By: Deborah Lovett

After returning from Wyoming, the “cowgirl” in me has emerged! Yee-haw! I really don’t know how anyone could ever deny there is a God after visiting the Yellowstone Park. Every morning at the dude ranch, the wranglers would go up into the mountains and round up the horses. There were horses of every color: coal black, white, painted, brown, gray, you name it. It was a sight to behold:  100 horses that all looked like wild mustangs being herded from the mountain tops down into the valley, running full force, wind blowing their manes, tails flowing like honey, one behind the next. I had never seen anything like it as they ran right past our cabin. I could feel the thumping of the earth beneath their hooves, and feel the breeze from their speed in our faces! I was finding God in the Wild Mustangs every morning!

Then, these same wild mustangs would go single file into the barn and get saddled up for us to ride. Now I have to tell you, I am not an experienced rider, and I thought to myself, “you have got to be kidding me?” They weren’t. We mounted those horses and rode them through streams, Aspen forests, on high mountain cliffs and they never missed a beat. They were the gentlest animals ever and well trained to boot.

The astonishing thing was when they brought them out of the barn: saddled, blanketed, and bridled, they were like ordinary horses. I couldn’t believe my eyes. They didn’t look at all like the wild mustangs that came down off the mountain in the mornings. They just looked like ordinary work horses, all the same.

This is what God impressed on my heart:

I sent my son, Jesus, to die for you and your sins, to set you free like the mustangs on the mountain. When you accept the sacrifice He made for you, you will reflect the beauty and individuality of the wild mustangs, only you will go each day being who I made you to be, reflecting the image of Me. Others will see you coming and know Me by your love, like you knew the mustangs by their speed and stature. You will be free on the mountaintops, in the valleys, at home or work. Others will stand amazed at your uniqueness and freedom that comes from my Son. You will be FREE!

However, if you take on the cares of the world, blanket yourself with shame, guilt, rejection, unworthiness; if you are saddled with hurt, unforgiveness, offense, or resentment; well then, you will miss out on your freedom Jesus died for you to have. You will resemble just another worldly worker–stressed out, wearied from work, without strength, going along with the crowd.

Won’t you join me by finding God in the Wild Mustangs by asking yourself: Am I living in the unique freedom of Christ or am I tied to the world?
Galatians 5:1 “So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Enjoy these clips of wild horses from National Geographic set to the music of Mozart:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cevqAlUIc2s&feature=related