“Yoke…” (by Mel McGuire)

In the movie, “War Horse”, the lead character, a horse initially named “Joey” was bought by a man who needed a work horse to plow his field. In a fit of inspired pride and competition, he purchased “Joey”, a thoroughbred with racing in his lineage.

In a time of desperation, Joey had to wear a yoke so he could plow the field. I was struck by the imagery of Joey, a beautiful horse by any measure, learning from his master to bow his head to accept the yoke.

The yoke represented hard labor, painful, exhausting work that a thoroughbred like Joey was not bred to tackle, much less master. But Joey, out of obedience and even love for his master, submitted to the yoke.

I will never forget the scene when he is first tied to the plow, as legs built for speed tried to find traction to pull a plow through fallow ground. Ground that was rocky and dry, hard and unforgiving.

The townspeople came to watch, expecting to see him fail and to ridicule his master for putting a yoke on a thoroughbred.

As Joey strained and struggled, it was clear he was not going to be able to plow the field. A hard steady rain began to fall and the townspeople slowly left, driven off by the rain and the sight of certain failure.

But Joey never gave up. Though he slipped and stumbled, and struggled and strained, he never gave up. And the very rain that had proven too much for his doubters began to soften the ground and before long Joey was making progress.

He seemed to grow stronger with every successful step and at one point pulled the plow right through a huge rock, indicating that his momentum had given him strength and power.

Joey eventually plowed the entire field, and though bleeding and weary, he was not defeated. Later in the movie, he would once again have an opportunity to wear a yoke, and this time he humbled himself willingly, bowing his head to accept the task of being a thoroughbred serving as a beast of burden.

Many of us are called to greatness, ordained by our Master to do great things in the earth. But first, we must be willing to wear His yoke.

We must learn to endure public ridicule, seemingly insurmountable odds, and harsh, adverse conditions in order to fulfill the task the Master sets before us.

The greatest in the kingdom is the servant, and the ones who serve well gain spiritual strength and power. The ability to break up the fallow ground even in the midst of conditions that drive your naysayers to seek shelter.

They learn endurance and stamina to finish their course. But before honor, is humility…and the lessons of the servant never leave him.

Humble yourself and take the Master’s yoke. Work under His direction and trust Him with your well-being. Never get too big, or too important, don’t forget how to take on the yoke of a servant.

Regardless of our title, lineage, skill set, or experience, regardless of what victory we may have just won…when the master brings the yoke…bow your head and serve.

“Audible…” (by Mel McGuire)

As football season winds down, I was struck by how often successful teams are willing and able to call an audible.

An audible is called when the offense sees the defense is positioned to stop the play they are planning to run. Based on positioning and tendencies, they will then switch to a different play that is designed to work against the defense they are facing. There are several factors involved in whether an audible is called, and if it is successful.

Most defenses study their opponent’s tendencies and prepare for them based on what they have done in the past.

A smart offensive coordinator will study their own past performance and be familiar with their own habits and patterns. They can then put themselves in a familiar position, anticipate the opposing strategy, and have a plan to audible to a better play. A successful audible requires preparation.

Another important factor in running an audible is time and timing. If you take too long to get in the right position, you may not have enough time to call an audible. The best audible is called with enough time for only the offense to adjust. A successful audible requires timing.

The most important aspect of an audible is execution. It is a fundamental truth that the best designed play is only as good as the execution of the play. How many wide open receivers are missed, passes dropped, blocks missed, or penalties incurred due to poor execution?

It takes more than just calling the right play, but running the right play right, to be successful. Audibles rely on good execution.

When the Lord gives us instructions ( calls a play), understand that He has studied your tendencies and past performance. So too has your opponent, and so it is to our advantage to obey quickly, so that if God needs to change your position or assignment, you have time to recognize and adjust.

Faith is hearing the play call, getting lined up and surveying the defense immediately. Faith then listens for an audible, and then executes whatever play is called to the best of its ability.

Certain teams or players prefer to run, others prefer to pass, but the goal is the same…move the ball down the field. We too have our preferences, but God is interested in progress.

There are times when He will have you do the things you prefer and feel comfortable doing. There are other times when progress will be made only when you are executing outside of your comfort zone. Another truth is that growth is equivalent to change, and both come when you balance going to your strengths and improving your weaknesses.

Every situation you face can be overcome if you operate and execute God’s plan. You may want to pray about someone, but God will call an audible and tell you to speak a word to them, or bless them financially.

He may switch out your fellowship time with private devotion with Him. If you are interested in advancing the kingdom, you will not hesitate at the method He chooses. Audibles require obedience.

So let’s get in our rightful positions quickly, prepared to execute our individual assignments to the best of our ability, having faith that whatever play is called, God has a strategy that will advance His purpose in the earth and in our lives.

His plan calls for audibles and our lives are full of them, designed to overcome the opposition we face right now. Expect them, trust them, and execute them to continue moving forward with Him. A spirit led life is a life full of audibles, and it requires preparation, timing, and execution.

