"Horseback"

When I was just a three-year-old,

They led me all around,

On a big, old horse named Corky,

As gentle as a hound.

And when I got a little older,

I’d lead Corky by the fence,

The only way to climb up,

I ain’t forgot it since.

Corky was a slow one,

And he taught me to ride,

And then when I was twelve years old,

Dad said come outside.

There stood a pretty buckskin,

Dad said a zebra dun,

Said a real good cutting horse,

I was ready to have fun.

One great big adventure,

That’s what it was to me,

I started roping cattle,

And cowboy work you see.

And yes, I’d always done it,

Since a little kid,

But with this much more horseback,

A man’s work what I did.

And now I am an old man,

Had many a special mount,

But if you asked my favorite,

Be hard for me to count.

Because there were so many,

I rode along the way,

The two I own and ride the most,

Right now might win the day.

But all of them were special,

And I still love to ride,

Especially a cow hunt,

When livestock try to hide.

Let’s us just go and get ‘em,

And rope if there’s a need,

Just wanted you to know it,

My love I will concede.

And when I read the Good Book,

Says delighting in the Lord,

Will give you all your heart’s desire,

It’s right there in His word.

My heart’s desire is horses,

And I still like to go,

A’horseback on a cow hunt,

Yessir, I love it so.

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires…” (Ps. 37:4)

It’s different things with different people. Some love to play golf or fish or hunt or whatever. Some love to travel, and where they go is what they love the most. Some love other sports, or have hobbies like collecting coins or cards or art or antiques. Some love nothing more than a gourmet meal prepared at home and enjoyed with their family or a good friend. There is nothing particularly sinful about any of these things. But Jesus claims our first love. Things become idolatrous when we allow them to take the place that He alone claims. Truth is, when we enthrone Jesus as the Lord of all and seek His Kingdom above all else, He is glad for us to enjoy all sorts of things. In fact, this Psalm says He will actually grant our heart’s desires if we will make Him our delight- the Lord of our affection. If we delight in Him, He delights in giving us what we love. Aren’t you glad we serve a God like that? Me, too.

Lord, help us delight in You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, brucegreeneart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.