Harnessed to Move Forward

In my last post I spoke about a wonderful double leash that allows my dogs to walk together on enjoyable outings. What I failed to mention was just how difficult it is to get the harnesses on the dogs before attaching this wonderful leash. Because Beamer tugs on the leash and Kari can escape her collar with ease, harnesses are the safest and most comfortable solution for walking on leash. Unfortunately the ordeal of getting them ready for the leash can be frustrating.

It’s not that the dogs do not like wearing the harnesses. It is just the process of putting them on. When we have returned from a walk they are perfectly content to not have the harnesses taken off. So it is somewhat surprising that there is so much difficulty getting them on.

I have ascertained two reasons why the dogs resist having harnesses put on. The first of these is simply that they are in a hurry to get out the door. Walks are fun and exciting. The minute I grab the leash and harnesses both dogs run to the door shaking and prancing with excitement. Coming to me to get ready is something they simply do not want to be bothered with. The other reason for the reluctance to putting the leash on is that the dogs are unsure of exactly how to go about doing so. They do not comprehend lifting one leg to put it in the first hole and then doing the same with the other leg. Being too excited to sit still so I can easily move one leg at a time, they become off-balance as I try to encircle each leg to pull the harness up.

The same reasons, impatience and lack of understanding, can get in the way of believers as they prepare to walk forward in the work of the Lord. Yet we must be properly prepared.

Even Jesus prepared for His earthly ministry. After conversing with the elders when He was 12 years old there is no record of him publicly ministering until He reached the age of 30. At this starting point He was baptized by John. “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!” (Luke 3:21-22 AMP) Baptism is a symbol of turning away from everything that would distract from God. Although Jesus had no sin to repent of, this action signified the focus on the Father’s will that He followed right up to His death and resurrection. What occurred during between that day in the Temple and the day at the Jordan River is unknown to us. But it was a time of preparation. He did not take a step forward until directed by the Heavenly Father to do so. “So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in His turn].” (John 5:19 AMP) He trusted the Father’s timing explicitly.

We also must trust our Heavenly Father’s timing for His perfect plan in our lives. We may know deep in our hearts what He is directing us to do, but we must also allow Him to prepare us in every aspect of our lives. The excitement as His plan is revealed to us may become so intense that we can hardly stand it. Yet we must first allow the potter to mold us so that we are effective in all we do. Jesus gave direction to the disciples yet commanded them to wait until the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. “And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak.” (Acts 1:4 AMP) Rushing ahead can have disastrous results. “Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.” (Proverbs 19:2 AMP)

It can also be uncomfortable to allow the Lord to prepare us when we are unsure of what He is doing in our lives. Trials may come that make us extremely uncomfortable. Circumstances that we do not understand may arise. We must submit with the words of Isaiah. “Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 AMP) We will be molded and fired to be the perfect vessel to fulfill His call on our lives. We must allow Him to do His perfect work in us. During this time we can follow the advice of the apostle Paul. “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 AMP) The day will come when we will walk forward with a power and wisdom that comes directly from the Holy Spirit.

If you are at a point in your life that you are ready to get on with whatever God has called you to do but you feel He is holding you back, do not resist. Allow the master to prepare and harness your life to enable you to be the most effective when you move.