“Side Effects…” (by Mel McGuire)

  As I grow older, advertising marketing executives have identified the types of programs men my age are prone to watch. Consequently, I see ads for products that I may have need of, supposedly. One of the curious things about these various products is the list of side effects they enumerate at the end of the commercial. First, the list of side effects is much longer than any symptoms they may cure. Secondly, they go through them so fast, your tendency is to ignore them all because you can’t focus on any particular one.

I am sure they list the side effects because they are required to by law, because if you ever really listen to the potential side effects, you probably would just leave the medicine alone. Basically the side effects of one of these medicines (something designed to make you feel or function better) are anything and everything up to and including death! The point being, most things have side effects, and how well we pay attention may determine whether we choose to engage or not. Sin has side effects.

Sin, like a good prescription medicine, can be intoxicating and addictive. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, and while rehabbing from knee surgery, I was given a powerful pain reliever. It worked very well at numbing the pain. It also made me loopy, goofy, and drowsy. It rendered my unable to drive safely, hold my head up for prolonged periods of time, or think clearly. I was vulnerable to deception and manipulation, but I was feeling no pain! That is how sin works if we are not vigilant to read the directions.

The bible says the joy of sin is only for a season, which tells us that there is joy in sin! Who didn’t already know that? But that temporary joy brings side effects, and if we are not careful, we can find ourselves spiritually loopy, drowsy, and susceptible to deception and manipulation. Side effects are secondary reactions, both good and bad, and because we are so intent on the primary influence, we tend to skip over or ignore the potential side effects of sin. Hardness of heart, and a lack of conviction, spiritual blindness, inability to focus, resistance to correction or instruction, and many others up to and including being separated from God are all side effects of sin.

We cannot allow our pursuit of a good feeling, or freedom from temporary pain, to put us in a place or condition that we become addicted to bad behavior, thoughts, or emotions. While holding a grudge may make you feel better about a person or situation, the side effects of bitterness and unforgiveness can lead to your spiritual demise.

Obedience has side effects as well however, and they tend to increase life, add to your joy and peace, and bring wholeness. Some of the benefits of following God’s prescription include; confidence with Him, clearer vision and better hearing, an increased resistance to strains of sin, and life that extends beyond the grave.

Pay attention to the side effects of your actions and choices, read the instructions and follow them diligently, for in doing so, you will make better decisions and not be caught unawares when the side effects “kick in”. They come in addition to the intended result, so choose God’s prescription for life and watch Him add to your faith the fruits of the Spirit. Get addicted to Him and stay under His influence.

“Daddy’s Hand…” (by Mel McGuire)

I was at the car wash and noticed a little girl trying to avoid holding her daddy’s hand as they prepared to walk to their awaiting car. They had to cross through a dangerous area, where cars were being backed up, parked, and otherwise maneuvered. The little girl was shorter than the trunk height of a car and could have easily been struck. The daddy knew that.

As they prepared to leave, without a word, the father extended his hand downward as if to say, “Take Daddy’s hand”. I had seen this gesture many times as a child with my own father, and used it with my daughter. No words were needed, it was time to take Daddy’s hand.

The little girl was clutching a stuffed animal, clearly important to her, and most likely given to her by her father. As she moved her hand behind her back to avoid his, she dropped her toy. He bent to pick it up and gave it back to her, and again reached for her hand. As she continued to avoid his hand, he gently gathered her free hand and held onto it and safely escorted her to their car. Once he had her, she stopped fighting and allowed him to lead.

I was struck by how persistent they both were. She was determined to walk through the danger by herself, and he was determined to hold her hand, keeping her from harm. When it was all said and done, it was not about her holding his hand as much as it was about him holding hers. What a beautiful picture of the love of a father.

I was moved to examine my own interaction with my Heavenly Father as He tries to get a hold of my hand when He recognizes I am about to go through a hazardous season. I wondered how often I am so interested in holding onto something He gave me, that I refuse to take my Daddy’s hand. How many times have I dropped His gifts, only to have Him pick them up and give them back to me…and then give me the signal to take Daddy’s hand?

Why do we insist that we are big enough or know enough to navigate without holding Daddy’s hand? And oh how He loves us, reaching down and taking our hand, holding us safe and secure as He escorts us through dangerous times and around obstacles. But, like the little girl, we must be willing to stop resisting and allow Him to lead us.

How many times have we looked away, or hid our hands, as if we do not recognize our Daddy’s gesture? Why do we interpret His request as a personal weakness or sign of dependence? Just because we see some of the hazards and are confident we can avoid them, does not mean we see all the danger, for we do not enjoy his perspective and knowledge.

Are we willing to take Daddy’s hand? Will we allow Him to lead us and guide us through the difficult seasons of our lives? Can we remember that the gifts He gives us, to remind us of His love for us, were never meant to replace Him? As a child, I can’t remember a time when I lifted my hand towards my father, when he EVER did not reach down to me. Once He had my hand, I knew I could walk in confidence because I knew He would not let any danger get near me.

I lift my hand now Heavenly Father, I am looking to you to lead me, I declare I am once again ready…to take Daddy’s hand.