’s Service

Using the goal of capturing the Flag for God as an example, what challenges (lessons) might a servant expect to encounter? Your prayer for instant deliverance from each obstacle will probably go unanswered until you master the deeper lesson attached.

• Breathing problems. The air is thin atop the mountain. You must be prepared physically as well as spiritually.  Health issues often beset those called to serve.
• Communication lessons. The people on the side of the mountain may not speak your language. Capturing the Flag may only be the catalyst needed to gather a curious audience. God true purpose for your journey may be as a messenger to that people. If you don’t speak their language your efforts will be in vain.
• Fighting skills. Whether battles will be fought with weaponry, rhetoric, or through relationship building, people who live along the path to the Flag may not want you to trespass on their ground.
• Delay. Your journey may stall for days, months, or even years. Sometimes that time is given for rest, to master unlearned lessons, or to wait for a fellow-worker who has yet to arrive. God may intend for your journey to proceed more quickly, but you have been set back by distraction or confusion. Once you’re ready the path will open again.

Don’t Rent a Helicopter Yet

Unless God has specified that the Flag must be in your possession today, don’t rent a helicopter to speed you to the top of the mountain.  If God didn’t tell you to get that Flag today and there’s no helicopter sitting in the lot across the street from your home – don’t rush right out and rent one. The Flag itself isn’t the prize.

The Flag isn’t the goal; The Flag is God’s Standard. The Flag is relationship, obedience, and purpose. Moses was tapped for decades of service, not one speech. None of Jesus’ disciples worked one day then retired. Most who are called by the Lord to ministry and purpose receive a call that lasts a lifetime. Can you find the word “retirement” anywhere in the Bible?

Pursue the Flag,

• One day at a time.
• One lesson at a time.
• One step at a time.
• One prayer at a time.

Unanswered prayers indicate you are on the right path and a new lesson has been presented. Master it and the road ahead will become clear again.

.    .    .

Scriptures to consider:  John 16: 4, 12

Christian Horse Training Note:

The path to the Flag is similar to the training process for a horse. Each day we seek small consistent improvements. When a lesson is particularly difficult our forward momentum will stall until the horse has mastered the skill. Every worthy leader gives rest when needed, review when needed, support when needed, and takes smaller steps when necessary.

Answered prayer to a horse is getting freedom from pressure before discovering the release-point through trial and error. Nothing is learned and further skills will be built on a weak foundation. Eventually the hole in training will come back to cause a bigger problem down the road. The best trainers let such “prayers” go unanswered.

Some training goals may be attached to a specific date. But when the standard we pursue is right relationship, the journey is one of blessings received day by day, step by step, and lesson by lesson.

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Have You Taught Your Horse to Quit?

Does your horse lose his frame the minute you relax your hand, seat, or leg? If you quit insisting does your horse quit working?

Many horses train their riders to fix, help, assist, encourage, and push in order to keep the horse’s posture, direction, and impulsion up and going. Bo was doing a bit of that with me this morning. Recognizing that the error was mine I relaxed and suggested that Bo put in a little more effort. After all, he’s a 1300 pound horse which means there is 10 times more of him than there is of me. Why should I be pulling the load?

Riding a Horse Properly is Like Driving a Car

Cars are really powerful vehicles. Horses are really powerful animals. Cars have no loyalty, personality, or spirit, but driving one is similar to properly riding a horse. You don’t drag or push a car around; you steer, apply acceleration or brake, and decide whether to travel forwards or backwards.  A well trained horse should be the same.

Driving for long periods can be tiring. You have to concentrate, keep your foot on the gas, and have a limited area in which to sit. But, you’re not going to break a sweat from physical work or pull a muscle. The car provides the power. You control how fast and where it goes.

Bo, one of my Amazing Grays

If you get really tired when you ride your horse may have trained you to do the heavy lifting. It’s far easier to teach your horse to help you.

An Easy Yoke

A rider in right relationship with his or her horse will not be exhausted by the effort required to keep things moving along. Being in a right relationship with Christ provides a similar blessing. If your walk with Jesus is too much work you may be taking on way too much of the load. Be willingly led by the Holy Spirit and accept the peace and joy available to you.

When you accept more of the work load than your horse you are not in right relationship. Your horse is riding you more than you are riding your horse. Become the leader your horse wants you to be. Teach him or her to be willingly guided. The best example of the most worthy leader is Jesus Christ.

A Delightful Ride

When I asked Bo for more effort he gave it. We had a delightful ride and spent some lovely quality time together. One of the greatest miracles I have experienced is the relationship possible with a horse. May the trails you ride be just as blessed.

.    .    .

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“In Our Lord’s life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as his Master.  The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to Himself, not public usefulness to men.” [Oswald Chambers]

Oswald Chambers

For those who desire to serve the Lord the most important element is time spent soaking before God.  Horses, like Christians, who are called to perform great feats or tasks both for and before others, if they do not spend enough time soaking will, “snap when the strain comes; but if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in God on the un-practical line, you will remain true to Him whatever happens.”

Relationship is the Key

A great horse trainer introduces new concepts and maneuvers to the horse then allows the horse time to process the information, ask questions (yes, horses need time to ask questions), and then build a connection between the conceptual and the practical.

Time spent alone with our Master – or the horse with its trainer – is the only way revelation comes. Concepts are presented and time is granted to soak, to inquire, to reflect.  Trust in the leader is the key to relationship. Leaders who do not provide ample soaking time are unworthy.

Christians who gloss over time spent soaking, in reflection, and choose action instead, have failed in their relationship with Jesus. Is there any verse in the Bible that tells us Jesus ran somewhere, or even hurried? No.  Both Jesus and King David, when faced with a need to act, went to the Father in prayer. They soaked before God. Only then did their feet begin to move.

When Ministry Becomes Temptation

Why do Christians today believe they can skip this fundamental step and simply rush off to serve? And  horse trainers, why would you fail in this most basic requirement of relationship and success working with your horses?

Humans have run headlong toward goals and rewards since the gate closed behind Adam and Eve. One example of temptation is the pursuit of what may be wonderful goals in the wrong manner.  For  both Christians and horse trainers, taking a shortcut to a prize is temptation. The ends never justify the means.

Service performed of our own will is not service to the King. Winning a world championship is not a worthy prize if the horse you rode in on is not made stronger and more confident by the process.

Now that you know what soaking is, take a moment or two to practice it. Reflect.  As a good horse trainer I always allow my horse to ask questions at the proper time. If you have any, please take a moment to ask. I’ll do my best to provide an answer.

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Each quote in this post is from “My Utmost for His Highest” for October 19th.