How can we ensure we are not like the "horse charging into battle"? The Warning Picture Jeremiah 8:6: “I have paid attention and listened; they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle.” What Drives the Charging Horse? • Impulse unchecked by reason (Proverbs 19:2). • Deafness to God’s voice and conviction (Zechariah 7:11). • Refusal to pause for self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). • Pride that resists repentance (Proverbs 16:18). Consequences of Blind Impulse • Collisions with God’s moral order (Galatians 6:7). • Wasted strength on the wrong fight (Psalm 127:1). • Hardened hearts that no longer feel (Ephesians 4:18-19). • Loss of discernment, leading to deeper sin (Romans 1:21-24). Steps to Avoid the Charging Horse Syndrome 1. Cultivate a Listening Heart • “Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). • Schedule regular, unhurried time in the Word, allowing the Spirit to point out course corrections. 2. Practice Prompt Repentance • David’s model: “I acknowledged my sin to You” (Psalm 32:5). • Keep short accounts with God; respond immediately when conviction comes. 3. Submit to Godly Restraints • “Do not be like a horse or mule without understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle” (Psalm 32:9). • Welcome Scripture’s clear commands, church discipline, and lawful authority as protective fences. 4. Seek Wise Counsel • “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). • Invite mature believers to speak truth into choices before decisions are finalized. 5. Walk by the Spirit, Not the Flesh • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). • Daily yield every ambition, emotion, and plan to the Spirit’s control. 6. Keep a Soft Conscience • Guard against searing the conscience through repeated disobedience (1 Timothy 4:2). • Feed it with Scripture, cleanse it through confession, and exercise it in obedience. Living the Contrast Rather than bolting ahead in self-directed impulse, we move forward like sheep following their Shepherd (John 10:27), attentive, responsive, and guided. In this posture, every battle we engage is the Lord’s choosing, fought in His strength, and crowned with His peace. |
    |