Breaking the Wild Pony in Your Mind

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” Ephesians 4:31 NLT

Have you ever seen someone trying to break a wild pony? It’s not a simple task. My father-in-law is an avid horseman. He brought home a new unbroken horse, thinking he could easily train the horse and would be riding it in no time at all. Well, two years later he still hasn’t ridden that dang horse! That’s what training our thought life can be like. It can feel like taking on a task way too big for us, but with the right trainer, we can accomplish even the toughest tasks. The problem is, we think we can do it on our own, when what we really need to do is look to the expert. A few verses earlier in Ephesians Paul says, “Throw off your old sinful nature and former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-24

To throw away old destructive thoughts and renew your thought life is a hard concept to even imagine, let alone do. Grabbing the reigns of our thought life can sometimes feel like grabbing the reigns of a wild pony. The untamed pony needs to be broken of its wild spirit, which requires consistent training by a competent trainer. Our thought life also needs consistent training to break the wild, disobedient sin nature which, if given the chance can take hold and control our minds. God is the ultimate trainer and trains us through His word, His truth. We can fight it like a wild pony if we want to because we have that option, or we can allow the true Horse Whisperer, God, to whisper love and truth into our ears. That sounds like a much more appealing option, doesn’t it? How do we begin to tame the wild pony? We begin with prayer, a daily appointment with our trainer, who will remind us to remain obedient and steadfast in his word. Here are some of the behaviors we need training in:

Bitterness- Comes from an inability to forgive and then letting that hurt turn sour in your heart. This is a heart issue and that’s why it is so important to protect your heart.

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23

Evil Behavior- Is learned and can become a part of your belief system. If you believe it, it will become part of your behavior.

“Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.” Proverbs 4:14

Rage- A loss of control involving aggression or an act of violence. The only way to get this under control is to completely give up control. We must allow God to grab the reins and steer us in the right direction.

“Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.” Proverbs 4:14

Anger- This God given emotion is mentioned over 500 times in the bible, second only to the emotion love. Let God train you up in His love through His word. By doing so, it will transform your thoughts and teach you to overcome the angry thought life you once knew and your mind will be renewed and pure.

“Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” Proverbs 4:21-22

Slander- This is just straight up, bad mouthing others. It has the potential to affect a person’s life for years to come. Once it comes out of our mouth, you can’t take it back. It reminds me of that old saying, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

“Avoid all perverse talk, stay away from corrupt speech.” Proverbs 4:24

Harsh Words- Rough and hurtful words towards someone that can stem from unresolved issues or letting pent up anger turn to sin. It can sting like a whip and leave life-long scars.

“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” Proverbs 4:25


As we bounce back and forth from Ephesians chapter four and Proverbs chapter four we find many great examples of ways in which we can transform our thought life in ways that would be appealing to God. Let’s finish up with Paul’s conclusion to this great chapter with his thoughts on what acceptable behaviors look like.

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

When we are able to forgive others the way Christ forgave us then it allows our heart to be open to give and receive love. We can’t expect our mind and behaviors to change overnight, just like we can’t expect a wild pony to be broken of its bad behavior. It takes time, dedication, and patience, possibly a life time, but a life well worth living.

About the author: Bill A. Gaspard is a Certified Christian Life Coach and Biblical Counselor, dedicated to helping God RECOVER His children through relapse prevention coaching. He is the founder of Christian Recovery Coaching- http://christianrecoverycoaching.com/

Recovery Coaching is one of the most effective ways to prevent relapse and get results in your life. A Christian Life Recovery Coach will come along side you to help you find your purpose and passion in life. We partner with our clients to unlock their God given talents and motivate them towards Christian leadership.