Keeping the Blinders On!

Why do race horses–work horses– farm horses wear blinders?  Blinders, or blinkers and winkers, as they are otherwise known, are a part of the tack kit used on many horses.  Blinders are small squares of firm leather that attach to the bridle at the side of the horse’s head. They keep the horse’s eyes focused on what is ahead, rather than what is at the side or behind. For many horses, blinders are commonly used in order to prevent the horse from becoming distracted. Horses have peripheral vision, which means they can end up running off course unless they are made to remain focused. Horse that pull wagons… Farming horses can also be predisposed to distractions and if they are pulling a plow or a wagon they might need blinders to stop them from losing concentration on the direction they are supposed to be headed. The blinders cover the rear vision of the horse, forcing it to look only in a forward direction and keeping it on track.

Story is blinders were invented by a preacher.  He bet that he could make his horse walk up the stairs in his home, which the horse did without any problems.  However, when he tried to coax the horse down again, it refused to move. The preacher then decided to cover the horse’s head and lead him down. This worked and he realized that covering all or part of the horse’s vision could encourage it to take chances it would not normally take.  Interesting…

There is much in this life to distract us from following the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ and living the life God desires us to live; especially in this 21st century.

Many little “… fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16) .  Notice it says DARTS; not arrows that we see coming, but all the little things that come flying at us daily.

Personal example.  This morning I woke up in quite a bit of pain and the second my feet hit the floor and I grabbed my walker, my supposed ‘good leg’ cramped up and I could barely move.  Then I got agitated because 1) my cell phone is not working correctly–they’re putting up new towers 2) the squirrels were hanging upside down on my bird feeders eating all the bird seed 3) and I just sprayed yesterday for bugs on my flowers and vegetables growing out back and this morning I looked and those bugs made a five course meal out of my marigolds!  Sadly, I was actually angry at this point.  Then, as always is, our gracious loving God spoke softly… pray and spend time with me in my Word.  WOW!!  I realized I took my eyes off of path of my Lord and was looking at all the distractions around us.  I did as He desired and spent the time in prayer and the Word… now I am passing on to you what I learned.

Puritan teacher/preacher Richard Sibbes said “We are only safe when we wisely make use of all good advantages that we have access to. By going out of God’s ways we go out of His government, and so lose our good frame of mind, and find ourselves overspread quickly with a contrary disposition. When we draw near to Christ (James 4:8), in His ordinances, He draws near to us.”

I pray and ask my Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that all of us who are loved and called according to His name, keep our focus on the steps ahead (Psalm 199:105) studying His Word and remembering that we are always in a battle (Ephesians 6:11-12).   May you decide to keep your eyes, your concentration, your focus and your heart on our Lord Jesus and our Father in heaven— keeping our spiritual blinders on.♥ Streim