A Broke Heart
Revelation through the Eyes of a Horse into the Heart of God
by
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Several years ago, my uncle had three beautiful colts that he tried on numerous times to give to me. After lots of prayer, long talks with my husband and hours of research ‘Googling’ the cost of horse ownership, we decided to go and take a look. My heart was sunk after seeing them, but didn't know which one of the three to choose. All were beautiful and came from promising bloodlines. There was a palomino filly, a buckskin dun, and a friendly bay. My dream horse was a palomino. I thought they always matched my ‘blondeness’. The bay was extra friendly and always came over to the fence to be petted. One December day I enlisted the expertise of my dad to help me pick one out. That’s the day I feel in love with my, “Ezekiel 36:26” or “Zeke” for short.
Zeke is actually a dun, but can be called a dun skin or buckskin dun. His gold body is contrasted with a black mane and tail. He has black on his legs, around his eyes, and the tips of his ears. Here are my two favorites…. well three favorite things about his markings: 1. He has a black line, called a ‘dorsal stripe’ that goes down the middle of his back. 2. His mane and tail are highlighted and low lighted to the max! The top of his mane is frosted with blonde. The middle has some red streaks in it, while the base is coal black. 3. He has two white “ankle socks” on his back legs and a white blaze down his face that melts into his lips, making him look like he’s wearing white lipstick. If God hadn't convicted my heart to name him after His word in Ezekiel chapter 36 verse 26, I would've name him, “I’m Sexy and I Know It”. His personality screams, “look at me”! He is the ‘class clown’ of the bunch and always the first to come to the fence to be petted.
My prayer for my horse, Zeke sums up my hope for his heart as well as mine. “ And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the LORD. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.” Ezekiel 36:23-32
Ezekiel (not the horse) was a prophet in 571 B.C. He lived in Babylon and was called by God to announce God’s judgment on Israel. He spoke up in a time in history of national defeat to a devastated people. He spoke hope to a bummed out nation and to a bummed out people. He spoke of a personal God whom was interested in the details of the people’s lives. And my favorite, restoration! How his God, our God can take the mess of our life, of our surroundings, and county and do an “Extreme Makeover”.
“I am bringing you back again but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, which you dishonored while you were scattered among the nations. I will show how holy my great name is-the name you dishonored among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, and then the nations will know that I am the Lord. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.” Ezekiel 36:22-24
God restores us for His glory! He takes the mess of our lives and uses it for good! The enemy of our soul can eat away at us until all that’s left is a pile of bones. Whether it’s our health, marriage, finances, relationships, our enemy is out to steal, kill, and destroy. God gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley of bones in Ezekiel 37. Can you imagine? Basically a massive grave…. I bet it stunk, too! But God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones become living people again?” Good ‘ol “Zeke” said, “Only you know the answer to that, Lord.” And God’s answer was for Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones, telling them to listen to the voice of God. God calls us to speak to dead things, a burning bush, rocks, and even old, dry, crusty bones. “Look! I am going to breathe into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” What is dead in your life that you need to speak to? The Lord is longing to restore us!
“Once, we too were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life. These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all he time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone.” Titus 3:3-8 NLT
Our God shows kindness and love towards us. He saves us because of His mercy. He washes us. He pours the oil of His Spirit over us. He clicks His heavenly gavel and declares us, “Not guilty!”. And He gives us a heavenly, eternal life. Our dry and weary bones are brought to life!
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About the Book
To me, horses resemble the Word of God in that they are active and living. New discoveries are waiting to be made every day. There is always more to learn because neither is robotic. Each offers a fresh inspiration that evokes us to change and grow. Both are a pillar of strength but have a softness and tenderness that demands our trust.
By opening this book, you can come along with me to my horse pens, even if it’s only through words on a page. I want you to step into the round-pen with me and receive the revelation God has given me through these amazing creatures. He created them in the first chapter of Genesis at the beginning of time. He saved them on Noah's ark during the flood. They have carried kings and royalty, soldiers into battle, and maybe even witnessed the birth of Jesus Christ in a little stable in the town of Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago.
About the Author
Whitney is a country girl who enjoys seeing the Word of God come to life through spending time with her horses. She does not consider herself an expert horseman, far from it. However, through the grace and favor of God, she has had the opportunity to share with you these revelations in A Broke Heart. She has one son and has been married to her husband, James for twelve years. She is currently a stay-at-home mom and raises her son on her family’s century-old farm and ranch.