There is something about the outside of God that is good for the inside of man. One might ask, "What is the meaning of this declaration?" Well, this is my take from a cowboy’s point of view.
Many of us have heard the expression, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” That “something” could be described as a melding of spirit between man and beast. Of course, both are creations of God and share many physical and some mental commonalities, but the essence of a horse and a man are not the same. A horse’s strength and instinct differ from a person’s reason and soul, but in their shared body language comes a rhythm that makes them feel as one. But although they may share a spiritual connection, there is still a clear distinction between the two.
So it is with God and humanity. God’s essence, uncreated and beyond our grasp, stands apart from the human soul that is crafted in His image. Yet, just like a rider and horse, a bond exists. The Spirit of God—His presence, love, and guidance—reaches across the vast divide between Creator and creation. Through prayer, we attune ourselves to this Spirit, much like the cues and responses from the body language of cowboy and horse bring them together to act as one.
If we think of the act of prayer as communication with God through his divine “body language,” then I think we can understand how this helps us navigate the hard trails of life. Because even though we do not know the literal language of God, we feel the intensity of the signal that guides us, the same way a good horse feels and responds to the body language of a good rider.
We have a map of words inspired by God, and we have a compass in the form of Jesus Christ pointing the way to the Holy Spirit, our eternal North Star, to guide us. Thus, through prayer, we are given solace as we buck-out this mortal coil of life. This is what builds a relationship between man and God. But there is something else we need, and it is the same thing that the horse and rider need. One small word, with very big expectations—Trust!
